Mikel Arteta believes it is crucial to take Arsenal ‘to a different level’ in this transfer window.
The Gunners have reconvened for pre-season after winning their first Premier League title since 2004 in a gruelling campaign.
Despite being widely considered one of the best clubs in European and world football, though, Arsenal have been slow off the mark in the transfer market this summer.
They have made just two signings thus far, bringing in prolific Club Brugge winger Christos Tzolis and former Leeds goalkeeper Ilan Meslier on a free transfer. They were known to hold a keen interest in Aston Villa’s Morgan Rogers but lost out to Chelsea, and are currently labouring in attempts to lure Bruno Guimaraes to trade Newcastle for north London.
Arsenal are continuing to set lofty targets and are understood to hold an interest, however ambitious, in Real Madrid’s Vinicius Junior and Atletico Madrid striker Julian Alvarez.
Speaking to the club’s in-house media channels from a warm-weather training camp in Spain, he reiterated that Arsenal need to build on their Premier League success this summer as they train their sights on success in the Champions League.
“A lot is happening," Arteta declared. "We all know about the context of this transfer window.”
He continued, adding that talks between himself and the club’s executives showed they are aligned on targets.
“From ownership to the board, the sporting director and myself, we know that we want to take this club to a different level. That is going to require a better squad, better individuals.
“We have identified where we have opportunities to grow and to improve and to evolve our game and what is going to be needed to achieve that.
“Hopefully very soon we can start to put things in a very concrete way.”
Arsenal face their first pre-season friendly of the summer this weekend as they face Girona in Spain.
