We Have to Add Goals

As the summer transfer window looms, Arsenal’s intentions are crystal clear. Manager Mikel Arteta has underlined the urgent need for “firepower” as the North London club looks to strengthen its attacking options ahead of another title push. With speculation mounting around a potential move for Real Madrid’s Rodrygo, the Gunners are reportedly exploring a shortlist that includes RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko, Sporting Lisbon’s Viktor Gyokeres and Newcastle’s Alexander Isak.

This is not just a transfer wishlist. It is a necessary evolution for a side that has come agonisingly close but still fallen short of major silverware under Arteta’s tenure. The Arsenal manager is not mincing his words. “What is clear with the amount of injuries that we had in the front line is that we need a goal threat and we need firepower,” he said, emphasising that tactical ambition must be backed by quality reinforcements.

Rising Expectations Demand Ruthless Recruitment

For Arteta, the context has changed — and so have the stakes. Arsenal are no longer the surprise package, nor are they seen as plucky challengers. They are now considered an elite force, and with that comes pressure to deliver silverware. “There is pride because we have brought the club into a position that next season people are saying: ‘You have to win a major trophy.’ And that means that everybody believes,” Arteta explained.

In recent seasons, Arsenal have made significant progress both in terms of squad development and tactical maturity. But Arteta’s pointed remarks highlight a deeper awareness: numbers alone will not get the job done. Depth matters, especially in a campaign where injuries have repeatedly disrupted momentum.

“We cannot rely just on the numbers that we had before,” Arteta added. “We have to add goals, creativity, and we have to add numbers, and that will be in different positions.” This broadens the scope of Arsenal’s summer activity — suggesting that while a striker may be the headline act, reinforcements in midfield and wide areas are also on the agenda.

Transfer Market Intelligence Key to Sustained Success

Arteta’s vision is clear: to compete with Europe’s best, Arsenal must act like one of Europe’s best in the transfer market. “If you want to win major trophies, you have to be the best in the market, no? The teams that win always have the best players,” he said. This is not about reckless spending, but about calculated recruitment — identifying players who can elevate the squad’s quality without disrupting its identity.

Whether it is a marquee name like Rodrygo or a younger prospect with potential, Arsenal’s recruitment strategy under Arteta has generally focused on profiles that fit both short-term impact and long-term development. This dual focus has seen the club invest wisely in recent windows and it will need to continue if they are to bridge the narrow gap to sustained dominance.

Balancing Experience with Emerging Talent

While proven names will undoubtedly feature in Arsenal’s radar, there is also likely to be an emphasis on securing players who can develop under Arteta’s demanding but nurturing management. The links with Sesko and Gyokeres suggest Arsenal are monitoring players who combine physicality with technical ability, an essential trait in Arteta’s system that demands both positional discipline and fluid creativity.

Rodrygo, meanwhile, represents a different kind of acquisition — a high-profile signing from one of Europe’s biggest clubs. His arrival would not only bring firepower but also signal Arsenal’s growing influence and ambition on the continental stage.

Regardless of who arrives, the message is clear. Arsenal are not satisfied with progress. They want trophies. And this summer, Mikel Arteta intends to build a squad capable of delivering them.