How did Arsenal perform in the 202/24 season?
For the second row in two years, Arsenal had to settle for the silver medal after finishing second to Manchester City in the Premier League table. The Gunners finished the 2023/24 Premier League season on 89 points, just two points behind winners Man City who claimed their record fifth title in six years.
Under the guidance of Mikel Arteta, Arsenal grew stronger and developed as the season went by. Arsenal took the title race until the last day and won 16 of the 18 games played since the start of 2024. In January 2024, Arsenal were drawn with Liverpool in the third round of the FA Cup and ultimately were knocked out after a 2-0 defeat to Jurgen Klopp’s men.
Last season, Arsenal fell away in the final stages of the season bagging just 12 points from their final nine games. But this year, Arteta’s men pushed Pep Guardiola all the way to the final day of the season and registered their boast goal difference (+62) in the Premier League era.
They returned to the Champions League for the first time since 2018 and managed to secure a spot in the quarter-finals with ease. But mature Bayern Munich knocked the Gunners out with a 1-0 win in the second leg. Mikel Arteta will be hoping that his side takes the positives from last season and go again in pursuit of the Premier League crown next season.
Arsenal’s transfer strategy
The Gunners are owned by American billionaire and sports mogul Stan Kroenke who has spent handsomely in the last few transfer windows. In 2023/24, Arsenal broke the British transfer record fee to sign Declan Rice for a reported fee of £105 million to address their midfield issues. Arsenal sporting director Edu has played a significant role in Arsenal’s recent success in the transfer market.
He reportedly has already started his recruitment process and is devising a plan to close the gap with Manchester City. In the past, Arsenal have made deals without a plan but through their current approach, the board waits for the right player for the right transfer fee. Their first priority is to make the David Raya signing permanent from Brentford this summer.
Squad Needs and areas of improvement
Defense
The Gunners have one of the best backlines in the country as the centre-back pairing of Gabriel Magalhaes and William Saliba has been central to their successful 2023/24 campaign. Goalkeeper David Raya won the Golden Glove award as he picked up 16 clean sheets from 38 games. But the team requires decent full-backs as both Kieran Tierney and Oleksandr Zinchenko are expected to leave this summer window. The Ukranian was replaced by Jakub Kiwior and Takehiro Tomiyasu towards the end of last season after a few inconsistent displays.
Midfield
Arsenal are planning to sign one midfielder to complete in a three-man midfield with Declan Rice and Martin Odegaard. Ghanian midfielder Thomas Partey faces a doubtful future and could sanction an exit this summer.
Attack
The Gunners do not have a clear point of attack. Brazilian striker Gabriel Jesus has been out with injuries for the majority of the 2023/24 season and is not an out-and-out striker. Summer signing Kai Havertz often played as an advanced striker last season as they opted against signing a No. 9 in the winter transfer window. They are once again seen as one of the desirable clubs to join and have shown interest in forwards like Victor Osimhen, Ivan Toney, Viktor Gyokeres, and Joshua Zirkzee.
Bench Depth
Arsenal will partake in several competitions next season including the Champions League and will look to build a reserve squad that can cope with injuries and fatigues throughout the season.
Potential signings – Top Targets for Arsenal this summer 2024
| Arsenal Transfer Targets | Position | Current Club | Estimated Fee |
| Victor Osimhen | Striker | Napoli | €115m |
| Ivan Toney | Striker | Brentford | €65m |
| Martin Zubimendi | Midfielder | Real Sociedad | €60m |
| Joshua Kimmich | Midfielder | Bayern Munich | €30m |
| Jules Kounde | Defender | Barcelona | €35m |
Victor Osimhen
The Gunners are in desperate need of a lethal force to lead their attack in the upcoming season. After missing out on the Premier League title by just two points last season, Osimhen is one of the top players on Mikel Arteta’s wishlist this summer. New Napoli manager Antonio Conte confirmed an agreement is in place for Victor Osimhen’s departure this summer. Signing a new centre-forward would be one of Arsenal’s major priorities for the current transfer window.
Ivan Toney
The English forward is expected to leave Brentford in the summer transfer window with Arsenal and a few other European clubs vying for his signature. Toney returned to action in January following an eight-month ban and scored only four times in 17 appearances. Mikel Arteta is keen to sign a No.9 this summer and the Englishman could be one of the viable targets.
Martin Zubimendi
The Real Sociedad midfielder has been linked with Arsenal since the last two transfer windows but the Spaniard was reluctant to make a move. Zubimendi is a defensive midfielder by trade and reportedly has a €60 million release clause in his contract. He could be the ideal partner for Declan Rice and Martin Odegaard in the three-man midfield setup.
Joshua Kimmich
The German midfielder is under contract with Bayern Munich until the summer of 2025 and wants to sanction an exit this summer. According to reports, the Bavarians are reluctant to let Kimmich go for anything less than €40 million. Arsenal will face competition from the likes of Liverpool and Manchester City and it will be interesting to see where he ends up this summer. Apart from his defensive skills, Kimmich is an acute passer and will be key for Mikel Arteta and co.
Jules Kounde
The Gunners have taken an interest in Barcelona defender Jules Kounde who has proven himself in La Liga with Barcelona and Sevilla in the past few seasons. The Frenchman is reportedly open for a new challenge and a move to the Premier League could be ideal for him. Arsenal have made an initial approach for the 25-year-old defender but Barcelona have swiftly turned down the offer. Kounde who can play as both central defender and right back could be a valuable asset for Mikel Arteta.
Financial Capabilities (Budget and FFP)
Budget Overview
Last season, Arsenal spent in the north of €230m on only four players addressing their midfield and defensive issues. They could make substantial investments but would need to get rid of some deadwood in the summer.
Financial Fair Play (FFP)
Any clubs in the Premier League are allowed to make overall losses no greater than £105 million over a period of three years which means Arsenal are still in a relatively comfortable position. This means Arsenal can pursue a few targets but have to bank on the sales of some of their academy graduates to make more than 4-5 signings.
Strategic Spending
In winter, Arsenal indirectly said that financial regulations were a factor in their decision not to enter the January transfer window. Arsenal sporting director Edu has revealed his aspirations of returning the club to a financially self-sustaining model. In the last few years, they have earned a reputation for strategic planning and intelligent recruitment.