Arsenal are set to change the way they do business in the wake of losing the title to Manchester City, with a big summer ahead
(Image credit: Michael Regan/Getty Images)
Arsenal are set to change the way they conduct their recruitment and player retention following talks in the boardroom.
The Gunners have all but surrendered a first Premier League title for 19 years with a loss to Brighton & Hove Albion that sees a third championship in three won by Manchester City – but it's not all doom and gloom. Arsenal have qualified for the Champions League for the first season since 2016/17, which should transform the club's fortunes in a few ways.
The north Londoners have operated stringently in recent seasons, refusing to overpay what they deem to be the true value of players such as Mykhaylo Mudryk and Moises Caicedo, opting instead for the likes of Jorginho and Leandro Trossard. This has served them well – but it may be about to change slightly, with an influx of investment.
Arsenal players celebrate after Leandro Trossard scores against Leicester – though the Belgian's effort was later ruled out by VAR. (Image credit: Getty Images)
According to The Evening Standard, Arteta has met with Josh Kroenke of Arsenal's ownership group KSE over transfer plans this summer. The report states that the club will "loosen" the wage structure of the side, giving Arteta and sporting director Edu Gaspar more of a chance to recruit from the top table.
Declan Rice is being lined up, with the Gunners thought to be soon tabling a club-record bid for the England international. Rice may well be offered around £300,000 a week, too, as Arteta looks to bring the best to the Emirates Stadium.
There are also thought to be new deals on the horizon for William Saliba and Aaron Ramsdale, according to football.london, while the likes of Caicedo, Mason Mount and Marc Guehi have also been touted. The talks between Arteta and Arsenal's ownership came in the wake of the Brighton defeat, which the Arsenal manager reflected on as being a low point in the season for his side.
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William Saliba and Aaron Ramsdale are both set to be rewarded with new deals (Image credit: David Price/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)
“I hate the feeling of letting people down when they are really expecting something, and that’s the biggest regret I have today,” said Arteta.
“We have to live with the emotion that we have right now, that we fell short, and it wasn’t good enough.”
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Arsenal are already being linked with a host of big names ahead of a season back in the Champions League.
Mark White has been at on FourFourTwo since joining in January 2020, first as a staff writer before becoming content editor in 2023. An encyclopedia of football shirts and boots knowledge – both past and present – Mark has also represented FFT at both FA Cup and League Cup finals (though didn't receive a winners' medal on either occasion) and has written pieces for the mag ranging on subjects from Bobby Robson's season at Barcelona to Robinho's career. He has written cover features for the mag on Mikel Arteta and Martin Odegaard, and is assisted by his cat, Rosie, who has interned for the brand since lockdown.
