Andrea Berta could have his work cut out this summer, with Mikel Arteta determined to further bolster his Arsenal squad.
Arsenal have spent nearly £1bn on new players since Mikel Arteta replaced Unai Emery in December 2019, and they’ve shown no sign of slowing down this summer. Not only does the Gunners boss, who’s forked out about £930m in six-and-a-half years, want to defend the Premier League title, but he also plans on winning the Champions League.
Last season, Arsenal almost won Europe’s elite competition for the first time in their history, but they stumbled at the final hurdle, losing on penalties. The defeat to Paris Saint-Germain left Arteta craving for more success.
After the game, the Spaniard turned his attention to next term, outlining his plan to take things to ‘another level’. Speaking to reporters, Arteta said: “First of all, I will take a few days with my family, and then we will start the process to review what we have done.
“We will have to start making some very important decisions if we want to reach another level. We are going to have to show that ambition because we are more than capable of doing it, but it is going to demand us to be very ambitious, very fast and very smart.”
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So, with odds provided by BOYLE Sports, football.london has looked at eight players Arsenal could sign this summer
Morgan Rogers – 1/2
Rogers, whose contract at Villa Park expires in June 2031, featured 55 times across all competitions for Aston Villa last season, scoring 14 goals and providing 12 assists. Playing a key role in Unai Emery’s side, he helped the Villans finish fourth in the Premier League and win the Europa League.
Arsenal are in the market for a left-sided forward this summer as Arteta looks to bolster his frontline. Although the 23-year-old, who’s an attacking midfielder on paper, may not be a conventional winger, he would breathe new life into the Gunners.
Ayyoub Bouaddi – Evens
Bouaddi, whose contract at Stade Pierre-Mauroy expires in June 2029, featured 40 times across all competitions for Lille last season, providing one assist. The 18-year-old helped French outfit qualify for the Champions League before establishing himself as one of the most promising young midfielders with Morocco at the World Cup.
Bradley Barcola – 6/4
Barcola, whose contract at the Parc des Princes expires in June 2028, featured 49 times across all competitions for Paris Saint-Germain last season, scoring 13 goals and providing seven assists. The 23-year-old winger played a particularly key role for Luis Enrique’s side in the Champions League, up until the quarter-finals anyway.
He had started each of the league-phase games and the knockout-stage play-offs, as well as the first and second legs of the last-16. Barcola didn’t make the starting lineup for the remainder of the tournament; he was reduced to minutes off the bench.
It wasn’t the first time that the France international had been dropped for the big occasion, despite having played a prominent role en route to the final. Arsenal could finally let Barcola embrace a talismanic role.
Nico Williams – 2/1
Williams, whose contract at the San Mamés Stadium expires in June 2035, featured 32 times across all competitions for Athletic Bilbao last season, scoring six goals and providing seven assists. The 23-year-old winger has fallen short of expectations recently, but he remains an exciting option.
In 2024, he led his boyhood club to glory in the Copa del Rey before becoming a European champion with Spain. Williams, who looked set to establish himself as a top player for years to come, has struggled to fulfil his potential.
Rafael Leao – 6/1
Leao, whose contract at the San Siro expires in June 2028, featured 31 times across all competitions for AC Milan last season, scoring 10 goals and providing three assists. It was the first time in five years that the 27-year-old winger failed to notch at least 25 contributions for the Rossoneri.
Eli Junior Kroupi – 8/1
Kroupi, whose contract at the Vitality Stadium expires in June 2030, featured 35 times across all competitions for Bournemouth last season. The 19-year-old striker broke the record for the most goals scored in a debut Premier League campaign by a teenager, netting 13 goals.
His strike against Manchester City that crowned Arsenal champions of England was enough to leapfrog Robbie Fowler and Robbie Keane. Viktor Gyokeres struggled to impress in his debut campaign, so Arteta remains keen to bolster the frontline.
Marcus Rashford – 10/1
Rashford, whose contract at Old Trafford expires in June 2028, featured 49 times across all competitions for Barcelona last season, scoring 14 goals and providing 14 assists. The 28-year-old, who helped Hansi Flick’s side win La Liga, made a great impression while out on loan, but they chose not to sign him permanently.
Julian Alvarez – 12/1
Alvarez, whose contract at the Metropolitano expires in June 2030, featured 49 times across all competitions for Atletico Madrid last season, scoring 20 goals and providing nine assists. The 26-year-old striker was subject to a €150m (£129m) bid from Real Madrid, but it was swiftly rejected.
