As Arsenal supporters streamed out of the Emirates towards the end of their dismal 3-0 defeat to Brighton on Sunday that saw their title challenge implode, they could at least look back on a season full of fantastic memories.
Mikel Arteta’s side have shown incredible progress, resilience and quality to bounce back from last year’s heartbreak of missing out on the Champions League to mount a title challenge that few predicted at the start of the campaign.
Once the Spaniard licks his wounds and reflects, he will no doubt have immense pride at how his young side have developed over the past 12 months.
It’s expected to be a big summer for the club as they prepare for their first Champions League campaign in seven years, with a sizeable squad overhaul on the horizon.
Reports claim the Gunners will have upwards of £200m to spend as they loosen the purse strings, plus any money raised from the sale of several first team and squad members.
Mikel Arteta is planning a major squad overhaul after Arsenal’s title challenge imploded
It has been a fantastic season for the Gunners but Arteta (right) is keen to improve his options
Reiss Nelson is out of contract at the end of the campaign and has rejected any new offers so far as he seeks more first team football, while Kieran Tierney, Rob Holding and Emile Smith Rowe could move on after struggling for gametime.
Meanwhile, £30m-rated Folarin Balogun – who has enjoyed a fine season on loan in Ligue 1 at Reims – is attracting interest from around Europe and is reluctant to return to the Gunners in a bit-part role.
Surprisingly, Granit Xhaka could also be allowed to move on, with Bayer Leverkusen having a concrete interest in the Swiss star.
The Gunners have been linked with several players including Declan Rice, Wilfried Zaha, Moussa Diaby, Moises Caicedo and Marc Guehi.
In light of that, Mail Sport takes a look at how Arteta’s side could line up next season in a 4-2-3-1 formation.
There were several memorable moments for Arsenal as they launched a shock title challenge
Goalkeeper – Aaron Ramsdale
With 13 clean sheets this season in 36 games, Aaron Ramsdale has enjoyed a fine year in net for the Gunners with several stunning saves regularly keeping his team in games.
At the age of 25, he is still relatively young for a goalkeeper and the former Sheffield United and Bournemouth stopper will be a pillar of this side for years to come.
He’s been guilty of a few errors of late but Ramsdale is still highly rated and will be hopeful of claiming the England No 1 jersey soon.
Aaron Ramsdale has enjoyed a fine campaign and will be Arsenal’s No. 1 for several years
Right back – Ben White
Despite being a natural centre back, Ben White has looked at home on the right side of defence this season and has featured in every single league game.
He has also dramatically improved his attacking output, with seven goal contributions in total, and the 25-year-old has firmly established himself above the reliable Takehiro Tomiyasu in the pecking order.
White had to endure a difficult moment after leaving the 2022 World Cup with England ‘due to personal reasons’, but he has more than bounced back.
Ben White has also impressed and has made the right back spot his own for Arteta’s outfit
Centre back – William Saliba
You only have to look at the stats before and after his back injury to see the importance of William Saliba to Arsenal.
Having started the first 27 games of the season, Arsenal had 66 points and had only conceded 23 goals.
In the nine games he has been absent for, Arsenal have amassed only 15 points and alarmingly conceded 17 goals as their title challenge imploded.
It has been a superb first season in the first team squad for Saliba after numerous loans away from the club and provided he can return from injury, the 22-year-old will be integral fo Arteta next year.
Willliam Saliba, 22, has enjoyed a fine breakout campaign after several loan spells in France
Centre back – Marc Guehi
Ever since moving to Crystal Palace from Chelsea in 2021 for £18m, Marc Guehi has impressed and he has regularly captained the Eagles this year.
Guehi’s form saw him break into the England squad in 2022 and he has since won three caps for the Three Lions.
Arsenal’s scouts have been impressed by Guehi in a position where the Gunners have badly struggled in the absence of Saliba.
Arsenal are eyeing-up a move for Crystal Palace and England defender Marc Guehi, 22
While Gabriel Magalhaes has been a reliable presence, he has been guilty of making costly errors at key moments during the title run-in, such as conceding a penalty against West Ham in the 2-2 draw.
Meanwhile, their lack of depth at centre back has been exposed with Rob Holding and Jakub Kiwior struggling at times and Guehi would provide a quality option.
At the age of 22, he is a star of the present and the future and would be an astute pick up, although he could cost up to £50m.
Both Jakub Kiwior (left) and Rob Holding (right) have struggled to fill the void in defence in the absence of William Saliba
Left back – Oleksandr Zinchenko
Despite their title challenge imploding in recent weeks, the leadership and quality of Oleksandr Zinchenko has been a major plus point for Arteta this season.
He’s been vocal and a character in Arsenal’s squad – while providing a solid and reliable option at left-back, keeping Kieran Tierney out of the team.
Arsenal’s £32m move for the 26-year-old defender has paid off and his ability to tuck inside into their midfield is an integral part of the Gunners’ attacking play and will continue to be so as he enters the peak years of his career.
Oleksandr Zinchenko’s (left) leadership and passion has been a major part of Arsenal’s success
Central midfield – Declan Rice
Declan Rice is likely to be one of the most sought-after signings this summer following his sensational displays for West Ham ever since breaking through in 2017.
Still only 24, Rice has already racked up 240 appearances for the Hammers along with 41 England caps and he will be a hugely exciting addition for whoever acquires him.
Arsenal have been considered favourites for his signature for a while and are set to open talks over a move as Arteta looks to add top quality additions, but Mail Sport reported how they have concerns over the price of any potential deal, with West Ham likely to demand a fee in excess of £100m.
If they were able to complete the transfer, Rice would provide an instant injection of quality in the Gunners’ midfield, and an upgrade on Xhaka – who himself has been so impressive this season.
Signing one of the Premier League’s star midfielders would also be a significant statement of intent from the club.
Arsenal are favourites to sign Declan Rice but have concerns over West Ham’s asking price
Central midfield – Moises Caicedo
While it is perhaps unlikely Arsenal will sign both Moises Caicedo and Rice, they do have a long-standing interest in the Brighton star.
Caicedo has been a revelation ever since making his Seagulls debut away to the Gunners in April 2022 and put in a sensational display in their 3-0 victory at the Emirates on Sunday, all the while playing in an unfamiliar right back role.
They came close to signing Caicedo in January, but Brighton held firm in their £80m valuation and are likely to demand even more in the summer.
At the age of 21, the Ecuadorian will only get better and could be an integral member for the Gunners for the next decade if he was to move.
With Thomas Partey’s form dipping towards the back end of this season and Jorginho and Xhaka not getting any younger, there is a clear need to replenish the club’s midfield stocks.
And the prospect of Rice and Caicedo together at the base of the midfield is an extremely mouthwatering one.
Arsenal have a long-standing interest in Moises Caicedo and he would be a top quality signing
Right wing – Bukayo Saka
It is hard to put into words the impact Bukayo Saka has had for Arsenal this year with the Hale End academy product a symbol of Arteta’s burgeoning young side.
With 13 goals and 11 assists in 36 Premier League games, Saka is in the running for various end of season awards and like several others, will no doubt be a staple of the first team for years to come.
He is a main man for England boss Gareth Southgate and has led his side valiantly before their title dream was all but ended.
Bukayo Saka continues to impress for both Arsenal and England despite still being only 21
Attacking midfield – Martin Odegaard
Along with Saka, the impact of club captain Martin Odegaard has been simply phenomenal, with the Norwegian providing 15 goals and eight assists in the league.
He tends to lead with his performances rather than by cajoling his team-mates, but at 24, Odegaard is another symbol of an Arsenal team with an extremely bright future.
The Gunners have had a lot of hit-and-miss skippers over the years but with Odegaard, they look in good hands.
Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard (left) has led from the front with his performances this year
Left wing – Moussa Diaby
Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard might have something to say about it after fine seasons respectively, but the Gunners are reportedly keen on a move for Bayer Leverkusen and France star Moussa Diaby.
The forward has enjoyed a brilliant campaign in Germany, scoring 14 goals and adding 11 assists in all competitions and helped to spearhead Leverkusen’s turnaround under Xabi Alonso.
Having broken through at PSG, before moving on due to a lack of gametime, he is inherently talented, emphasised by his nine caps for France.
£50m-rated Diaby has 97 goal contributions in 169 games for his club side since joining in 2019 and he would no doubt add more depth to Arteta’s attacking options.
This would be particularly pertinent given fringe attackers Eddie Nketiah and Reiss Nelson are likely to be among those who move on in the summer.
Being a top quality young player, with potential to get even better, Diaby also fits the exact profile of signing that Arteta and sporting director Edu have targeted in recent years.
£50m-rated Bayer Leverkusen star Moussa Diaby has been linked with a move to Arsenal
Striker – Wilfried Zaha
Crystal Palace icon Wilfried Zaha is another player who could be one of the most sought-after Premier League stars this summer given he is yet to decide on his future ahead of his contract at Selhurst Park expiring.
Mail Sport reported how Zaha has been offered a contract worth £200,000-per-week by the Eagles, but the forward also has options abroad, with a number of clubs in Europe and the Middle East keen on signing the forward, while he is a consideration for Arsenal.
The ability to pick-up a proven Premier League goalscorer on a free would be a fine piece of business despite Zaha being aged 30.
Arsenal are one of several clubs keeping an eye on Wilfried Zaha ahead of his contract expiring
While his preferred position is on the left wing, Zaha has also featured up-front in recent years and that may be the best position for him at Arsenal given the quality of options out wide.
He would have a tough job in dislodging Gabriel Jesus as the main striker, although the former Man City man has only scored five league goals since the start of October, something that has hampered Arsenal in recent months when they have been chasing games.
Although Jesus does have a key role in the Gunners’ build-up play by dropping deep, Zaha would be more of a willing runner in behind and would provide another useful attacking option for Arteta as he looks to go one better next season.
Our full Arsenal XI features Guehi at the back, Rice and Caicedo in midfield and Zaha and Diaby in attack