The summer transfer window has presented a fresh opportunity for Mikel Arteta to build on his recent Premier League success and make Arsenal a bigger force to be reckoned with.
His side claimed their first top-flight title in 22 years last time around, subsequently doing so by seven points and fending off the threat posed by Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City.
Bruno Guimarães looks certain to be making a move to the Emirates this summer after a £75m deal was agreed with Newcastle United for the midfielder’s signature.
He will be hoping to have a greater impact than one of last summer’s additions, who often came under fire for his struggles upon his own big-money transfer to join the Gunners.
Why Arsenal must replace Viktor Gyokeres this summer
Arsenal supporters were undoubtedly excited this time last summer after securing the £60m signing of striker Viktor Gyökeres from Portuguese outfit Sporting CP.
The Swedish international netted 54 times during his final season at his former club, which led the Gunners to believe they had landed a long-term fix to their number nine issues.
However, despite netting 14 times in the Premier League last season, many supporters raised concerns over his ability to lead the line for Arteta’s men.
The 28-year-old missed 13 big chances in England’s top-flight last season – a tally which was the fifth-highest of any player in the Premier League throughout 2025/26.
|
Most big chances missed in the PL (2025/26) |
|
|---|---|
|
Player |
Tally |
|
Erling Haaland |
30 |
|
Igor Thiago |
20 |
|
Jean-Philippe Mateta |
20 |
|
Dominic Calvert-Lewin |
20 |
|
Ollie Watkins |
19 |
|
Kevin Schade |
15 |
|
Viktor Gyokeres |
13 |
|
Bryan Mbeumo |
13 |
He also struggled to offer a focal point for Arteta’s men, often leading to him going missing in key matches – as seen by his measly pass accuracy from last term.
Gyokeres only managed to achieve a 62% pass accuracy during the title-winning campaign, with 80% of strikers in the division registering a better record.
His struggles were compounded by the fact he was dropped for the Champions League final, as the Spaniard opted to utilise Kai Havertz in a number nine position.
How Arsenal can land a new striker this summer
Despite the majority of Arsenal’s efforts in the transfer market being directed towards a new left-winger, a new striker could also arrive before the end of the summer window.
Bradley Barcola and Vinicius Junior have been named as the club’s biggest targets, but deals for both of the players could be somewhat hard to complete at present.
As a result, other attacking options are being considered, with Shakhtar Donetsk striker Kaua Elias another talent currently on their transfer shortlist.
It’s been reported by The Sun that Arsenal have sent scouts to watch the 20-year-old in recent weeks, with Manchester United also keen on landing his signature.
They also claim that the Ukrainian outfit don’t want to lose the Brazilian talent, but would be open to cashing in on his services if an offer of around £30m is presented.
As for the player himself, he is ‘open’ to a transfer to one of Europe’s big leagues, suggesting that ‘personal terms will not pose a major stumbling block’.
Elias may be an unknown prospect to many Arsenal supporters, but his stats from last season showcase why he could challenge Gyokeres for a starting role upon any move.
He netted 11 goals in his 36 games across all competitions last season, including three in the UEFA Conference League – as Shakhtar reached the semi-final stage.
His underlying stats also make for good reading, with many of his figures better than those registered by the Gunners’ current number one centre-forward option.
Elias completed 80% of the passes he attempted, whilst also creating 1.4 chances per 90 – highlighting his ability to offer a focal point to play off in attacking areas.
He also completed nearly two times more successful dribbles than Gyokeres last term – which could hand Arteta’s men an added dimension to the front line.
The Brazilian youngster’s talent in front of goal was evident by his increased shot-on-target accuracy rate, which also saw him miss fewer big chances in front of goal.
Undoubtedly, there’s a huge difference between the Ukrainian league and the Premier League – but it’s clear that Elias is a player who possesses huge potential at present.
£30m could prove to be a shrewd piece of business for the Gunners – especially if he reaches the stage of his development upon any move to North London this summer.
Such a move could put Gyokeres’ starting position at risk, with the 20-year-old a player who could develop into a leading talent in the years ahead at the Emirates.
