Mikel Arteta outlines Arsenal transfer budget plan as he predicts summer 'variables' in crucial window | OneFootball

Gunners set to be active in summer window with new striker a top priority

The Gunners are looking to strengthen their squad this summer after their search for major silverware stretched to five years.

Arsenal’s priority is to sign a new striker, but they are also in the market for a winger and backup goalkeeper.

Real Sociedad midfielder Martin Zubimendi is expected to join too, while the club may add to their defence depending on outgoings.

Arsenal have traditionally operated with a self-sustainable model under their current owners, Kroenke Sports & Entertainment, but they have also shown a willingness to spend big.

Two years ago, the Gunners ended up paying over £100million for Declan Rice after West Ham rejected their opening bids.

“The thing is that the budget is like when you have your wedding, you plan your wedding with your wife and you give her a budget and never less, it’s always more,” said Arteta.

“When you build a house it’s always more. Normally this happens. You prepare for different scenarios.

“Then unfortunate things happen. Sometimes we want a player and suddenly we have an injury or that player gets injured.

“There are so many variables that can happen but there is a budget. There is always an idea of what we can do, what we can improve, what the priorities are going to be and then let's see if we can do it.”

Arsenal spent more than £100m to bring Declan Rice to the club two years ago

Action Images via Reuters

Arsenal head into this summer’s transfer window with a new sporting director, following the appointment of Andrea Berta at the end of March.

The Italian has replaced Edu, who stepped down in November of last year, and he will lead Arsenal’s transfer business.

Arteta insists, however, that any deals will be done in a collaborative manner - with input from him and also those above Berta.

“It’s always a ‘we’,” said Arteta. “I think it’s always a decision that all of us have to come together.

“Then obviously in certain aspects, the club, the financial aspects, whether it’s the strategy or this or that, they have a bigger say than me because I don’t want to have an opinion on that. I would have probably a reference but not a strong opinion.

“When it’s more technical or tactical aspects of how I think that player is going to now emerge and be cohesive with the group of players that we have and where I see them now developing and what we want to do next with another player, of course it’s more in between the sporting director, in this case Andrea, myself and all the scouting department.”

In recent years, Arsenal have shown a tendency to buy Premier League players as they look to build a squad that can secure their first title since 2004.

Arteta has explained that is down to his belief the Premier League is the best in the world and players with experience of it can adapt quicker.

“Well, to be fair sometimes it has been a thoughtful decision and sometimes it has been an opportunity,” Arteta said. “Sometimes it has been luck, I would say.

“But yeah there is an element of understanding the league, having competed in the league, obviously brings adaptation time lower and the risk lower.

“The best thing is when you have talent in the building, because you have known them already for many years.

“You just throw them in, you have seen them every day and there is no adaptation. But sometimes the players have to be available, and obviously we know how much they cost as players.

“I look at our league and for me there is no question, it is the best league in the world. I have experienced a few of them and the one we have right now is incredibly exciting and good to work in.”