Football News

Mikel Arteta has been strongly tipped to strengthen his forward line for some time, but those rumours briefly cooled following the Gunners exceptional start to 2024, particularly in the Premier League.

Indeed, Arsenal won each of their first eight top-flight games of this year, scoring 33 goals in the process, but they have since failed to find the net in three of their last six matches in all competitions, including their last two games against Aston Villa and Bayern Munich.

Arsenal's Premier League title hopes were dealt a major blow last weekend as they suffered a 2-0 home defeat to Aston Villa, before being knocked out in the Champions League quarter-finals by Bayern Munich courtesy of a 1-0 second-leg defeat on Wednesday, losing 3-2 on aggregate.

Arteta's side forked out in excess of £200m on new players last summer, but it is thought that the Gunners hierarchy are prepared to splash the cash again to ensure the club are competing on all fronts in 2024-25.

According to The Guardian, Arsenal are targeting a new striker and winger in the summer transfer window, with Newcastle United's Alexander Isak and Crystal Palace's Michael Olise said to have been added to their shortlist.

The report claims that Isak is one of Arsenal's 'primary targets' and the Sweden international was heavily scouted by the Gunners before he completed his £63m transfer to the Magpies in August 2022.

Isak, who has since established himself as a star player at St James' Park, is now said to be valued at around £100m.

Olise, meanwhile, has allegedly impressed Arsenal's scouting

Mikel Arteta Aston Villa Michael Olise Alexander Isak