Mikel Arteta sends clear transfer message to Arsenal board ahead of crucial summer | OneFootball

New striker top of Gunners’ wishlist in bid to end five-year wait for major trophy

Arsenal secured Champions League qualification for next season on Sunday by beating Newcastle 1-0 at Emirates Stadium.

The Gunners have, however, failed to win a major trophy and their wait for silverware now stands at five years.

Arsenal are set to invest in their squad this summer and Arteta wants the club to execute the plan the have in place.

“Finish the season, go to the beach, enjoy a few days and make sure the ones upstairs they do what they have to do,” Arteta told Sky Sports.

Writing in the match-day programme before Arsenal’s win over Newcastle, the club’s co-chair, Josh Kroenke, said the club plan to invest this summer.

The Gunners' priority is to add a striker this summer, however they would like to add a wide player, too.

Real Sociedad midfielder Martin Zubimendi is expected to join for around £50million and backup goalkeeper is also on the shopping list.

Martin Zubimendi is set to become Arsenal’s first signing of the summer

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“We plan to invest to get behind winning and doing better next season,” wrote Kroenke. “We’re delighted we have our sporting director, Andrea, who will play an important role in this.

“He is part of a unified and strong team, supported by the board, who are crystal clear on exactly what we need to do and the way in which we want to do it. The right way. The Arsenal way.

“Ultimately, we all want the same thing. We’re as hungry for success as you are and that goes for everyone who works for the club.”

Asked if he felt he had the backing of the board, Arteta replied: “Yeah, but that’s not something new. They always backed the team, the club in the best possible way.

“They’re not going to be different in the summer. We have to be very smart with the decisions that we take.

“Obviously we need players because the squad is really short and on top of that we are losing four or five players that are going to end their contracts and their loans are finished.

“We need to be sharp, very disciplined in what we want to do and make sure we are stronger next season.

“I mean, the plan is done, and the time will be dictated by many parties, many circumstances that unfortunately we don’t control.

“But we have great people in charge of that, and they’re going to be leading that with the board and ownership.

“And as well, make sure that the ones that we have, they feel valued, they feel loved, and we make sure that they want to continue with us in the right manner.

“And then the whole environment is excited. That is not just about if we make it, because we cannot start a season like that. And I want to feel that from day one, and I'm going to be very insistent on that.”