Former Arsenal defender Martin Keown has outlined the areas he believes the Gunners must strengthen during the summer transfer window as they prepare to defend their Premier League title.
Arsenal enjoyed an outstanding campaign last season, finishing ahead of Manchester City to lift the English Premier League trophy. After years of rebuilding under manager Mikel Arteta, the North London club finally returned to the top of English football and will now aim to build on that success in the new season.
With another demanding campaign on the horizon, Arsenal are expected to be active in the transfer market. Competing for domestic and European honours requires a strong squad, and Keown believes there are still a few positions that need reinforcing if the club wants to remain among Europe’s elite.
The former England international identified three key areas where he feels Arsenal should strengthen before the transfer window closes.
Keown Wants a New Midfielder
One of the main positions Keown believes Arsenal should address is central midfield.
According to the former defender, the Gunners need a player capable of controlling matches and dictating the tempo from the middle of the pitch.
Modern football places huge importance on midfielders who can keep possession, break up opposition attacks, and create opportunities for teammates. Keown believes adding another quality player in that area would make Arsenal even stronger.
Speaking on talkSPORT, he said:
“I think Arsenal need another midfield player, someone who can control things. I think they need a left winger.
“You could say, they might go into the transfer market for a striker – I would not put it past them.
“Most players will want to sign for Arsenal, but the most important thing is to get the people who are successful to re-sign their contracts.”
His comments suggest that while Arsenal already have a talented midfield, adding another experienced and composed player could provide extra balance and depth throughout a long season.
A Left Winger Could Add More Firepower
Keown also believes Arsenal should strengthen on the left side of their attack.
A natural left winger would provide additional creativity, pace, and goal scoring ability, giving Arteta more options in the final third.
Over the course of a season, injuries, suspensions, and fixture congestion can make squad depth extremely important. Having another high quality winger would allow Arsenal to rotate players while maintaining a high level of performance.
A new signing in that position could also increase competition for places, encouraging every attacking player to perform consistently.
Arsenal’s attacking football was one of the biggest reasons behind their Premier League success last season, but Keown believes there is still room for improvement.
Adding another dangerous winger could help the Gunners become even more unpredictable in attack.
Another Striker Could Strengthen the Squad
Although Arsenal already have attacking options, Keown believes the club could still enter the transfer market for another striker.
Goal scorers often make the difference in the biggest matches, and having several reliable forwards gives managers greater flexibility throughout the season.
A new striker would also provide healthy competition within the squad while ensuring Arsenal have enough depth to cope with the demands of competing in multiple competitions.
Keown did not mention a specific player, but his comments indicate that Arsenal should remain open to strengthening their attacking department if the right opportunity becomes available.
Finding consistent goals is essential for any team hoping to defend a league title, and another quality striker could increase Arsenal’s chances of repeating last season’s success.
Building on a Championship Season
Winning the Premier League was a major achievement for Arsenal and manager Mikel Arteta.
The club ended the season ahead of Manchester City after producing consistent performances throughout the campaign. Their success was built on strong defending, organised midfield play, and an exciting attack that regularly created scoring opportunities.
However, history has shown that defending a league title is often even more difficult than winning it for the first time.
Opposing teams usually become even more determined to defeat the champions, while the pressure to maintain high standards increases every season.
That is why many clubs choose to strengthen their squads immediately after winning major trophies.
Keown believes Arsenal should follow that approach by adding more quality before the new campaign begins.
Keeping the Current Squad Together
While Keown highlighted the importance of signing new players, he also stressed that keeping Arsenal’s current stars is just as important.
He believes securing new contracts for key members of the squad should remain a priority for the club.
Successful teams are often built on stability. Retaining experienced players who already understand the manager’s style of play can be just as valuable as making expensive new signings.
If Arsenal can keep the core of their title winning squad together while adding fresh talent, they will be in a strong position to challenge for more trophies.
Keown believes Arsenal have become an attractive destination for top footballers following their recent success.
With the club competing for major honours and playing exciting football under Arteta, he feels many players would be eager to move to the Emirates Stadium.
A Busy Summer Expected
As the transfer window continues, Arsenal are expected to be linked with several players across different positions.
Every successful club looks for ways to improve, and the Gunners are unlikely to be satisfied after winning the Premier League.
Arteta and the club’s recruitment team will carefully assess the squad before deciding where additions are needed most.
Supporters will also be watching closely to see which players arrive before the start of the new season.
Transfer windows often play an important role in shaping a team’s fortunes, and Arsenal fans will hope the club makes the right decisions as they prepare for another demanding campaign.
Arsenal Aim for More Success
After ending last season as Premier League champions, Arsenal now face the challenge of maintaining their place at the top of English football.
Competition is expected to be fierce once again, with rivals looking to strengthen their own squads during the transfer window.
Martin Keown believes Arsenal already have an excellent foundation but feels adding a midfielder, a left winger, and possibly another striker would make the squad even stronger.
At the same time, he believes retaining the club’s key players is equally important if the Gunners want to continue their progress under Mikel Arteta.
Whether Arsenal complete those signings remains to be seen, but one thing is certain. The North London club will enter the new season determined to defend their Premier League crown and compete for more major trophies in England and Europe.
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