Arsenal came agonisingly close to winning their first Premier League title in 20 years – and their team is not far from deserving the title.
Even though the race for the championship title was only decided on the last day, the difference between Gunners boss Mikel Arteta and his former mentor Pep Guardiola remains small.
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Here, The Pitch Prospect.com examines how strengthening three key areas could overturn this season’s two-point deficit and bring the Premier League trophy back to north London.
Centre-back
The Gunners appear to be in good shape in defence, with William Saliba and Gabriel forming an excellent duo that has helped Arsenal have the best defence in the league.
But Manchester City often have the edge in tiring final sprints because of the size of their squad, and Arsenal would do well to follow suit.
Saliba has played in every single Premier League game for Arsenal, while Gabriel has missed just two. Arteta should not rely on the duo having another injury-free season.
Top of the Gunners’ wishlist is left-footed Ajax defender Jorrel Hato. At just 18 years old, the Dutchman has played in all but one of Ajax’s Eredivisie games this season and has reportedly impressed Arsenal’s sporting director Edu.
Hato’s passing ability and tendency to burst forward and dribble out of defence could make him the perfect replacement for Saliba. He also has the ability to play as a left-back, with Arteta valuing versatility in his other defenders as well.
Although the young player signed a new contract with Ajax in March this year, the club’s failure to secure a place in Europe means he could be poached in the summer.
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Another left-footer who may have piqued the Gunners’ interest is Manchester United transfer candidate Jarrad Branthwaite.
The England centre-back is one of the players named in Gareth Southgate’s provisional 33-man Euro squad, having impressed at Everton and now being tipped for a big move in the summer.
If Arsenal are keen to make top-class investments this transfer window, the club could also have their eye on Bayer Leverkusen’s Edmond Tapsoba.
The 25-year-old was a key player in Leverkusen’s unbeaten Bundesliga season, boasting impressive numbers of progressive possessions (2.11) and progressive passes (7.07) per 90 minutes.
They would all come at a price, as their contracts still run for at least three years, but each of them could strengthen Arsenal’s defence, which is becoming increasingly impenetrable.
Right wing
Bukayo Saka joins the debates surrounding this elite player of “world class” caliber whenever he attacks Arsenal’s right wing.
The English star is a staple in any of Arteta’s lineups, and that’s no surprise given he has scored 16 goals and provided nine assists in the current Premier League season.
But the Gunners’ over-reliance on their 22-year-old star has led to a dip in performances, with Saka suffering an injury in the final stretch despite making 47 appearances in all competitions this season.
With Reiss Nelson and Emile Smith Rowe both set to leave Arsenal this summer, it would be wise to invest in a replacement for Saka to keep the academy graduate in shape for the duration.
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Pedro Neto’s talent has caught the attention of numerous Premier League clubs, including Arsenal.
The Wolverhampton Wanderers star would be an ideal choice if it weren’t for his poor injury history. He has missed 20 games in all competitions this season due to injury.
But with nine assists in the 20 league games he played, Neto remains an option to increase the attacking strength in north London.
If the Portuguese winger’s injury concerns prove too great, the Gunners could turn their attention to Liverpool target Johan Bakayoko, who shone at Dutch champions PSV Eindhoven.
The Belgian offers impressive attacking output from the wing, scoring 12 goals and assisting nine in the Eredivisie last season. At 21, he could give Saka a run for his money in the coming years.
striker
On the surface, Arsenal had no problems with their attacking performance last season, being surpassed only by Man City with 91 goals.
But despite only marginal advantages in a race separated by just two points, Arsenal failed to score in five league games last season, two more than City.
They failed twice to find the answer to the challenges posed by Aston Villa’s defence, while West Ham, Newcastle United and Man City also managed to keep Arteta’s team at bay.
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The lack of a genuine striker due to Gabriel Jesus’ injury-plagued season and a lack of confidence in Eddie Nketiah could be a factor. The two have scored nine goals between them this season.
While Kai Havertz did a commendable job in that role, Arsenal’s answer to Erling Haaland could be of great benefit in a future title challenge.
Victor Osimhen has not quite been able to match the goalscoring qualities that catapulted Napoli to the Serie A title in 2022/23, but despite recent injury problems he remains a tempting option.
The Nigerian, who has scored 17 goals in all competitions this season, has been linked with Chelsea but could also give the Gunners some much-needed firepower.
At home, Arsenal have been linked with Newcastle striker Alexander Isak, who finished as the Premier League’s third-top scorer with 21 goals.
Only Cole Palmer (22) and Erling Haaland (27) scored more goals.
Isak is a staple in the Fantasy Premier League for many and would also be a fixture in Arteta’s lineup should he move to north London.
However, the Swede will certainly come at a price as the Magpies are keen to keep his services.