Arsenal have ended a 22-year wait for the Premier League title, with Mikel Arteta guiding the club to their first championship since the Invincibles in 2004 — and the manager is already plotting his next move. Arteta, who vowed this would be a “big summer” after finishing as runners-up for a third season in succession, saw his gamble on a flurry of new signings pay off as Arsenal finished top of the table and reached their first Champions League final since 2006.
The new sporting director, Andrea Berta, had delivered on a number of signings in his first transfer window — Martín Zubimendi, Christian Nørgaard, Noni Madueke, Viktor Gyökeres, Cristhian Mosquera and Kepa Arrizabalaga — and they strengthened the squad enough for Arteta to do the business. Their title push was pushed all the way by Manchester City, who missed out in the final week but won the League Cup and FA Cup in Pep Guardiola’s final campaign.
“Arsenal won their first Premier League title in 22 years; Arteta targets Juventus star Yildiz after World Cup exit.”
Now, with the title secured, Arteta is looking to refresh his attack. According to reports, Juventus playmaker Kenan Yildiz is the manager's dream target for the summer transfer window, and the 21-year-old is free to complete a move after Turkey were knocked out of the World Cup following back-to-back losses. Yildiz, who can operate as an attacking midfielder or winger, scored 14 goals and provided 10 assists last season, though none came after the March international break.
Arteta is targeting a new left winger, with Yildiz on the Premier League champions' shortlist alongside Morgan Rogers, Bradley Barcola and Christos Tzolis. The timing is significant: Gabriel Jesus, Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard have all entered the final year of their respective contracts and could be sold to make room for new arrivals.
Yildiz, a former Bayern Munich starlet, started Turkey's World Cup campaign on the bench before breaking into Vincenzo Montella’s line-up for the next two games, but elimination after just two matches has opened the door for a transfer. Arsenal's historic season has ended with the title — but the question now is whether Yildiz can help them defend it.