Arsenal transfer latest: Mikel Arteta reveals summer plan to close gap on Man City, Liverpool
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has revealed the club’s approach to transfers this summer as he tries to find a way to get closer to the likes of Manchester City and Liverpool.
The Gunners are on target to qualify for the Champions League for the first time in six years. Victory at north London rivals Tottenham in Thursday night’s huge clash would confirm fourth spot. Arsenal are currently four points ahead of Spurs with three games to go.
Securing a spot in Europe’s top cup competition would help the Gunners attract top stars to The Emirates.
A report in the Daily Mirror claims that owner Stan Kroenke is prepared to give Arteta significant funds to strengthen. That is despite Arsenal spending more than £140million on new additions last summer.
Speaking after City announced the big-name signing of Erling Haaland, Arteta said: “We expect that every team is going to reinforce and get better every single year. That’s been the case in the last three or four years in particular.
“You can see the standard and the level of the top teams in the league, which is unprecedented in Premier League history and that’s the level. It’s only going to get more and more difficult. All the planning we have to do is to try to get to that level.”
City striker Gabriel Jesus is just one player linked with the Gunners. And his agent, Marcelo Pettinati, admits talks have taken place.
He said: “We had talks with Arsenal about Gabriel Jesus, we like the project – it’s a possibility we’re discussing. There are six more clubs interested in Gabriel – he’s focused on final games with Man City, we’ll see.”
Arteta coy on striker talk
But when asked about Jesus, Arteta said: “You know that I don’t talk about any players that are not with us.”
The Gunners chief was also reluctant to discuss the chances of adding strikers to his squad this summer. Both Eddie Nketiah and Alexandre Lacazette can soon leave on free transfers, which would leave a big hole in his squad.
Arteta added: “I am looking for the strikers that we have in the team, and this is my focus. We have three games to go and that’s the only thing I am focussing on.”
The Gunners will be missing Thomas Partey (thigh) and Kieran Tierney (knee) for Thursday night’s clash. Ben White (hamstring) and Bukayo Saka (knock) are also doubtful for the game.
“Ben he is still a doubt, we have to assess him and see how he is feeling, which is much better,” said Arteta. “With Bukayo it’s the same. It’s very difficult to rate with injuries, it’s just how they feel today, that’s the last day that we can assess them and try to get the feeling, basically.”
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