How summer business will deepen Mikel Arteta's Arsenal squad after Zubimendi signing and Gyokeres links
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Published 09/07/2025 at 16:30 GMT+1
Arsenal are seemingly embarking on a big summer in the transfer market ahead of the 2025/26 Premier League season. After already bringing in Kepa Arrizabalaga and Martin Zubimendi, reports suggest the Gunners are close to bringing in Viktor Gyokeres as well as being linked with a number of other players. But how will Mikel Arteta's squad look if the club secure all their reported targets?
‘We need to make it happen’ – Arteta admits Arsenal need to win a trophy ‘big time’
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You’d have to be terminally "online" and deeply embedded in the Arsenal Twittersphere to understand the phrase "Higuain close, Rooney next. Blimey!", but for fans of a certain age, it’s both an amusing and depressing reminder of a bygone era for the club.
Back in 2013, following years of perceived austerity measures as the club paid for their Emirates Stadium move, Arsenal fans were desperate for big names and when a supporter with supposed insider knowledge tweeted that the club were on the brink of signing Real Madrid striker Gonzalo Higuain AND Manchester United’s Wayne Rooney, people naturally got excited about it.
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@GeoffArsenal
Image credit: Twitter
It was a era of heightened transfer interest with many "ITK" (In the Know) accounts sharing news of potential incomings such as these. Of course, fans were left disappointed as neither of these signings happened in what felt like another familiar transfer window of false promises (although Mesut Ozil did arrive on deadline day).
Things are very different 12 years on. The Gunners of today are unafraid and very much able to splash the cash and today's rumours - while still rumours, of course - feeling more likely to prove truthful. The club has already brought in Martin Zubimendi with Viktor Gyokeres said to be imminent.
The Gunners have also reportedly agreed terms with Chelsea’s Noni Madueke, and the rumour mill remains in overdrive, with the likes of Eberechi Eze and Real Madrid’s Rodrygo being linked.
Mikel Arteta has already bolstered his squad with the signing of Kepa Arrizabalaga and an offical move for Brentford’s Christian Norgaard could be announced soon.
Valencia defender Cristhian Mosquera is another player being linked as Arsenal look to bolster all areas of their squad ahead of the new campaign, with the primary aim of improving on three successive second-place Premier League finishes and a semi-final exit in last season’s Champions League.
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Goalkeepers
- David Raya
- Kepa Arrizabalaga
- Karl Hein
The acquisition of Kepa provides a more than adequate back-up option for Arteta’s side with the ex-Chelsea stopper ready to step in for Raya if needed.
The 30-year-old impressed on loan at Bournemouth last season and will also keep his Spanish compatriot on his toes, while being poised to step in if the number one shirt does become available.
With two strong options in front of him, youngster Hein will likely find himself out on loan once again.
Defenders
- William Saliba
- Ben White
- Gabriel
- Jurrien Timber
- Jakub Kiwior
- Oleksandr Zinchenko
- Riccardo Calafiori
- Myles Lewis-Skelly
Linked with: Cristhian Mosquera
Fitness permitting, the formidable duo of Saliba and Gabriel will not be displaced at the heart of defence, while Kiwior impressed as back-up when called upon towards the end of last season and both White and Timber can also fill in if ever needed. The potential signing of Mosquera would also give Arteta another option here.
Timber and White will provide options at right-back while the ongoing joke about the manager’s obsession with left-backs means that even with the potential departure of Zinchenko and Kieran Tierney’s exit at the start of the window, Lewis-Skelly and Calafiori remain two strong options. Timber and Kiwior are also very familiar with the role.
The Gunners have had the best defence in the league fpr the last two seasons in a row and will hope to make that a hat-trick if they are to finally realise their title ambitions.
| Centre back | Right back | Left back |
| William Saliba | Jurrien Timber | Myles Lewis-Skelly |
| Gabriel | Ben White | Riccardo Calafiori |
| Jakub Kiwior | Oleksandr Zinchenko | |
| Jurrien Timber | Jurrien Timber | |
| Ben White | Jakub Kiwior | |
| Cristhian Mosquera* |
*Rumoured signing
Midfield
- Martin Zubimendi
- Declan Rice
- Mikel Merino
- Martin Odegaard
- Fabio Vieira
- Albert Sambi Lokonga
Linked with: Christian Norgaard, Eberechi Eze
Arsenal have been pursuing Zubimendi for some time and finally landed their man this summer. The Spain international will likely form a starting trio, also comprised of Rice and Odegaard.
Merino will be called upon to deputise in this area, having proved his effectiveness as a utility man last season, and should Norgaard also arrive, he would also prove a useful understudy in the deeper role.
Where the Gunners may be lacking however, is a back-up for their captain Odegaard.
The Norwegian’s absence early last season deprived the team of some much-needed creativity and even after his return, there was no alternative if and when the player needed a break.
Lokonga and Vieira have largely struggled in red and white, and their loans last year to Porto and Sevilla respectively will likely foreshadow something similar this year if either or both are not sold outright.
The signing of Eze would add an extra attacking dimension for the team in this area.
| Central midfield | Attacking centre-midfield |
| Martin Zubimendi | Martin Odegaard |
| Declan Rice | Fabio Vieira |
| Mikel Merino | Eberechi Eze* |
| Albert Sambi Lokonga | |
| Christian Norgaard* |
*Rumoured signing
Forwards
- Bukayo Saka
- Gabriel Martinelli
- Leandro Trossard
- Reiss Nelson
- Ethan Nwaneri
Linked with: Noni Madueke, Rodrygo
An injury to Saka blunted Arsenal’s attack for a large part of last season with Trossard and Martinelli both struggling to find consistent form in front of goal.
The emergence of Nwaneri was a welcome bonus for Arteta but the manager will be wary of placing too much expectation on the 18-year-old’s shoulders.
A move for Madueke makes sense with the winger capable of operating on both flanks and with an eye for goal, while prying Rodrygo from Real Madrid’s hands would be seen as a major coup.
| Right wing | left wing |
| Bukayo Saka | Gabriel Martinelli |
| Reiss Nelson | Leandro Trossard |
| Ethan Nwaneri | Noni Madueke* |
| Rodrygo* | |
| Noni Madueke* |
*Rumoured signing
Striker
- Kai Havertz
- Gabriel Jesus
Linked with: Viktor Gyokeres
Arsenal’s hunt for a striker has long been a topic of discussion and the long-term injuries to Havertz and Jesus during the campaign brought this into sharper focus as Arsenal’s pursuit of honours was undermined by a lack of firepower.
The mooted Gyokeres signing will be expected to fill a gaping hole with Havertz potentially playing a key supporting role.
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Gyokeres shows why he's a wanted man as he hits FOUR in a game for Sporting
Video credit: SNTV
However, with the future and fitness of Jesus both unclear, could the Gunners still need yet more in attack?
In addition to his primary role on the wing, Rodrygo can also seamlessly operate at centre-forward if required.
| Striker |
| Kai Havertz |
| Gabriel Jesus |
| Viktor Gyokeres* |
| Rodrygo* |
*Rumoured signing
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