Arsenal's dream 2026-27 squad: £100m signing, double Newcastle raid, Viktor Gyokeres decision

Arsenal need to make urgent changes to their squad this summer, whether they end up lifting silverware or not at the end of the season

Arsenal find themselves at a make or break point in the season which will determine whether they will be rewarded for their huge efforts over the last eight months. Mikel Arteta’s Gunners were on course for a perfect season until March, leading the Premier League, winning all of their Champions League matches and still having been in contention for the FA Cup and Carabao Cup.

Their dream of landing a historic quadruple has been shattered in the past month, with Arsenal losing four of their last six fixtures. That included a Carabao Cup final defeat to Manchester City, a shock FA Cup exit at Southampton and successive Premier League defeats to hand City the momentum in the title race.

While there have certainly been positives this season, namely across the back five, recently results have shown there is plenty of work to be done by sporting director Andrea Berta this summer to improve the squad and ensure that the Gunners can compete across all four fronts again next season.

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Here, football.london takes a look at the dream Arsenal squad for the 2026/27 season, if they are able to raise the squad’s level by landing their top transfer targets and finding buyers for some of their deadwood.

Goalkeepers

In goal, David Raya has not only established himself as one of the best goalkeepers in the Premier League, but also across Europe. The Spaniard, despite the occasional shaky moment playing out from the back, is mainly faultless and is on course to receive a third consecutive Premier League Golden Glove award.

The No. 2 role is less straightforward. Kepa Arrizabalaga arrived last summer and has been entrusted by Arteta in domestic cup competitions. Yet, the Spaniard is understood to want more minutes than a typical back-up goalkeeper, which could see Arsenal part ways with him in the upcoming transfer window.

That is not necessarily a bad thing, given Kepa’s howler in the Carabao Cup final, while Diant Ramaj is being tipped as his potential successor. The German is currently on loan at Heidenheim from Borussia Dortmund and Arsenal are reportedly keeping tabs on the 24-year-old Bundesliga shot-stopper. He would provide a good balance of experience and youth, while Tommy Setford, 20, would continue his role as Arsenal’s third choice understudy.

Defenders

Arsenal’s imperious defence has been the biggest driver of the team’s success this season. First-choice defenders Jurrien Timber, William Saliba, Gabriel Magalhaes and Riccardo Calafiori should all keep their places in the starting XI next term, given the excellent blend of defensive solidity and attacking threat they provide.

At left-back, Piero Hincapie has been a brilliant back-up to the often-injured Calafiori, while Cristhian Mosquera has slotted in seamlessly across the backline whenever needed in his first season in north London. Marli Salmon has made a handful of appearances this season but the teenage sensation, while still raw, is expected to receive more minutes next campaign.

The only issue in defence has come when there are several injuries at once, leaving Arteta particularly short in the full-back positions. Ben White seems a shadow of the player he was before injuries riddled his recent Arsenal career, having looked notably off the pace since returning to the fold. Berta should cash in on any respectable offers for White this summer, with Everton reportedly interested in the England international.

Tino Livramento represents a long-term target of Arsenal’s. The 23-year-old Newcastle defender can play at both left-back and right-back, which Arteta has been known to be a fan of. Rivals Manchester City are also interested in securing his signature, which should only give the Gunners a bigger reason to push to bring him to the Emirates Stadium.

Midfielders

At the base of midfield, Arsenal are blessed with two of the best options in the league with Martin Zubimendi and Declan Rice. The issue for the Gunners this season has often been depth in that position.

Christian Norgaard, signed last summer from Brentford, has not been trusted enough by Arteta to start a Premier League game this season. That has forced Zubimendi and Rice to play the entirety of this campaign, much to their detriment as they have appeared increasingly fatigued in recent months.

It means Arsenal urgently need to sign a top calibre central midfielder to spread the load without sacrificing quality. One such player is Sandro Tonali of Newcastle, who was linked with a shock January transfer deadline day move to Arsenal earlier this year.

The Italian’s contract with Newcastle expires in June 2028 and he is valued at between £80million and £100m. Despite the hefty sum, Tonali at the age of 25 is in his prime and would prevent a disastrous situation if Rice ever falls to injury.

Norgaard should be sold to hand Myles Lewis-Skelly a clearer pathway into the team. With Arteta no longer seeing the Hale End graduate as a left-back, it is time for Lewis-Skelly to showcase his talents in his favoured position in the low-stakes cup competitions.

Further forward in midfield, Arsenal already have plenty of options at their disposal. Martin Odegaard and Eberechi Eze are the chief creators and should be used together more often going forward.

Mikel Merino’s return to action following a broken foot will be a huge boost, with the Gunners missing his versatility in midfield in recent months. The biggest change in this position should be Ethan Nwaneri’s return to the fold following a miserable loan spell at Marseille. Nwaneri is clearly a talented playmaker and, still just 19, has already shown he can be a difference maker and a successor to Odegaard.

Forwards

The right-forward position is Arsenal’s most secure across the front line. Bukayo Saka, despite an underwhelming and injury-blighted season by his lofty standards, remains the clear first-choice winger on the right flank. Wonderkid Max Dowman’s flashes of brilliance mean he could become the primary back-up to Saka next season, given Noni Madueke’s inconsistencies on that flank.

In contrast, Arsenal’s left wing continues to be a notable weak point, as it has been for several seasons now. Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard have frustrated fans all season and Berta should prioritise signing a replacement this summer. As such, at least one of the pair should be sold, with Trossard being the more likely to leave given he will turn 32 later this year.

RB Leipzig’s Yan Diomande is a name that keeps cropping up. The 19-year-old Ivorian has taken the Bundesliga by storm this season, scoring 12 goals and registering seven assists. He can play on either wing, is a great dribbler, has pace in abundance and can score in a variety of ways - which is more than can be said for the aforementioned duo. Diomande is also being pursued by the likes of PSG, Manchester United and Liverpool, but Arsenal are no doubt still one of the more attractive destinations for the teenager.

Up front, Gabriel Jesus should be the first player sold this summer given his injury record. The Brazilian is no longer capable of injecting the same spark in the final third which he offered when he first arrived in N5.

In what would be a brutal but necessary move, Berta should look to sell Viktor Gyokeres, despite only signing the Swede last summer in a £64m deal. The fact Gyokeres is Arsenal’s top scorer this season and has still been so disappointing goes to show how poor his general play is. Arsenal should simply admit they got this signing wrong and cut their losses, even if that means parting ways with him for a lower fee of around £40m.

Kai Havertz, in comparison, has shown how much better suited he is to leading the line since his return from a lengthy injury. But despite the German’s stellar all-round play, Arsenal are still lacking a truly world class striker who can link play and still find the net.

That player should be Atletico Madrid’s £100m rated Julian Alvarez. The Argentine talisman has been on fire since joining Atletico from City in August 2024, scoring 19 goals this season in all competitions. Barcelona and PSG’s interest ensures that Arsenal will have to fork out a huge sum to bring Alvarez to the Emirates, but his rare talent means he is one of the few players in world football who can take Arsenal to the next level.