Arsenal might be favourites to win the Premier League this season – but what about next year?
Lifting the trophy at the end of the campaign would be a massive achievement for the Gunners, who finished fifth last season.
No one could have imagined Arsenal beating Manchester City and Liverpool to the title but they currently sit eight points clear with 10 games to go.
It has made Mikel Arteta’s side the favourites to go on and win the Premier League for the first time in 19 years.
But can the boss do one better than the legendary Invincibles and defend their title?
It would require some brutal decisions in the transfer window.
Arteta has largely stuck to the same XI every week in the Premier League, relying on the continuity to guide them to victory.
And it has been hugely successful this season but there are still areas of the squad that could be improved which could spell danger for some current key players.
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The most pressing issue for Arteta is in midfield where the Gunners have been linked with a number of players, including Moises Caicedo, Sergej Milinkovic-Savic and Eduardo Camavinga.
But one transfer that looks like it could happen this summer is the arrival of Declan Rice at the Emirates from West Ham, who is reportedly keen on the move.
That could see Granit Xhaka dropped and Rice joining Thomas Partey to form an immensely strong partnership in midfield.
Not only would the Ghana international compliment Rice’s style as powerhouse midfielders, the two can cut through the lines with their passing to find Martin Odegaard, who has been sensational this season.
But that could see a cruel end to Xhaka’s time in the team, who Arteta has revived his career to become hugely key.
Another player that might have to be dropped from the starting XI and feel hard done by is Gabriel Martinelli, who has scored 13 times in the Premier League this season.
However, the Brazilian has had little impact in Europe or in the cup competitions where he has yet to register a goal and has just one assist in 10 matches.
With the Champions League beckoning, Arteta could turn to AC Milan superstar Rafael Leao, who has been linked with the likes of Manchester City and Chelsea in recent times.
Currently embroiled in a contract stand-off with the San Siro outfit, his total of nine goals and 10 assists in all competitions is just a fraction of his true capabilities.
And his ability to create as well as score could prove crucial in the Premier League while Martinelli has just two assists all season.
Leao can also play up front or as a second-striker, giving Arteta options in attack, while Martinelli’s compatriot Gabriel Jesus could be joining him on the bench.
Injuries have been cruel to the Brazilian this campaign but a ruthless Arteta cannot rely on players on the sidelines and could dip into the transfer market for a new striker.
And there are not many hotter properties available than Victor Osimhen this season, who has 25 goals in 29 appearances so far – including four in five Champions League matches.
It has led to an intense transfer race for his signature with Napoli desperate to keep hold of the Nigeria international and will not be willing to see him go cheaply.
Manchester United and Real Madrid are among the clubs interested in the 24-year-old but Arsenal could muscle in on the deal and make him their main man up front.
That would give Arteta an assured source of goals while Osimhen’s strikes look set to hand Napoli their first Serie A title since 1990 when Diego Maradona was at the club.
There will be quite the battle for the striker in the summer and one that Jesus will hope Arsenal miss out on having left Manchester City to be the main man somewhere.
Injuries have limited the 25-year-old to 16 Premier League appearances where he has scored five times with Eddie Nketiah filling in up top.
But while it has done little to affect Arsenal’s form too much, the congested fixture list has left Arteta without many chances to rotate and a new striker could be a priority.
