I, for one, am very happy to see Eddie Nketiah remain at Arsenal with a new contract running though June, 2027. It is in those next five years this group of Gunners should win trophies, and hopefully, a lot of trophies.
Let’s take a look at the Arsenal nucleus Mikel Arteta and Edu Gaspar have to build around this summer…
Goalkeepers: Aaron Ramsdale, Matt Turner
Center backs: Gabriel Magalhaes, Ben White, William Saliba, Rob Holding
Fullbacks: Kieran Tienry, Takehiro Tomiyasu, Nuno Tavares, Ainsley Maitland-Niles
Midfielders: Thomas Partey, Granit Xhaka, Martin Odegaard, Mo Elneny, Albert Sambi Lokonga, Emile Smith Rowe
Forwards: Eddie Nketiah, Gabriel Martinelli, Bukayo Saka, Folarin Balogun, Reiss Nelson
Other Arsenal players currently under contract who will either be leaving the club or will be loaned out next season are: Bernd Leno, Alexandre Lacazette, Nicolas Pepe, Matteo Guendouzi, Lucas Torreira, Hector Bellerin, Alex Runarsson, Pablo Mari and Cedric Soares.
There is a lot of talent in the list above, however, obviously not enough to get the job done this season. Maybe a few of those players Arsenal had put on loan could have benefited the Gunners down the closing stretch of the season. Players like Ainsley Maitalind-Nile, Pablo Mari or Hector Bellerin might have given us the needed depth to help cover many of Areteta’s injury problems. Yet, we will never know.
Now, the key going forward, especially with the Gunners back in a European competition, will be depth. Arsenal will need more quality players to cover the four competitions facing the squad next season.
At the top of that list is finding a quality striker or two, followed by finding more depth at fullback, signing more depth at holding midfielder, and adding another attacking midfielder.
With William Saliba returning to the club, the back line should be good. My guess is that Rob Holding will probably stay unless Edu and Arteta find a better player in the transfer market.
I am excited to see what the men at the top achieve this summer in the transfer window. If they can add what is needed to boost Arsenal’s arsenal, then the 2022/2023 season should be an exciting one for Gooner Nation!
Cheers.
Gunner1953