SETTABLOID

Kai Havertz could be set to be deployed in a deeper role at Arsenal next season with the club closing in on RB Leipzig striker Benjamin Sesko. The German forward managed to prove both his critics and club fans wrong in the latter half of 2023/24 season, proving pivotal to Arsenal’s title charge after initially struggling following his £65million summer move from Chelsea.

He ended the campaign with 14 club goals to his name, and struck a late winner on the final day as the Gunners beat Everton 2-1.

The goal would have been enough to win Arsenal the title had Manchester City dropped points against West Ham, but Pep Guardiola’s side prevailed 3-1 to again confine Mikel Arteta and co to second place.

The Spaniard spent more than £200million last summer in a bid to end City’s dominance, and is expected to make more new signings when the next window opens on June 14. However, amid Financial Fair Play regulations, he is not expected to match his spending total of 2023.

But Sesko, 21, is still being strongly linked with a move to north London. The future of Gabriel Jesus has been subject to speculation after a campaign where he was plagued by form and fitness struggles, with Sesko seemingly viewed as a potential replacement should the Brazilian be sold.

Arsenal will be looking to make minor changes to their squad this summer as they attempt to end Manchester City’s Premier League dominance.

The Gunners have already been linked with several big names but, for now, it remains to be seen whether or not Edu will sanction another spending spree with Benjamin Sesko being heavily linked with a move to the Emirates. Last year, Arsenal spent over £200million on Declan Rice, Kai Havertz and Jurrien Timber.

They made plenty of sales too, though, so perhaps Mikel Arteta will plot another clear-out – Emile Smith Rowe and Reiss Nelson, in particular, face uncertain futures in north London. Whatever happens this summer, Arsenal won’t want any progress going to waste with the Manchester clubs, Liverpool and Chelsea all expected to wheel out the war chests.

The Gunners took the Premier League title race down to the final day, so next term they’ll be looking to finally get their hands on some silverware.

Mikel Arteta and Edu will be desperately hoping one particular Premier League midfielder heads to this summer’s European championships. The tournament is just under two weeks away from kicking off and while it may allow for the perfect scouting opportunities, getting early deals over the line will be a significant challenge.

“That’s the ideal scenario,” Arteta said when asked if Arsenal were hopeful of getting their business done at the start of the window. “Every club wants that, we want that as coaches and for the players especially. Then for the team and for the environment. When you do that something clicks there and it’s really important because it starts to give you momentum.”

Despite the summer trading period not being open until mid-June, the Gunners have been linked to numerous players with RB Leipzig striker Benjamin Sesko undoubtedly near the top of the priority list. However, doing a deal swiftly, despite his €65million (£55.3m) release clause, won’t be easy as he prepares for the Euros with Slovenia.

Later this month, England take on his nation in their final group stage clash where Declan Rice and Bukayo Saka may be hoping to convince him of a move to Arsenal. Arteta will likely have a close eye on that game but it may be other England games he watches with a keen eye on one particular midfielder.

For the final 28 minutes of the friendly victory over Bosnia and Herzegovina, Crystal Palace star Adam Wharton showed exactly why he has become the talk of the town. During his first six months at Selhurst Park, the 20-year-old has been immense and his cameo from the bench may have done wonders for his chances of being named in Gareth Southgate’s 26-man squad.

Jude Bellingham and Rice have already nailed down two midfield spots but exactly who takes the other one is unknown. Out of Conor Gallagher, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Kobbie Mainoo and Wharton, Arteta will definitely be hoping it is the latter in order to get a closer look at how he functions alongside Rice.

The Gunners are on the hunt for a new midfielder with Thomas Partey expected to depart this summer. Martin Zubimendi, Amadou Onana, Youssouf Fofana and Joao Neves have all been linked as potential replacements but Wharton could prove to be the best option, especially if he has already worked well with Rice.

Last summer Arsenal were interested in his signature but Palace struck quickly earlier this year to wrap up an £18million deal with Championship side Blackburn Rovers. The only problem with the interest potentially remaining 12 months on will be the significant price increase given Wharton’s recent displays and nationality.

Arsenal are set to sign Brentford goalkeeper David Raya on a permanent deal and will proceed with the transfer in the next few days, Fabrizio Romano revealed.

Raya, who joined Arsenal on a season-long loan last summer, impressed for the Gunners as he won the Premier League’s Golden Glove in his first season at the Emirates.

The Spaniard was Mikel Arteta’s number-one option throughout the campaign as Aaron Ramsdale watched on from the sidelines and now looks certain to leave this summer.

The Gunners will activate a buy option clause included in Raya’s loan deal and will make him the first signing of the summer as Romano revealed Arteta is ‘super happy’ to keep the 28-year-old at the Emirates.

Raya kept 16 clean sheets in the Premier League last season as Arsenal mounted another title challenge and finished second, just two points behind Manchester City.

Arsenal Set to Sign David Raya

Arteta wanted him to stay

Writing in his Daily Briefing, Romano revealed that Arsenal already had a ‘pact’ with Brentford to sign Raya this summer:

Raya, who received praise from ex-Arsenal player Martin Keown after his Champions League penalty shootout heroics against Porto, appeared in 41 matches last season, keeping 20 clean sheets.

Arsenal chiefs will be looking to fine tune their squad in the summer transfer window ahead of what would be a third consecutive title race with Manchester City for the Premier League trophy – and that will include a left-back, according to The Athletic.

The Gunners have come closer and closer to tasting domestic success after a 20-year hiatus from the title, running Pep Guardiola’s men to the final day of the season in a valiant effort but a couple of poor results against non ‘Big Six’ times saw them stumble – and so squad depth could be crucial to their credentials. And that has seen a left-back linked with the club with Mikel Arteta ‘not being convinced’ by current options, according to The Athletic.

The Gunners are looking to bring in a left-sided defender

The report states that left-back is one area of focus for the Gunners alongside an out-and-out striker, a midfielder to partner Declan Rice and a deputy keeper to sit behind David Raya and Aaron Ramsdale.

Despite having two senior left-backs at the club in Kieran Tierney and Oleksandr Zinchenko, the publication states that Arteta is not entirely convinced by their skillset and even with Jakub Kiwior and Jurrien Timber – a natural centre-back and right-back, respectively – having featured at left-back at some point in their careers, there is a need to bring a new man in.

Timber has returned to the training setup after missing the entirety of last season with an anterior cruciate ligament injury that he suffered on his debut, and so he may well come into the first-team fold at some point, but Arsenal are continuing to have a look at the transfer market to see if they can bring a specialist left-back that fits straight into Arteta’s mantra to the club.

One player that has been monitored by the Gunners is Ajax man Jorrel Hato, the report claims. He has been on Arsenal’s shortist for quite some time and though he is naturally a centre-back, Arteta believes that his skillset could be suited to left-back, where he has featured before. He only signed a new deal three months ago but at the age of just 18, a decent-sized bid could tempt Arsenal to make a move for his services. However, at such a young age, his minutes would likely be tempered as to avoid chucking him into the Premier League at the deep end.

Left-Back Stars at Arsenal Haven’t Performed

A drop in performances has seen the Gunners stars struggle

Zinchenko was one of Arsenal’s most consistent players in the 2022/23 season, but some sub-standard performances this season have seen the Ukrainian struggle to breach the first-team picture and fans, at times, have not been happy with his performances given how well Ben White has been doing on the opposite flank.

Joining from serial trophy hoisters City, his winning mentality is likely a key reason as to Arsenal’s rise up the table and progression into Europe but perhaps a back-up role will suffice for the versatile star next year.