As the 2021/22 campaign draws to a close on Sunday, Mikel Arteta doesn't just have the chance to reflect on how his own players have performed, but also on those that are on his radar this summer. Champions League qualification now looks unlikely, but that doesn't mean the club won't look to strengthen the squad further with top-quality additions.
The return of European football along with the introduction of five substitutions in the Premier League next season mean squad depth must be improved, but considering how close we were to a top-four spot, the emphasis must remain on signing players who will make the team better in order to increase our chances next time around.
Manchester City's Gabriel Jesus, Bologna full-back Aaron Hickey and PSV Eindhoven forward Cody Gakpo are just some of the names under consideration, football.london understands. However, one of them in particular has proven why he is such an ideal fit for Arsenal.
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Gakpo has enjoyed an exceptional season in all competitions, scoring an impressive 21 goals and providing 15 assists in the process. It means the winger ranks in the top 10 for the most goals and assists combined in Europe this season for players aged 23 and under.
Possessing pace, great technical ability, work rate, leadership and versatility, Gakpo has emerged as one of the most exciting young players over the past year, and when he produces numbers like the ones above, it's clear to see why. To top things off, his standout performances in PSV colours have led to both Voetbal International and De Telegraaf choosing him as their Eredivisie player of the season.
Liverpool, Manchester City and Bayern Munich are also credited with an interest in Gakpo, but the Netherlands international has confirmed he is yet to make a decision on his future.
“Anything can happen this summer. I will now calmly compare all the options and see what is best for me. Staying another year is also an option,” he told De Telegraaf. “It would be a shame if I went somewhere where I wouldn’t get a game at all so that I would miss the World Cup. I’ll keep that in mind.”
With his comments in mind, Arsenal should be viewed as an attractive destination for the player considering he would have the chance to establish himself as the starting left-winger, which is his preferred position.
There is also an expectation that Nicolas Pepe will depart, opening up more opportunities on the flanks. In addition to playing out wide, Gakpo can comfortably operate as a centre-forward too, another area where the squad is in desperate need of added firepower.
Gakpo is valued at €49.7million (£42million) by CIES Football Observatory and has previously admitted he likes Arsenal "a lot", but whether or not Champions League football is required to secure his signature remains to be seen. It would certainly be a shrewd bit of business by Arteta and technical director Edu if they are able to get a deal over the line, though.
