What’s next for Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal?

Had we known before the 2024/25 season kicked off that Manchester City would lose their grip on the Premier League crown, even the most reluctant of rival fans would have backed Arsenal to be the team that ended City’s dominance in the English top flight. 

However, poor transfer dealings, injuries, indiscipline, and the lack of an X factor up front resulted in another trophyless campaign for Mikel Arteta & Co. 

In this article, we look back at the 2024/25 season, the squad, the manager, the technical staff, Arsenal’s summer “warchest”, and expectations for next season. 

Another season of missed opportunities

It was after the second international break that the horror show started for Arsenal, as they went on a four-game winless run between October 19 and November 10, while Liverpool continued to conquer every foe in their path. However, Arsenal did keep Arne Slot’s men honest by going 14 league games unbeaten over the winter period.

While the loss of Bukayo Saka midway through the season was a tough one to swallow, the Gunners coped relatively well in his absence. However, their failures in the January transfer window — mainly, not adding a new striker to their ranks to cover the absences of Gabriel Jesus and Kai Havertz — ultimately cost them.

Moreover, Arteta’s men were also losing leads — dropping points and drawing games at will. They managed just three wins from 11 in the league between February 22 and May 11, allowing Liverpool to run away with the title without breaking too much of a sweat.

While Arsenal went backwards domestically, they took a giant leap forwards continentally. In the Champions League, they served Real Madrid a huge slice of humble pie and beat them to reach the semi-finals for just the third time in their history, before losing to a cohesive Paris Saint-Germain side.

Arteta’s side were also subjected to final-four heartbreak in the League Cup at the hands of eventual champions Newcastle United. In the FA Cup, as has been a regular theme since their last triumph in the competition in 2020, their run was over before it even began as Manchester United prevailed on penalties in the third round at the Emirates.

Analysing the current squad

It is safe to say that the current squad lacks depth in various key positions. With at least four players leaving the club at the end of the season, Arsenal need a revamp in terms of both marquee and squad players.  

Like his mentor Pep Guardiola, Arteta also likes to keep his squad relatively small, with every player playing his role. However, lack of signings last season, coupled with injuries to key players throughout the season, meant Arsenal were always playing catch-up. 

Second goalkeeper Neto, on loan from Bournemouth, was a real step down from Golden Glove winner David Raya. As a result, Arteta rarely trusted his No. 2. Therefore, heading into next season, signing an able deputy to Raya is a priority alongside other key positions. 

In defence, only Jakub Kiwior was able to keep himself fit throughout the season; every other Arsenal defender missed a game at some point due to injury. Although their defensive record might suggest otherwise, Arsenal struggled with injuries to too many key defenders. The likes of Takehiro Tomiyasu, Ben White, and Riccardo Calafiori hardly made an impact, sitting on the sidelines for the most part.

That said, these injuries allowed someone like Myles Lewis-Skelly to break into the playing XI as a left-back — despite playing most of his youth career as a central midfielder — and make the position his own, coming out of this campaign as one of the brightest prospects in Europe. 

In the midfield, Martín Zubimendi looks set to join the club at the start of next season. Should he do so, he will immediately slot in as the first-choice No. 6, with Arsenal also working hard behind the scenes to tie down Thomas Partey to a short-term contract. Arteta can and will use Declan Rice as a No. 6 from time to time, so there’s enough depth in that position.

However, it is the No. 8 positions where Arsenal fall on the lighter side. Jorginho is leaving the club, and that leaves only Rice and Martin Ødegaard as the No. 8s. Young Ethan Nwaneri has shown that he’s capable of putting in a shift in Ødegaard’s role, yet the team remain short on numbers and in need of at least one more creative outlet this summer. 

The situation is worse further up the pitch. In an ideal world, Arsenal would need reinforcements for every single position in the forward line. It has been well documented that they’re in desperate need of a clinical striker. They took a chance with a late Ollie Watkins bid in January. When that failed, Arteta resorted to moulding a midfielder into a striker instead. 

On the wings, Arsenal are still looking for a back-up to Bukayo Saka, and if they think Nwaneri is the answer, then they need to add more depth in midfield. On the left wing, there are question marks over Leandro Trossard’s ability to consistently challenge Gabriel Martinelli — if a bid comes, Arsenal should cash in and look to bring in someone who’ll give the Brazilian a run for his money. 

Kai Havertz, despite not being a prolific goalscorer, has had a positive impact up front since joining the club. He was one of the better players before he got injured in their Dubai training camp. Brazilian forward Gabriel Jesus, meanwhile, has been a real let-down. Apart from his first season at the Emirates, he has mostly spent his time in the medical room. Given his injury, it is highly unlikely that he’ll be moved on this summer. Thus, signing a striker is Arsenal’s number one priority this summer. 

A visible change in Arteta’s approach

Since taking the reins in 2019, Mikel Arteta has orchestrated a complete tactical transformation at Arsenal. What began as a team under rebuild quickly evolved into one of the most tactically versatile outfits in European football. 

This season, Arsenal have further solidified their identity by refining key tactical elements to seamlessly transition between phases of play. From the strategic adaptation of formations to set-piece brilliance and pressing mechanisms, the Gunners have taken dynamic football to the next level under Arteta’s stewardship.

The flexible 4-3-3 structure grants Arsenal the freedom to morph their shape mid-game without disrupting the tactical balance. This versatility allows defenders to push forward during build-up as midfielders drop deeper or position themselves between the lines. 

This transformation enables Arsenal to manipulate the opposition’s structure and respond fluidly to the match’s flow. Against elite teams like Manchester City and Liverpool, this adaptability has allowed them to neutralise threats while exploiting the wide areas and half-space channels with precision.

However, the formation does not just provide defensive stability — it also acts as a launching pad for versatile attacking. Players interchange positions fluidly, with wingers cutting inside, fullbacks overlapping, and midfielders recycling possession. This helps create overloads on either flank or in the middle. 

As a result, opposition players are often forced into reactive positions, exposing their backline to Arsenal’s vertical passing and quick combinations. The team’s balance between compactness and expansiveness is key to maintaining pressure while probing for openings.

Arteta has not only implemented a tactical model — he has also instilled a culture of discipline and purpose. The squad now adheres to strict positioning principles, off-ball diligence, and a collective mindset. Players are evaluated on their ability to understand spatial dynamics and tactical responsibilities. 

Moreover, Arsenal’s transformation on set pieces has been nothing short of remarkable, thanks to specialist coach Nicolas Jover. Since his appointment, Arsenal have climbed to the top of the Premier League charts for goals scored from corners. This is a direct result of repeated drills, video analysis, and adaptive execution. Opposing defences have struggled to track the layered movement and decoys orchestrated by Jover. 

With precise deliveries from Martin Ødegaard and Bukayo Saka and intelligent runs by Gabriel Magalhães and Ben White, Arsenal have managed to turn every dead ball into a high-probability chance. This conversion rate has contributed significantly to their goals tally, providing crucial breakthroughs in tightly contested matches, helping them finish second in the league despite no player scoring ten or more goals.

What will Andrea Berta bring to the table?

Andrea Berta succeeded Edu Gaspar as Sporting Director at Arsenal after the Brazilian — having represented Arsenal in his playing days — left the Emirates towards the end of last year. The Italian arrived in North London with the reputation of being one of the shrewdest sporting directors in European football.

Berta worked for Italian clubs Parma and Genoa before joining Atlético Madrid in 2013 initially as their technical director. While at Atlético, he was instrumental in signing the likes of Rodri, Antoine Griezmann, and Jan Oblak. 

French forward Griezmann, who is arguably one of Atleti’s greatest players, was signed from Real Sociedad for €30 million in 2014. Five years later, he was sold to Barcelona for €120 million. A little over three years after that, Los Colchoneros bought him back for just €22 million.

Spain midfielder Rodri, now a Ballon d’Or winner, was signed for just €20 million in 2018 and sold to Manchester City the following year for €70 million, while Slovenian keeper Oblak was signed from Benfica in 2014 for just €16 million. He is now widely regarded as one of the best goalkeepers in the world.

More recently, Uruguayan forward Luis Suárez was bought from Barcelona for just €9 million and played an instrumental role during Atleti’s 2020/21 LaLiga-winning run, while Julián Alvarez joined from Man City last summer for €75 million. 

For Arsenal, there are a few immediate issues Berta has to deal with first. The main and most obvious task is to bring in a much-needed centre-forward. The Gunners have suffered key injuries to first-choice attackers this season without bringing in a forward for two transfer windows in a row.

An argument can also be made for Arteta’s side needing a player with flair — someone with the ability to make something happen from the wings when Arsenal play against teams that sit in a low block. Additional cover for their attacking midfielders is also a necessity. 

However, it’s not only incomings that Berta will need to address. A big summer is coming up for the club, with key players Bukayo Saka, William Saliba, and Gabriel Magalhães entering the final two years of their contracts. Berta will need to make sure that these players are locked down so that Arteta can continue to build on the impressive work he has done with the team.

There are also players who need to be moved on. Oleksandr Zinchenko has dropped further down the pecking order after the emergence of Myles Lewis-Skelly, and the club were even willing to let him go in January if they received the right offer. Both Leandro Trossard and Fábio Vieira are also expected to be on the chopping block, and their fate will be decided depending on how Arsenal’s window pans out. 

It is an exciting project for any sporting director to come into, but with Arsenal challenging for silverware in recent seasons, the coming transfer window is not one Berta can afford to get wrong.

How will the Gunners use their £250m summer warchest?

This is easily one of the first questions any Arsenal fan will be asked this summer. Mikel Arteta made it clear on several occasions in January that he wanted reinforcements up front, but one failed Ollie Watkins bid later the Gunners enacted the emergency Mikel Merino protocol.

Journalist Ben Jacobs has reported that Arsenal are set to spend upwards of £250 million this summer. Speaking on Curtis Shaw TV a few days ago, he said, “Even though net spend is more important, if there are outgoings you can balance your outlay, but if you look at what they’re going to put towards transfers, it might be in the region of £250m or even £300m. It is going to be a busy and exciting summer.”

Now blessed with an experienced head like Andrea Berta as their new sporting director, barring a transfer disaster Arsenal will finally add that big-money No. 9 to their squad this summer. Most likely, this will be Viktor Gyökeres, though Benjamin Šeško could also be an option if a favourable deal can be reached.

Manchester United seem to be Arsenal’s biggest competition in the Gyökeres fight, but Arsenal should be able to sell their sporting project as the more appealing one. Berta, in particular, will go all in on the charm offensive, having tried and failed to sign the Swede for Atlético Madrid.

However, while signing a striker is undoubtedly Arsenal’s biggest priority, it is not their only concern. A new central midfielder, wide attacker, and goalkeeper must also be brought in, regardless of what happens with any existing players.

Arsenal are expected to complete the signing of Real Sociedad midfielder Martín Zubimendi this summer, with the club expected to meet his €60m release clause. With both Nico Williams and Viktor Gyökeres also reportedly available for £60 million each, should they go for these two, Arsenal will have close to £100 million left — excluding outgoings — to strengthen other areas of the pitch. 

The club will also be looking to add defensive depth to their squad, and Sporting defender Ousmane Diomande is a player who has been on their radar for a while. They’ve also identified Espanyol’s first-choice keeper Joan Garcia as their No. 1 choice for the backup goalkeeper role, though they’ll face tough competition from Barcelona. 

Arsenal are also among the frontrunners to sign Norwegian wonderkid Sverre Nypan from Rosenborg as a back-up to Martin Ødegaard. However, both Aston Villa and Manchester City are also keeping close tabs on the 18-year-old’s situation. 

Expectations for the 2025/26 season

After the captivating chaos of the 2022/23 and 2023/24 seasons, during which Arsenal ran Man City incredibly close on both occasions, Mikel Arteta has tried to shift to a more control-focused approach, though it has made his team worse to watch. Over-reliance on set pieces and frequent time-wasting may be the biggest gripes of rival supporters, while Gunners fans themselves have been frustrated by their side’s laborious build-up play, silly red cards, and inability to keep their top performers fit.

Only three Arsenal players were available for every single Premier League game this season — David Raya, Leandro Trossard, and Jakub Kiwior. The hierarchy simply did not do enough to ensure that the squad was well-stacked in the event of an injury crisis. However, the players on the pitch were also guilty of losing leads far too easily and failing to convert draws into wins.

Domestically, 2024/25 was a massive underachievement. Continentally, the season saw Arsenal pull off arguably their greatest result at the Emirates. But the only thing that really matters is that this was another season for them where no major trophy was clinched. And that cannot happen in 2025/26.

If it does, the #ArtetaOut forces will grow in voice and in number, potentially to the point where the board may have to consider a change.