Mikel Arteta's dream Arsenal line up as last-gasp January transfers are secured
This time last year, Arsenal failed to open their chequebook and saw their dreams of a return to the Champions League evaporate in the final weeks of the season.
The Gunners were never likely to repeat that tactic in the 2023 January transfer window; particularly as they are currently sitting five points clear at the top of the Premier League.
Mikel Arteta had hinted prior to the start of the month that funds were available for Arsenal to strengthen after spending in excess of £100million for the second summer running. And while the Londoners are looking far stronger than they were when the domestic campaign resumed on Boxing Day, they have also missed out on several top targets.
Shakhtar Donetsk winger Mykhaylo Mudryk was pegged as the Gunners' top target before the window opened but they were gazumped by Chelsea, who muscled in to seal a deal. Arsenal also tabled two bids for Brighton's sought-after midfielder Moises Caicedo but were unable to convince the Seagulls to part with the Ecuador international.
The Gunners did manage to wrap up three deals before Tuesday night's 11pm transfer deadline: Leandro Trossard, Jakub Kiwior and Jorginho all arrived at the Emirates on a permanent basis.
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But it's highly likely that Arteta and Edu will conduct further business in the summer after retaining a sizeable chunk of the monster transfer fees they were willing to splash on Mudryk and Caicedo.
Join the debate! Who would you like Arsenal to target in the summer? Let us know here.
Mikel Arteta has been busy in the January transfer window (Arsenal FC via Getty Images)Jorginho may have completed his surprise switch to Arsenal from Chelsea on deadline day, but Arteta is still expected to target a world-class midfielder in the summer.
West Ham captain Declan Rice is one player who would fit the bill: he is expected to leave his boyhood club in the summer and Arsenal have emerged as the leading contender for his signature in recent weeks.
It is believed that the Hammers could demand as much as £100m for his services - a sum than the £70m that Arsenal tabled for Caicedo in the final days of the January window.
But the Gunners could be in a position to fund a move for the 24-year-old, who would be the perfect long-term successor to Thomas Partey, with the windfall they should bank by qualifying for next year's Champions League, which looks a foregone conclusion at this stage.
Declan Rice is believed to be one of Arsenal's main summer transfer targets (Rui Vieira/AP/REX/Shutterstock)It remains to be seen where Caicedo would stand if Arsenal do opt to firm up their interest in Rice at the end of the season - it's unlikely the Gunners would attempt to acquire both after snapping up Jorginho, but in a dream world, Arteta would probably like to pair them up. Youri Tielemans, another long-term target, is also set to be a free agent in the summer.
The Spaniard could rekindle his search for attackers after missing out on Mudryk if Trossard fails to have the desired impact at the Emirates over the coming months, but with new deals for Gabriel Martinelli and Bukayo Saka in the pipeline, he could also opt to keep his powder dry.
Ben White has made the right-back berth his own this season but the Gunners could move for 18-year-old Real Valladoid prospect Ivan Fresneda in the summer after failing to snare him in January.
How Arsenal could line up under Arteta next seasonAaron Ramsdale, Gabriel Magalhaes and Oleksandr Zinchenko have formed a solid defensive foundation alongside White this season and are well established at the club.
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Granit Xhaka, Martin Odegaard and Gabriel Jesus have all also played an influential role in Arsenal's remarkable season and are likely to feature prominently next season regardless of any further transfer activity.
Potential dream Arsenal line-up for 2023-24: Ramsdale, Fresneda, Saliba, Gabriel, Zinchenko, Rice, Caicedo, Odegaard, Martinelli, Saka, Jesus.
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