#66 - How these 3 signings could take Arsenal to a title

Arsenal have grown immensely under Mikel Arteta. From midtable mediocrity to title pushes and Champions League semi finals, reestablishing the team amongst Europe’s best. Yesterday, we secured runners-up again - but Arsenal want more and rightly so. There’s a window here to win a major trophy and the club would be foolish not to push the boat out to help this talented squad and manager win trophies.

This season has been littered with frustration. The same old story persists: no answer to stubborn mid-blocks, and this season in particular, dropped points from leading positions (20+).

If Arsenal are to move from challengers to champions, they need signings that do more than just add depth — they must address specific game-state weaknesses. Here are three players who could help turn the fortunes.

Martín Zubimendi: Conductor 🪄✨

This signing is all but done, according to reports. It’s easy to mistake Martín Zubimendi as a defensive midfielder in the traditional sense, but he’s more conductor than destroyer, and exactly the profile Arsenal need to improve their game management.

Over 20 points were dropped from winning positions this season. Often, Arsenal lose control rather than outright collapse. When the tempo rises and opponents commit bodies forward, they lack a calming presence in midfield. Zubimendi can be the answer: rarely dispossessed (just 0.5 times per 90), intelligent with his positioning (1.33 interceptions per 90), and strong in settled defensive phases (61.1% of dribblers tackled, 89th percentile).

Despite being more cerebral than physical, he’s also deceptively good in the air — winning 63% of his aerial duels, placing him in the 85th percentile, and averaging 2.68 clearances per 90 (93rd percentile). That makes him a secure outlet when defending leads and a genuine help when Arsenal are under the cosh.

Zubimendi brings verticality too — his punchy line-breaking passes and tempo-setting qualities are much closer to Jorginho than Partey. He could be the perfect long-term anchor, especially in matches where Arsenal need to break through mid-blocks and maintain composure under pressure.

Eberechi Eze: The lockpicker 🔐 and the lightning rod ⚡

Arsenal have lacked a true one-v-one dribbler in central and left areas — someone who can glide past players, destabilise mid-blocks, and keep defenders guessing. Eberechi Eze would give Arteta that rare profile, combining creativity, strength, and shot volume in one highly press-resistant package.

Eze averages 2.25 successful take-ons per 90 (83rd percentile), showing his ability to beat defenders in tight spaces. He also takes 3.5 shots per 90 (90th percentile), something this Arsenal team desperately needs — they’ve often lacked a trigger-happy option when Saka is marked out of games. With Eze’s threat on the other side, or even from the #8 position, opponents will not be able to focus just on one threat in Saka.

What’s more impressive is Eze’s defensive contribution: 5+ ball recoveries per 90 (89th percentile), making him a reliable outlet both in possession and during transitions. Like Saka, he’s deceptively strong and hard to dispossess. In matches where Arsenal are forced to sit deeper — like Anfield or the Etihad, or when defending a lead — Eze could help them turn defence into attack more effectively and ensure no dropped loads via scoring again rather than just resting on a 1-goal advantage.

Against compact sides, his intricate footwork and long-range shooting would offer new solutions. Instead of sterile domination, Arsenal could inject chaos — the good kind.

I actually think a signing like Eze, or Xavi Simons, could be the most important signing we can make, even more so than a winger, given these players could play wide too.

Viktor Gyökeres: The missing presence

The biggest elephant in the room is the lack of a proper striker. Arsenal have played large chunks of 2025 with no real No.9. Kai Havertz is returning and has grown into the role, but Arsenal need more.

Sporting’s Viktor Gyökeres fits the bill. Physically imposing, relentless in the press, and technically underrated — he offers more than just goals. Gyökeres averages nearly 5 shot-creating actions per 90, as well as 2 key passes — signs of a striker who links play and creates for others, not just a poacher.

Crucially, he could act as an out ball. When Arsenal are pinned back, Gyökeres’ hold-up ability and movement would help them escape pressure and progress up the pitch. That’s something they sorely lacked when facing high presses or late-game surges from opponents.

A striker who combines an elite scoring threat, physical presence, and intelligent link-up play is rare. Gyökeres could be the answer in tight game states — late substitutions, home draws, away dogfights — where one moment makes the difference between one point and three. At a rumoured price of just £55million, fans should worry less about the perhaps lack of ‘elite’ quality in the Swede’s game and focus more on the clear upgrade he would give to this squad for a relatively moderate price.

---

The final steps…

Zubimendi. Eze. Gyökeres. Three names, three very different profiles — each solving a real Arsenal problem.

There’s more than that to do, Arsenal need an out-and-out winger, but that’s well documented. We probably need another defender and a goalkeeper too. Hopefully, the club moves fast once the season is over as there’s plenty to do.

These aren't just exciting additions; they’re solutions to specific tactical shortcomings that have cost the club dearly. Arsenal don’t need a complete rebuild — they need refinement. And with smart summer business, the Gunners could turn narrow frustrations into title celebrations.

🔗 See all the latest Arsenal transfer updates here