Arsenal

Arsenal

Premier League • England

Arteta confirms Arsenal ‘trying to address’ key transfer weakness, creating intrigue after Edu comments

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta

Arsenal manger Mikel Arteta has insisted that his side want more signings this summer to cement the progress shown in the thrashing of Chelsea.

The Gunners continued their build-up to the new campaign by beating their London rivals 4-0 in pre-season on Sunday. Striker Gabriel Jesus continued his fine start to life at Arsenal with a goal, but that was just the start.

Martin Odegaard and Bukayo Saka extended the advantage for Mikel Arteta’s side. Albert Sambi Lokonga then put the icing on the cake with a second-half stoppage time fourth.

Arsenal are warming up nicely ahead of the new season following the arrival of five new signings. What’s more, Fabio Vieira has yet to make his debut unlike the other four.

However, there is talk of a second midfielder arriving at the Emirates Stadium before the transfer window shuts.

Lyon’s Lucas Paqueta is one reported target, but Arsenal technical director Edu has shut down talk of that deal happening. Edu added that he feels his side are well-stocked in their engine room. Speaking after the Chelsea win, Arteta insisted that he wants more signings – but his lack of detail has left questions unanswered.

“You can see we are still a little bit short in some positions for the way that we want to play, but it is something that we are trying to address,” the manager told the Daily Mirror.

“We have increased the quality of the team and the level of the squad is something that we want to keep raising.”

Arsenal’s ultimate aim is a top-four Premier League finish and subsequent Champions League qualification.

But it will not prove an easy task as Tottenham – who pipped them to the post last season – have added six new signings themselves. Furthermore, Chelsea have bolstered and Manchester United are looking to follow suit.

Arteta, Arsenal leaving no stone unturned

Arsenal have bolstered significantly this summer, with the five new signings showing progress and settling immediately.

Still, Arteta is leaving no stone unturned as he looks to guide his side to a top-four finish.

Liverpool and Manchester City look like they will dominate the top two spots for most of the season again.

It could therefore end up being a four-horse race for the other two places in the top four.

So, Arteta knows he has to do everything he can to see his side edge their rivals out. And Arsenal look like a side to watch for potentially one more big signing – maybe in midfield.