Arsenal has officially submitted their first bid of €75 million for striker Viktor Gyökeres. The club has already finalized personal terms with the player.
Arteta Deserves Recognition – Now Arsenal Must Back Him
Mikel Arteta continues to prove his tactical intelligence. Though some of his decisions — like not signing a No. 9 — have raised eyebrows, his game management often reflects the sharp understanding he had as a player.
In Arsenal’s final home match of the season, Declan Rice scored the decisive goal, securing Champions League qualification. That win, combined with Arteta’s smart mid-game adjustments, was crucial. For example, against Newcastle, a subtle tweak in formation helped change the game’s momentum.
Although Arteta received a yellow card for protesting when Dan Burn wasn’t punished for throwing the ball at Kai Havertz — and will miss the final game on the touchline — his job is largely complete. Arsenal is poised to finish second unless Manchester City delivers a massive goal haul.
While Arsenal has missed out on silverware, their place in next season’s Champions League is secure. Meanwhile, teams like Newcastle, Chelsea, Aston Villa, City, and Nottingham Forest are still battling for the remaining spots.
What’s Next for Arsenal?
Declan Rice hinted in a Sky Sports interview that the team may see some departures this summer but also hopes for reinforcements. Potential exits include players like Raheem Sterling, Neto, and Jorginho. Real Sociedad’s Martin Zubimendi is expected to arrive.
But Arsenal’s biggest need remains a reliable goal scorer — and that’s where Gyökeres fits in. With 53 goals for Sporting this season, he could solve their attacking struggles.
Arteta’s halftime decisions against Newcastle were impactful. His adjustments — like pushing left-back Myles Lewis-Skelly into midfield to support Thomas Partey — allowed Rice to move further forward. That move paid off within minutes, as Rice scored the winner.
Even with injuries like William Saliba’s hamstring issue limiting his choices, Arteta responded cleverly. He reshuffled the backline, bringing in Riccardo Calafiori and moving Jakub Kiwior. This allowed Lewis-Skelly more freedom in midfield, where he helped disrupt Newcastle’s momentum.
Goalkeeper David Raya made several crucial saves, keeping Arsenal in the game during a shaky first half. Once the tactical shift was made, Arsenal pressed harder and showed more urgency. That pressure led to a mistake from Anthony Gordon, which Bukayo Saka exploited before feeding Martin Odegaard — who set up Rice for the goal.
Rice has now scored six times since March and has 9 goals and 10 assists this season. He’s been Arsenal’s standout player and is emerging as a natural leader — potentially even a future captain
