Arsenal handed 2025/26 title blow already after Mikel Arteta transfer nightmare begins early

Arsenal missed out on the Premier League title for a third season running as Mikel Arteta continues to fight to find a breakthrough in the lengthening gap between the last occasion the club lifted the trophy. There is an expectation that the club will move aggressively in the summer in order to be better equipped to take on the challenge again.

Links to major players like Martin Zubimendi, Nico Williams and Viktor Gyokeres are certainly encouraging, but until the deals are done, all news remains speculation. Yet Arteta might already have been dealt a blow ahead of next season.

One of the big disappointments in Arsenal’s failure to beat Liverpool to the title in 2025 was that their typical challengers, Manchester City, were so far off the pace than expected. An injury to Rodri proved to be the crux of their issues with other players such as Ruben Dias and Erling Haaland also missing at different points.

The Gunners’ own injury problems hampered their efforts, but sadly, inefficiencies in the summer and winter market meant Arteta was left highlighting just how short his side was for the task. Man City appear determined to ensure this does not happen again and even the departure of Kevin De Bruyne is being tackled in a major way.

Reports suggest that Florian Wirtz, the exciting German international and Bundesliga invincible with Bayer Leverkusen, is City’s priority target for the summer. In addition, AC Milan and Netherlands midfielder Tijjani Reijnders is another player being pursued and considered another top European figure in his position.

Liverpool, meanwhile, are reportedly keen on Leverkusen’s Jeremie Frimpong to be a replacement for Trent Alexander-Arnold, who is leaving the club and expected to join Real Madrid. Frimpong is considered one of the most potent full-backs on the market and a prolific goal contributor.

There are further expectations that the Reds will spend heavily this summer after not investing too much in Arne Slot’s first season in charge and then winning the title. Other clubs like Chelsea and Newcastle are also expected to spend, among others, with no one standing still.

Arsenal will need to be on it when it comes to their own investments and landing priority targets. Too often Mikel Arteta has not been delivered the key player he’s targeted, and instead an alternative has been pivoted to.

With Andrea Berta now in charge, the gauntlet has been laid out to him to be the man to change that theme. There is no time for a transition into the role, he must his the ground running and get the squad what it needs.