What Arsenal Must Do This Summer to Go Again in 2026/27 | OneFootball

Arsenal came agonizingly close to a season double in 2025/26, losing out on penalties to Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League final after winning their first Premier League in 22 years.

Mikel Arteta’s side turned doubters into believers, but couldn’t quite make it all the way to victory in Budapest.

The bigger picture looks significantly brighter now for the Gunners, who were just five wins from a season quadruple, losing the Champions League final, Carabao Cup Final, and being knocked out of the FA Cup at the quarter-final stage by Southampton.

But issues remain, and need solving. While Arsenal are solid defensively, they were the lowest-scoring team to win the Premier League since Leicester City a decade ago. Their style of play has certainly had its critics.

Arsenal were forced to play a defensive game in the Champions League final, failing to take a shot on target following their opener in the sixth-minute of the game. While some will criticise Mikel Arteta for this, his side just don’t have the stars to come off the bench and perform.

This summer, Arsenal have a chance to fix their issues, and turn them into a dominant force both domestically and in Europe. This is what they must do.

Sign a left winger

Many of Arsenal’s offensive issues come from the left side of their attack.

Leo Trossard is 31, and is nowhere near to being the world class player Arsenal need. Other option, the more youthful Gabriel Martinelli, scored just one goal in the 2025/26 season.

To bypass their issues on the left of their team, Arsenal look more often to progress on the right side. A huge 42% of their attacks come on the right, largely through link-ups involving Bukayo Saka.

Just 32% of their advances come on the left side, and 12% of their shots are taken from this area, a huge drop-off in comparison.

To be an elite side, you need to be unpredictable. Arsenal are a handful for most teams, due to their set piece and physical domination, but they just do not pose a threat to a side like Paris Saint Germain when they are so one dimensional.

This summer, the first of a couple of keys for Arsenal is to bring in a left winger. But the club must avoid falling into a trap, which was not fatal last summer, but could be if they succumb to it again.

Arsenal must avoid this trap

Arsenal signed Ebere Eze last summer. While the 27-year-old is clearly a fantastic player, and showed his worth, he was not quite the right signing to fit the team’s needs.

For years, the Gunners have needed an out-and-out left winger with serious creative output. Eze certainly has output, but is more of a half-winger, who enjoys cutting inside and operating in more congested areas of the pitch.

Arsenal are being linked to Morgan Rogers. While a magnificent player, the Aston Villa man is not what they need to go up another level next season.

Rogers is not a left winger by trade, and will narrow Arsenal’s options, which will not help the imbalances they currently suffer from.

They should aim to sign somebody like Rafael Leao, who has confirmed he will leave AC Milan this summer. A left winger with serious technical ability, pace and creative output, this is the kind of player Arteta and the recruitment team at Arsenal should be aiming for – not another Ebere Eze.

Bring in a perfect partner for Rice

Arsenal don’t need a huge overhaul this summer, but if they can splash the cash on a Premier League-ready partner for Declan Rice, they have to do so.

Martin Zubimendi was their attempt at finding Rice a partner last summer, but the Spaniard has not adapted well to England. Mikel Arteta’s more recent solution to this problem has been to bring in Myles Lewis-Skelly alongside him.

Lewis-Skelly is a good player and an even better prospect, but if Arsenal are to improve, they must find Rice a midfield partner next season that compliments him, and pushes the team on to further greatness.

Somebody like West Ham’s Mateus Fernandes would be perfect – a player whose all-round game is very well-rounded. Fernandes has two years of Premier League experience at just 21, and was nominated for Young Player of the Season despite his club’s relegation in 2025/26.

West Ham are seeking at least £50m for the Portuguese midfielder’s services this summer, but it would be a dip into the market well worth it.

Next season is one for Arsenal to push on again. With Pep Guardiola leaving Manchester City, and all-change across big six clubs in terms of head coaches, it could be the North London club’s chance to steam even further ahead.

If they are ruthless in the market and improve upon their tactical misgivings in 2025/26, Arsenal could well win the Premier League again, and even grab that elusive Champions League.