(4-2-3-1) Gyokeres to lead the attack with Nico Williams”, Possible Arsenal lineup next season once this Five major signings is completed – We’re winning the league this season
(4-2-3-1) Gyokeres to lead the attack with Nico Williams”, Possible Arsenal lineup next season once this Five major signings is completed – We’re winning the league this season
The Gunners confirmed the departure of five first-team players on Wednesday.
Arsenal and Mikel Arteta enter the 2025/26 season knowing they need to win trophies, and to do so, they could bring in some big reinforcements this summer.
Arsenal’s 2024/25 campaign did not go as Arteta and Gunners fans had hoped.
The North London club finished the season in second place in the Premier League, ten points behind champions Liverpool, reached the semi-finals of the Carabao Cup, the third round of the FA Cup and lost to Paris Saint-Germain in the semi-finals of the Champions League.
Next season will be Arteta’s sixth in charge, and so far he has just one trophy – the 2019/20 FA Cup – to show for his efforts.
New sporting director, Andrea Berta, will undoubtedly bring fresh ideas and optimism to the Emirates and has already made some big decisions in his short time at Arsenal.
On Wednesday (June 4), Arsenal released the list of players who will remain, which confirmed the departure of five first-team players.
Midfielder Jorginho, left-back Kieran Tierney and striker Nathan Butler-Oyedeji have been released, while winger Raheem Sterling and goalkeeper Neto will return to their clubs after year-long loans.
Arsenal also explained that “discussions are ongoing and once they are concluded between all parties, we will communicate in due course” about Thomas Partey’s future.
So how could Arsenal shape up and who could they sign before the 2025/26 season
Victor Gyokeres
Gyokeres, 27, has long been linked with a potential move to Arsenal.
During the 2024/25 season, he scored 54 goals and provided 13 assists in 52 games, so there’s no doubt he knows how to put the ball in the net.
However, his age could be a barrier and the reason Arsenal favour signing Benjamin Sesko, 22.
The Swede will cost at least £67 million according to The Guardian.
Benjamin Sesko
Sesko, 22, like Gyokeres, has long been on Arsenal’s radar, although it was suggested he decided to stay at RB Leipzig last summer because it was unclear whether he would be Arteta’s first-choice striker ahead of Kai Havertz.
The Slovenian, who scored 13 goals in the Bundesliga in 2024/25, is also attracting interest from Liverpool. According to Sky Sports, he is expected to cost more than £70m.
Martin Zubimendi
Central midfielder Zubimendi, 26, appeared to be very close to a move to Arsenal until this week.
On 28 May, BBC Sport reported that “Zubimendi has a release clause of £51m, with all payment structures between Sociedad and Arsenal already agreed”, however he has spoken to the Spanish press.
“Of course there are options, but it’s true that it looks like it’s going to be a long summer and I don’t know how it’s going to end,” Zubimendi told Radio Nacional this week.
“But right now, it’s not my priority. I’m here with the national team, which is quite demanding, and if I have to say something, then I will say it.”
As usual for La Liga players, Real Madrid are also believed to be interested.
Leroy Sane
Sane, 29, has Premier League experience from his time at Manchester City and is still a quality player.
The German winger has spent the last five seasons at Bayern Munich, but his contract expires at the end of June.
The 29-year-old would undoubtedly bring the quality to challenge Bukayo Saka on the right or compete with Gabriel Martinelli on the left.
Nick Williams
Williams, 22, has attracted interest from Arsenal and Barcelona recently.
However, as things stand, a summer transfer seems unlikely.
According to journalist Ben Jacobs, “Nico Williams has begun initial talks over a contract renewal with Athletic Bilbao. The parties are discussing a salary that amounts to €10m, and the release clause could increase if a deal is reached. It is not yet guaranteed. Arsenal and Chelsea see the value of the current clause of €58m, and he remains on their radar, but the overall cost of the transfer (wages and agent fees) makes it expensive.”
Of course, there is always the possibility that negotiations could fall through, and Arsenal would be one of the first clubs to benefit if that happens.
Arsenal line-up prediction:
Of the transfers mentioned, Sesko and Zubimendi look like the most likely players to arrive this summer.
Sane’s potential transfer is a complicated matter, but the situation could be helped by the fact that he will become a free agent at the end of the month.
Possible lineup:
David Raya will most likely start in goal, behind a defensive back four consisting of Ben White, William Saliba, Gabriel and Myles Lewis-Skelly.
Zubimendi will take on the defensive midfielder role, allowing Declan Rice and Martin Odegaard to move forward and assist Sesko or Gyokeres, depending on who comes in.
