The transfer window does not open for another week but plans at London Colney are in full swing.
Arsenal have a clear objective for next season after finishing second in the Premier League table this term. Challenging at the top with Manchester City will be the aim, with their return to the Champions League lining up a thrilling campaign.
Mikel Arteta has no time to revel in his best season in management and is already preparing for a 'crucial' summer transfer window. "At the level we want, no," he told football.london last month when asked if his side were ready to compete with the elite.
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"We didn’t have the capacity to do that as well with the Europa League so it’s part of that evolution. We have made a lot of good steps and strong steps in that journey and we have to continue. That never ends. We want to be better and the rest will be better, then the margins will be higher and we have to start to live with those standards and improve and be smarter."
Arsenal must build on the momentum produced in the last year. The best way to do that is by backing Arteta and making the necessary upgrades to his playing squad.
As has been well reported, football.london understands that Arsenal are prioritising a move for West Ham star Declan Rice. The Gunners are preparing a bid for the midfielder and will wait until their Europa Conference League final with Fiorentina is over to make a move.
Arteta is also considering improving his defence and attacking line, with Bayer Leverkusen duo Edmond Tapsoba and Moussa Diaby linked with a move. Granit Xhaka's imminent move to the BayArena could play a pivotal part in any deal.
Should Xhaka depart, another midfielder will have to be signed. The Swiss midfielder has played a pivotal role in the Gunners' return to the pinnacle of English football and his presence will certainly be missed.
Brighton's Moises Caicedo reportedly prefers a move to north London over Chelsea. It's thought the prospect of playing in the Champions League is key to his thinking, making the Ecuadorian a perfect midfield reinforcement.
Ivan Fresneda and Sacha Boey are two players thought to be on Arteta's list at right-back. Natural centre-back Ben White was utilised in the position this season due to Takehiro Tomiyasu's injury-riddle year, meaning a new face is likely to be added.
At left-back, Kieran Tierney has been strongly linked with a move out of the Emirates Stadium after losing his place to Oleksandr Zinchenko this season. Should the Scotsman leave, Nuno Tavares is a probable option for Arteta following his impressive loan spell at Marseille.
Arsenal also have an interest in adding a new centre-forward to the squad if possible. The position is not a priority due to Gabriel Jesus and Eddie Nketiah, however, much has been made of the lack of killer instinct amongst the ranks.
Dusan Vlahovic has, once again, been linked with a move to the Emirates Stadium. Juventus' points deduction in Serie A means they will participate in the Europa Conference League and the Serbian could be sold to repair the financial damage.
Arsenal's possible 25-man squad for next season:
Ramsdale, Turner; Fresneda, White, Gabriel, Saliba, Kiwior, Holding, Zinchenko, Tavares; Partey, Rice, Caicedo, Jorginho, Odegaard, Vieira, Smith-Rowe, Martinelli, Saka, Trossard, Nelson, Jesus, Vlahovic, Nketiah.
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