Arsenal’s squad building has taken better shape over the past two summers.
The recruitment of a young core of players — six of them under the age of 23 — established a solid foundation to build from in 2021. In 2022, that was followed up by more targeted signings (Gabriel Jesus and Oleksandr Zinchenko) which helped elevate the squad to the point of unexpectedly challenging Manchester City for the Premier League title.
Advertisement
Arsenal will need a clear vision of their aims for this summer to continue this upward trajectory, especially when they return to the Champions League stage next season.
Here, The Athletic assesses the situation of each member of the Arsenal first team and identifies where there is room to improve ahead of 2023-24.
Goalkeepers x 5
This season has ended with 25-year-old Aaron Ramsdale set to sign a new long-term contract, which further cements his status as first-choice.
Behind him, Matt Turner (contract expires 2025) has proven a solid enough backup. The 28-year-old American is not at the same level as Ramsdale, particularly with his feet, but appeared to grow in confidence in each of his seven appearances this season.
The decision of third-choice goalkeeper is minor, but interesting nevertheless. Karl Hein, 21, played in Arsenal’s mid-season friendlies when Ramsdale and Turner were on World Cup duty, while Arthur Okonkwo, also 21, has impressed on loan spells at League Two side Crewe Alexandra and Sturm Graz in the Austrian Bundesliga this season.
Both are more encouraging options than Runar Alex Runarsson, 28, who will have a year left on his deal in the summer after two seasons on loan, first at OH Leuven in Belgium’s top division then at Super Lig side Alanyaspo.
Runarsson makes the most sense to part ways with, while Okonkwo enjoying another year on loan could be useful.
Defenders x 13
Mikel Arteta is lucky to have breathing space with most of his preferred back four. Benjamin White and Oleksandr Zinchenko’s deals run until 2026 when they will turn 28 and 29 respectively. Gabriel’s deal runs until 2027 when he will also be 29. Twenty-four-year-old Takehiro Tomiyasu (contract expires 2025) and 23-year-old Jakub Kiwior (contract expires 2027) are also options which give the club options over the long term.
Advertisement
William Saliba (contract expires 2024) remains the player in that backline still to commit his future to Arsenal, with negotiations ongoing. His presence and his absence this season have proven how integral a cog the 22-year-old is for Arteta’s side. Alongside Gabriel, the pair allow the team to defend high enough to suffocate opposition teams in their own halves, while being assured defending in deeper areas. The extension of his existing deal could be as important as any signing Arsenal make this summer.
Saliba’s absence also illustrates the importance of improving the base level in the squad for next season. Rob Holding, 27, also has a year left on his deal, but his qualities aren’t aligned with the defensive blueprint set by Saliba and Gabriel. A major influence behind the scenes, Arteta may be reluctant to sell, but this could be an opportune time to cash in on a player who has previously garnered Premier League interest and improve his defensive backup.
Kieran Tierney, 25, may be the most helpful in this regard, although more thought is required in his case. The Scot’s contract expires in 2026 and he is one of the best in his position in the league, so he should command one of the largest fees of any player Arsenal decide to part ways with this summer. He would need to be replaced.
The other option is to keep him and use him differently to Zinchenko. Tierney has tried to invert but it does not come naturally. Arsenal’s Plan A was exceptional this season, but when it didn’t work, Arteta showed a reluctance to move to a Plan B. Against tougher opposition, having more ways to attack/defend could be crucial and Tierney could still play a part if those steps are taken. If not, the funds he could raise may be too much to ignore.
Elsewhere, Pablo Mari, 29, looks primed to leave for £6million after Monza secured Serie A football for next season, while Ainsley Maitland-Niles, 25, is set to leave on a free when his contract expires this summer.
Advertisement
Cedric, 31, has a year left on his deal but his age and wage may make a permanent departure difficult.
Nuno Tavares’ deal runs until 2025 and after a mostly strong loan spell at Marseille, the 23-year-old could be another player to attract decent interest to build funds.
And Auston Trusty, 24, has impressed on loan at Birmingham City this season, but Kiwior’s arrival in January may make things difficult for him in north London. If interest develops, whether a loan or permanent, now may be a good time to move him on.
Midfielders x 9
At the start of the month, Arteta said: “We are going to have to nail the recruitment because we know that we are going to have play a different level and the demands are going to be even higher.”
It has been clear for some time that midfield is Arsenal’s main area for concern. While their first choice trio of 24-year-old Martin Odegaard (contract expires 2025 — with an option of a further year), 29-year-old Thomas Partey (contract expires 2025) and 30-year-old Granit Xhaka (contract expires 2024 — with an option of a further year) has provided a solid base level, Arteta has not had much quality in depth to draw upon.
The arrival of Jorginho, 31, in January after the failed pursuit of Moises Caicedo reflected the need to reinforce that area in the short term. This was particularly important given 30-year-old Mohamed Elneny’s (contract expires 2024) season-ending injury and 23-year-old Albert Sambi Lokonga’s (contract expires 2026) loan to Crystal Palace. Of this trio, Jorginho and Elneny’s ages and contract lengths make staying as squad players the logical outcome. Both are also seem as important members off the pitch, which could prove just as important.
With Xhaka in talks to sign for Bayer Leverkusen, the need to reinforce the starting options in that area increases. Although 2022-23 was his best season at Arsenal, he has been a constant under every manager for the presence he brought to the midfield, with his absence felt whenever he did not play this season. This is not only about improving Arsenal’s level ahead of next season, but maintaining the one they reached with Xhaka this season.
Advertisement
The expected departure of Charlie Patino, 19, will be interesting in terms of the fee Arsenal manage to negotiate. After two seasons, Albert Sambi Lokonga has not progressed as planned, but with more first-team exposure the 23-year-old may be a more solid asset to offload as he still showed flashes of quality under Patrick Vieira at Palace.
Declan Rice has been Arsenal’s long-term target for the summer for months. This makes sense given his age, relative experience and attributes that would allow him to fulfil multiple midfield roles. Caicedo signed a new deal at Brighton & Hove Albion after the January window but, as recent as last week, manager Roberto De Zerbi admitted he was a player who could still depart. Arsenal are also among clubs who admire Chelsea’s Mason Mount and Southampton’s Romeo Lavia, who excelled in the 3-3 draw at Emirates Stadium last month.
Even with potential arrivals in midfield, quality of depth is needed. Twenty-two-year-old Fabio Vieira (contract expires 2027) was afforded multiple chances but must improve on his hit and miss debut season.
Emile Smith Rowe (contract expires 2026), also 22, had a season disrupted by surgery in the first half of the year before the stakes of matches made it harder for Arteta to ease him back into the fold, but he is still a high-quality option. The midfielder, who had been used centrally in cameos throughout the season, will meet the club to discuss their plans for him at the end of the season — which is not out of the ordinary. After that, he is expected join the England’s under-21s squad for the European Championship in June, building sharpness for next season
Forwards x 9
Most of Arsenal’s frontline is sorted. Gabriel Jesus, 26, Eddie Nketiah, 23, and Gabriel Martinelli, 21, all have contracts until 2027. January signing Leandro Trossard, 28, also has a deal until 2026. Twenty-one-year-old Bukayo Saka is set to extend his existing deal, which expires in 2024.
The skill from White, the first-time pass from Odegaard, the body roll and finish from Nketiah…
Arsenal extend their lead against West Ham in scintillating style 🔥
🎥 @primevideosport #AFC | #WHUFC | #ARSWHU pic.twitter.com/OVBgrXkUZc
— The Athletic | Football (@TheAthleticFC) December 26, 2022
The most likely and possibly fruitful option in regards to departures in this area is Folarin Balogun. The striker switched allegiances so he could represent the USMNT this week, and he is ready to become a first-choice striker at club level after an impressive 20-goal season (in all competitions) on loan at Stade Reims. The 21-year-old has already garnered interest from England and Europe, so Arsenal negotiating well could be key to the quality they can reinvest in forward areas.
More uncertainty comes with players who are left on the fringes in these more advanced positions. Reiss Nelson, for instance, has been bright whenever a chance has presented itself this season but has not been afforded a single Premier League start this season. Although he has proven to be a more than capable squad option, with his contract up in the summer, the future is very much in his hands. Even with Arsenal’s contract offer, the 23-year-old could choose to leave on a free for more regular opportunities.
Advertisement
Nicolas Pepe, who will return from Nice with a year left on his deal, is further down in the pecking order. As was the case last summer, financials will be the biggest hurdle for Arsenal to overcome in regards to a permanent sale. If further reinforcements are signed on the wings — Bayer Leverkusen’s Moussa Diaby is of interest but not as big a priority as the midfield area — Pepe may be useful from a numbers perspective. He will be 28 at the end of May, however, so he should be looking at how best to optimise his playing time next season.
After an impressive debut in which he scored and set up a goal against Cardiff City, Marquinhos struggled to find consistency in his performances for Norwich City. This was a squad-wide theme as they finished 13th in the Championship, but the Brazilian failed to truly make a mark. Another loan makes the most sense as stepping into Champions League squads will come too soon for the 20-year-old.
Arsenal know where they have to improve ahead of next season. They are also at a point where they have a number of players who could help raise funds to do that.
It is a much better place to be in than previous summers, but comes with its own challenges. The word ‘level’ stuck out when Arteta spoke at the start of the month. What will be most important is not losing too much of what underpinned their progress this season, while continuing to make strides to ensure they can kick on.
(Top photo: Julian Finney via Getty Images)