Arsenal sign £118m attacking pair in dream starting XI if summer transfer rumours are true
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Arsenal come out of the January transfer window, without making any signings despite all the speculation of a new striker being eyed by the North London club.
They had been linked to several attackers during the window, including Aston Villa’s Ollie Watkins, who they saw a £60m bid rejected for last week. The Gunners failed to replace the injured Gabriel Jesus, but will feel confident moving forward regardless.
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Hide AdThey beat rivals Manchester City 5-1 in their last Premier League game, which kept them just six points behind league leaders Liverpool in the race for the title. However, now that the January window is over, Mikel Arteta will be looking ahead to his potential transfer targets in the summer.
Arteta keeps strong defence featuring starlet Lewis-Skelly
GK - David Raya
Defenders - Myles Lewis-Skelly, Gabriel, William Saliba, Jurrien Timber
Arsenal already have one of the best defences in the Premier League. Last season, they conceded the least goals out of every team, handing keeper David Raya the Golden Glove. This year they are behind just Liverpool in goals conceded, an impressive feat.
The Gunners signed Riccardo Calafiori in defence during the summer transfer window, but we have 18-year-old Myles Lewis-Skelly in Arteta’s dream XI due to his exceptional performances as of late.
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Hide AdGabriel and Saliba in the centre-back positions create one of the world’s best partnerships in defence. Dutchman Jurrien Timber has also become a regular in Arteta’s starting line-up.
Arsenal land £51m holding midfielder
Midfield - Martin Zubimendi, Declan Rice, Martin Odegaard
The Gunners are blessed with expensive talent in midfield, with Declan Rice being the most costly Arsenal transfer in the club’s history, after he signed from West Ham for £105m in 2023.
He sits alongside Odegaard, who has become one of the most valuable midfielders in the Premier League. During the period in Autumn when he was out injured, the Gunners really missed the Norwegian’s creativity.
Finally, Arsenal reportedly agreed to pay Real Sociedad’s Martin Zubimendi’s £51m release clause during the January window. Although the signing hasn’t been announced, the Spain international is expected to join at the Emirates in the summer.
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Hide AdThe 26-year-old has made 21 appearances in La Liga this season, scoring one goal and contributing one assist. He will help to replace both Jorginho and Thomas Partey, whose contracts at Arsenal expire in the summer.
Arsenal make two marquee signings in attack
Wingers - Bukayo Saka, Nico Williams
Striker - Benjamin Sesko
Firstly, Arsenal already have one of the best-attacking players in the world in the form of Bukayo Saka. He is currently out injured with a hamstring problem, but will no doubt, be as key a part of Arteta’s team when he returns.
Arsenal have been heavily linked to signing Athletic Bilbao winger Nico Williams, who has a £48m release clause in his contract. According to Football Transfers, the Euro 2024 star is at the top of the Gunners’ shortlist, and they are even prepared to pay above his release clause fee to get him.
Williams has made 28 appearances for the Spanish side this season, scoring three goals and contributing five assists. He would provide the Gunners with a pacey, exciting attacker who can play on the other wing alongside Saka.
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Hide AdFinally, Arsenal have been linked to RB Leipzig striker Benjamin Sesko, who they could sign in the summer transfer window for a fee of around £70m. Football London have reported that he remains a strong target for Arteta, and that a verbal agreement between the two clubs could have already been agreed with a view to a summer transfer.
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