Arsenal’s Summer Transfer Pathways: One Window, Three Routes to a Title

There comes a point in a team’s rise where the next move has to be bold—but more importantly, it has to be right. Arsenal have reached that point.

After three years of steady, intelligent squad-building, the club is closer to the Premier League title than it has been in two decades. Two successive seasons challenging Manchester City have shown how far Arsenal have come—but also how small the margins now are. This summer is about closing that gap completely.

The 2024 transfer window won’t be about fixing problems. Arsenal are already one of the top two sides in the country. Instead, it’s about refinement: one or two signings that turn a very good team into a title-winning one.

The urgency has increased. Gabriel Jesus and Kai Havertz—who between them have handled most of the team’s centre-forward minutes—are now both out until next season. But this isn’t just a reaction to injuries. Arsenal were already exploring the striker market last summer, only to find that the right player wasn’t available or affordable. Now, the need is more immediate, and the club has options—each with very different implications.

The other layer in this window is midfield. Reports strongly suggest Martín Zubimendi is set to join, with negotiations well advanced. His arrival would allow Declan Rice to play higher up, shifting the midfield structure and potentially changing the types of forwards and wingers Arsenal target.

With all that in mind, the club faces three clear pathways this summer:

• Sign a ready-made, elite striker like Alexander Isak.
• Invest in a long-term, high-ceiling prospect like Benjamin Šeško while strengthening other areas.
• Forgo the striker signing altogether and focus on adding depth across the rest of the pitch.

Let’s examine how each of these pathways could play out, and what they would mean for Arsenal’s squad, budget, and title ambitions.

Pathway 1: Buy Isak – Go All-In on Firepower

Alexander Isak has become the standout name in the conversation, and for good reason. He’s producing at an elite level in the Premier League and fits the profile Arsenal have lacked—technically secure, composed in front of goal, able to operate across the front line.

His current season numbers are hard to ignore. With 19 goals and 5 assists in 25 appearances, he’s outperforming his expected goals tally (15.54 xG) and converting chances at a 25% rate, which places him among the most efficient finishers in Europe. He also completes nearly half of his take-ons—a rare quality in a central striker.

In short, Isak is a match-winner. He’s the kind of forward who could help Arsenal turn narrow draws into victories and keep pace with a City side that rarely drops points.

But there’s a catch. Newcastle reportedly value him at £150 million. That kind of fee would almost certainly force Arsenal to scale back elsewhere—possibly giving up the chance to sign a specialist winger like Nico Williams, or to add depth at centre-back and fullback, especially if Gabriel Magalhães or Kieran Tierney move on.

Financially, going all-in on Isak would likely require Arsenal to sell two or more first-team squad players. While Eddie Nketiah was sold last summer, Reiss Nelson is expected to be moved on when he returns from loan. Zinchenko and Fábio Vieira are also potential departures, though the club may choose to retain them depending on market dynamics.

If Isak arrives, he’s the headline. The rest of the window becomes about supporting him, rather than building a complete, balanced squad.

There’s no doubt Isak makes Arsenal better—but he does it by taking a lot of the oxygen out of the room. The reward is obvious: an elite-level striker. The risk is that injuries, a dip in form, or insufficient depth elsewhere leave the team short again come March.

Pathway 2: Sign Šeško – Balance the Build

If the Isak move is the blockbuster, Šeško is the smart-money play.

At 20 years old, Benjamin Šeško isn’t the finished article, but he’s trending in the right direction. This season at RB Leipzig, he’s averaging 0.59 non-penalty goals per 90 (84th percentile) while also showing strong metrics in aerial duels and dribbling success. He’s physical, mobile, and intelligent with his movement.

What he doesn’t yet offer is polished link-up play—his pass completion sits at just 66%, and his expected assists data is relatively low. So while he’s a threat in and around the box, he’s not the kind of forward who drops deep to facilitate attacks like Isak or even Havertz.

The upside is the price. For around £55–60 million, Arsenal could sign Šeško and still afford Williams, Zubimendi (whose arrival now seems likely), and a defensive reinforcement if Gabriel leaves.

This path is about building a complete squad. Signing Šeško lets Arsenal strengthen in three positions instead of one—and if he develops quickly, the team may not be sacrificing much up top after all.

But there’s a developmental curve. Šeško isn’t guaranteed to start every week, and if he takes time to settle, the team could again be leaning on Havertz and Jesus for big goals in tight games.

Still, this is arguably the most balanced approach. Arsenal hedge risk across the pitch, maintain tactical flexibility, and add another long-term talent to the core of an already young and cohesive squad.

Striker Comparison Summary

This comparison highlights what we already know: Isak is plug-and-play, Šeško is a longer-term bet, and Jesus (when fit) doesn’t provide the same ceiling as the other two.

Pathway 3: No Big Striker – Reinforce the Spine and Wings

The third option is the most conservative on paper—but may end up the most complete in execution.

Instead of signing a marquee forward, Arsenal could choose to reinforce the rest of the squad while trusting Havertz and Jesus to lead the line once fit. This would allow the club to sign Zubimendi, a winger like Williams, and potentially add depth at centre-back and left-back, where injuries and expected outgoings leave them light.

With Tomiyasu injured until January and Kiwior possibly on the move, adding another defender may become essential. And with players like Partey, Jorginho, and Tierney likely exiting, this could be a window of silent but necessary refresh.

The risk here is clear. If Havertz doesn’t hit 15–20 goals next season and Jesus remains inconsistent or unavailable, Arsenal could find themselves dominating games but failing to finish them—again.

But the reward is squad depth, flexibility, and future sustainability. And if players like Martinelli, Ødegaard, and Saka contribute their usual output, this model could still produce a title-winning team—particularly with Zubimendi providing added control in midfield.

The Financial Picture

Each approach reshapes the budget differently. A rough guide:

• Isak Pathway:
  Spend: ~£150M on striker alone
  Requires: 2+ squad sales
  Limited flexibility for winger or CB

• Šeško Pathway:
  Spend: ~£55–60M
  Leaves room for: Williams, Zubimendi, defender
  Requires fewer sales

• No-Striker Pathway:
  Spend: ~£100–110M across 3–4 roles
  Emphasis on: Squad depth
  Least financial pressure, but highest attacking risk

Conclusion: The Summer That Will Define Arsenal’s Ambition

This isn’t just another transfer window. It’s the inflection point in a project that’s been steadily rising, season after season.

For three years, Arsenal have rebuilt with purpose. They’ve assembled one of the youngest, most dynamic squads in Europe. They’ve gone toe-to-toe with Manchester City, forced the conversation to include them again, and reignited belief across the fanbase.

Now comes the hardest part. Not chasing, but finishing.

The right moves this summer won’t just make Arsenal competitive—they could make Arsenal champions. But getting them wrong, or playing too cautiously, risks wasting momentum that’s taken years to build.

Isak represents the statement: the belief that this squad is one elite striker away from delivering silverware. Šeško represents patience, balance, and long-term planning with flexibility baked in. Choosing neither striker, and instead reinforcing the depth and spine of the team, leans on trust—trust in Havertz, trust in internal growth, trust in structure.

Each path says something about how Arsenal see themselves right now.

But whatever route they take, one thing is certain: the decisions made in the next three months won’t just shape the season ahead. They’ll define whether this team fulfills its promise or ends up remembered as the great “what if.”

When the window opens, Arsenal’s future is right there with it.