Mikel Arteta says this summer is going to be ‘a big one’ for Arsenal | OneFootball

Mikel Arteta has admitted he is expecting a “big summer” as his Arsenal side look to strengthen in the transfer market.

The Gunners are on track for a third consecutive second-place finish in the Premier League. They have not been far away from claiming their first league title in over two decades but summer acquisitions from the transfer market will be vital if Arsenal are going to improve on their runners-up finish next season.

This summer will be Arteta’s sixth in charge of the club. The Spaniard reflected: “The way we planned the five first summers, they were all going to be very big, with different objectives.

“Because of the turnaround of players and the objective of those windows, they were going to be different.”

On the upcoming window he said: “First of all we need to increase the depth of the squad but as well we want to increase certain quality and skills that we need to now go to the next step.

“It is going to be a big one and we are very excited about it.

“I said as well that the last five were big. So every summer is big because it’s an opportunity.

“It’s a big summer for many things because first of all you have to maintain all the good foundations that we have and then obviously how can we improve and evolve the team.”

Away from the transfer market, Arsenal’s squad has also been improved by youngsters breaking into the first team from the academy. Ethan Nwaneri and Myles Lewis-Skelly have been two of the shining lights for the Gunners this season.

Arteta said: “It is not only about investing because there are certain positions that probably we didn’t expect  to have someone like Ethan or Myles contributing to that, which has been great and if we have more of those then beautiful.”

Arsenal will have a new sporting director taking control in this summer’s transfer window. Andrea Berta is joining the club in that role after eight years with Atletico Madrid.

Questioned about the incoming director, Arteta gave a glowing review: “What I am very confident about is how he is going to make everybody better. That’s my confidence.

“Because the way he is, the personality he has, the way he talks about and how passionate he is about what he does. And that’s what we need.

“You know, new blood with people that are so ambitious, that they are so attached to the football club and what we already do, I want to add value. That’s what I’m very confident with.”

Finally, when asked about potential contract extensions for star players Bukayo Saka and William Saliba, the Spanish manager humorously responded: “Now I’m going to leave all those questions for Andrea and make sure that he has his place and his role and he can fulfil it and hopefully my influence will be in other aspects.”