Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has openly acknowledged that his team needs more “firepower” in the transfer market to boost their chances of winning major trophies. Despite a season filled with promise, the Gunners are set to finish without a trophy for the fifth consecutive year, hampered by injuries to key players such as Kai Havertz, Bukayo Saka, and Gabriel Jesus, as well as the absence of a prolific goal scorer to consistently convert chances.
Currently second in the Premier League, trailing behind already-crowned champions Liverpool, and having been eliminated in the Champions League semi-finals by Paris Saint-Germain, Arsenal face another frustrating end to the season. Their final game will be away to relegated Southampton, closing out a campaign that showed potential but ultimately lacked the cutting edge needed for silverware success.
Arteta stressed the importance of signing the best players to achieve top honors. “If you want to win major trophies, you have to be the best in the market, no? The teams that win always have the best players,” he said. This candid admission reflects the need for Arsenal to strengthen their squad, especially in attack, where injuries and lack of firepower have limited their goal-scoring threat.
The manager refused to name any specific targets but emphasized the pride in the progress the club has made. “I wouldn’t like to name a player, but there is pride because we have brought the club into a position that next season people are saying: ‘You have to win a major trophy.’ And that means that everybody believes, and that we are an elite team in this country and in Europe. The biggest statement is that Arsenal is there,” Arteta noted. His comments highlight a shift in expectations around the club and underline Arsenal’s growing reputation as serious contenders.
Arteta also acknowledged the need to add goals and creativity across multiple positions, not just in one area. He pointed out that the numerous injuries to the front line exposed the squad’s lack of a consistent goal threat. “What is clear with the amount of injuries that we had in the front line is that we need a goal threat and we need firepower. Understanding that the context can change tomorrow, we cannot rely just on the numbers that we had before. We have to add goals, creativity, and we have to add numbers, and that will be in different positions,” he explained.
Beyond the attack, Arteta also highlighted the importance of retaining key players, specifically mentioning midfielder Thomas Partey. The 31-year-old Ghanaian has had an outstanding season, showing remarkable consistency and availability throughout the campaign. Partey’s current contract expires next month, and despite reported interest from his former club Atletico Madrid, Arteta expressed a strong desire for Partey to remain at Arsenal.
“In regards to Thomas, consistency-wise, it’s been his best season. The way he’s played, performed, and his availability has been exceptional. He is a really important player for us,” Arteta said. His comments suggest that keeping Partey will be a priority in the club’s ongoing squad-building efforts.
Meanwhile, Arteta took a moment to congratulate Arsenal’s local rivals Tottenham Hotspur for ending their 17-year trophy drought by winning the Europa League final against Manchester United. He praised Tottenham’s resilience and ability to overcome obstacles throughout the season to reach a successful conclusion.
“They are champions, and when you get to that, you have to do a lot of things right,” Arteta said. “I think they have gone through a season with again a lot of obstacles and difficulties and they have helped them at the end to manage a beautiful moment.”
As Arsenal look ahead to the summer transfer window, it is clear that Arteta and the club’s leadership are focused on making significant additions to the squad, particularly in attack. The objective is clear: to transform Arsenal from near-misses into trophy winners and fulfill the growing expectations surrounding the team. With ambition high, the coming months will be critical as Arsenal seek to close the gap on their rivals and build a squad capable of delivering silverware in the next season.
