Arsenal summer transfer plans have not changed, says Arteta

Arsenal have been linked to a number of star strikers, including Brentford’s Ivan Toney and Sporting’s Viktor Gyökeres. 

Arsenal are one of the highest scoring teams in the Premier League this season. They have outscored teams in 2024 by a margin of 31 goals to three. Despite all of this, Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta still says the club needs a striker.  
 
Speaking to the press ahead of the second leg of Arsenal’s PremierLeague fixture against Brentford, Arteta revealed the club’s plans to sign a striker have not changed.  

Arteta comments on Arsenal transfer plans

With how easily Arsenal are scoring, Mikel Arteta was asked if his Gunners side still need to bring in a striker in the offseason.  
 
“The plans that we have for the summer are very clear,” Arteta said on Thursday in London.  
 
“[The plans] were done almost at the start of the season, understanding what we can have, the contract situations with some players, and how we can improve certain areas of the team. This situation doesn't change that.” 
 
Part of the reason Arteta might still be interested in signing a striker is because of just how hard the Premier League is this season. The Gunners are in a three-way title race with Man City and Liverpool.  
 
Areta says “You might have to win every game. I don’t know,” referring to what his team needs to do in order to win the title.  

Arsenal transfer targets

After declaring that his side was still interested in signing a striker, Mikel Arteta was asked about one of the club’s most high profile transfer targets; Ivan Toney.  
 
“I don't talk about any other player,” Arteta said when asked about Toney. “If not, I'll have to rule out every other player in the market because we're linked with a lot of players,” he said, clarifying his stance.  
 
Toney was linked to Arsenal strongly during the January transfer window, but the Brentford striker opted to stay and see out the season with his current club. The Bees are expected to ask for close to £80 million (AUD$154.7 million) for the 28-year-old. With such a high price tag, Arsenal are reportedly looking elsewhere.  
 
Sporting CP’s Viktor Gyökeres has emerged as a name at the top of Arsenal and many other club’s transfer lists. The Swedish striker, who formerly played for Brighton and Coventry City in England, has 18 goals and 8 assists in 8 matches for Sporting CP this season.  
 
Brighton’s current striker, Evan Ferguson, is another player Arsenal could sign. He’s expected to cost as much or more than Toney, so it’s unclear whether he is actually a genuine option for the Gunners.  

Other Arsenal news

Arsenal’s next match is against Brentford in the Premier League. Backup goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale will be in between the sticks at the Emirates Stadium for Arsenal with David Raya unable to play against his parent club.  
 
Arteta says Ramsdale is “fully prepared” for the match, adding that “He's desperate to play like the rest of the boys that haven't had that many opportunities. Saturday will be a great opportunity for him.”

A win against Brentford could see the Gunners finish Matchweek 28 at the top of the Premier League table. A loss could see them cede ground to Liverpool and Man City.  
 
Arsenal also have a Champions League match against Porto to look forward to after the Brentford match.