Teamwork makes the dream work

Arsenal in talks for “one of the proficient CBs in Europe”

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Mikel Arteta has the chance to create historical past as Arsenal supervisor within the coming months, probably being the primary boss to ever win the membership a European trophy.

After beating defending champions Actual Madrid within the final spherical, the Gunners should have large confidence to go all the best way and engrave themselves in historical past perpetually.

No matter their success on the European stage, the Spaniard has been unable to take the aspect all the best way to Premier League glory in 2024/25 – trying prone to end second for a 3rd consecutive yr.

If they’re to lastly go one higher and declare a primary league triumph in over 20 years, extra signings are wanted to offer elevated squad depth – with this summer season pivotal in Arteta’s tenure on the Emirates.

With simply a few weeks till the window opens, the hierarchy have wasted no time in figuring out potential targets who might add to the challenge at the moment being inbuilt North London.

The most recent on Arsenal’s hunt for brand spanking new gamers this summer season

Regardless of having the very best defensive file in England’s prime flight this season, Arsenal have already focused reinforcements within the backline forward of the 2025/26 marketing campaign.

Nottingham Forest star Murillo has as soon as once more emerged on their radar, after the Gunners have been beforehand considering touchdown the Brazilian again within the January window.

Murillo

Nevertheless, they aren’t alone of their pursuit of the 22-year-old, with Liverpool additionally looking for the signature of the teenager, who might price round £70m in the summertime.

One other defensive goal has emerged within the type of Valencia’s 20-year-old star Yarek Gasiorowski, who could possibly be seen as a less expensive various to Forest gem Murillo within the coming months.

In accordance with FootballTransfers, the Gunners have already entered talks with the LaLiga outfit over a possible deal to land the teenager forward of the 2025/26 season.

The 20-year-old gem who might develop into Arsenal’s subsequent Saliba

French worldwide William Saliba has cemented himself as a daily starter on the coronary heart of the Arsenal backline over latest years, enjoying a pivotal function of their varied successes underneath Arteta.

Arsenal's William Saliba applauds fans after the match

He initially joined in a £27m deal from Ligue 1 aspect Saint Étienne again in the summertime of 2019, earlier than a number of mortgage spells at Good and Marseille which catapulted him into the first-team image forward of 2022/23.

The 24-year-old has since gone from power to power in North London, notching 129 appearances throughout all competitions, 46 of which have come within the present season.

Nevertheless, six years on from his authentic settlement to affix the Gunners, Arteta might look to copy such a cope with Gasiorowski – with the Spaniard becoming a member of from a aspect in a prime 5 league while probably going out on mortgage earlier than making a mark in North London.

Ought to he be part of, it stays to be seen whether or not he can be a right away choice for Arteta, however he has managed to supply varied spectacular figures all through 2024/25 regardless of his tender age.

yarek-gasiorowski-valencia-la-liga

The “dominant” centre-back, as labelled by analyst Ben Mattinson, has averaged extra progressive carries than Saliba of their respective divisions this yr – highlighting his means on the ball.

How Gasiorowski compares to Saliba in 2024/25 to date

Statistics (per 90)

Gasiorowski

Saliba

Video games performed

14

32

Targets & assists

0

2

Progressive carries

0.9

0.5

Tackles gained

1.5

1.1

Blocks made

1.6

0.7

Interceptions made

2.4

0.7

Aerials gained

67%

62%

Stats through FBref

He’s additionally gained extra tackles per 90, while additionally profitable extra aerial battles – providing one more star defensive expertise for Arteta ought to the hierarchy look to finish a deal for his companies. With that in thoughts, it is hardly a shock that expertise scout Jacek Kulig as soon as instructed he is “one of the proficient CBs in Europe.”

It’s unclear how a lot a deal for Gasiorowski would set the board again this window, however given the stats he’s produced thus far, it’s actually a deal price exploring.

He has baggage of time to develop additional, presumably turning into an even bigger expertise than Saliba, particularly if his numbers at such a young age are something to go by.

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