The ten players that Arsene Wenger must look to sign to mount a title challenge next season.10. Simon Mignolet (Sunderland)
The Belgian shot-stopper has been a stand-out performer for the struggling Black Cats this season, and his agent has talked up a move to a big club to improve his credentials for the Belgium national team.
Despite also being linked with Manchester United, Arsenal are in more desperate need of a new goalkeeper with Wojciech Szczesny’s future recently cast into doubt. The Pole was dropped from the team for some poor performances and may not be content to sit on the bench for much longer.
9. Micah Richards (Manchester City)
The talented right-back has found first-team opportunities hard to come by this season due to injuries and competition from Pablo Zabaleta, but Richards would be an ideal replacement for Bacary Sagna, who is likely to leave Arsenal this summer after turning down a new contract.
Richards would welcome a move away for more first-team football as he looks to get himself back into the England fold, especially with the World Cup following the end of next season.
8. Christopher Samba (QPR)
Despite only recently joining QPR, Christopher Samba is likely to leave the club if they get relegated this season. Arsenal are known to be admirers of the Congolese centre half, and might be able to get him on the cheap when Rangers eventually go down.
A tall and commanding defender, Samba would be an ideal candidate to replace Thomas Vermaelen, who has had a poor season for the Gunners and could be on the way out this summer as well.
7. Ashley Williams (Swansea)
Should Arsenal fail to land Samba, Swansea’s Ashley Williams is another player who might be on Arsene Wenger’s radar in the next transfer window.
The Swans captain has also impressed the likes of Liverpool with his displays this year, as he led his side to glory in the Capital One Cup.
6. Cheick Tioté (Newcastle)
Arsenal are still in need of a tough-tackling midfielder to replace Alex Song, and could finally move for Newcastle’s Cheick Tiote, with whom they’ve been linked several times. He would be ideal for the role currently being filled by Mikel Arteta and Aaron Ramsey, both players who prefer to play further forward.
Tiote may welcome a move to a bigger club after a disappointing season with the Magpies this year, who could yet find themselves in the thick of this year’s tight relegation battle.
5. Alexis Sanchez (Barcelona)
Chilean winger Alexis Sanchez has not lived up to his potential so far at Barcelona, and may be shifted by the Catalan club this summer if the money is right.
Arsenal could do with more pace and trickery in the wide areas, and while Sanchez has underperformed in La Liga, the talent is certainly there to improve this current Gunners squad.
4. Mohamed Diame (West Ham)
Senegalese midfielder Mohamed Diame was strongly linked with Arsenal in January, but a move failed to materialise. However, with a minimum release fee clause of around £3.5million, Arsene Wenger may be tempted to move for him again to improve his defensive midfield options.
Diame has been likened to Abou Diaby in being a tough but skillful player in the middle of the park, and may be a more reliable option than the current Arsenal man, who has an appalling record with injuries.
3. Isco (Malaga)
The Malaga midfielder is one of the most highly-rated young midfielders in the world, and certainly won’t come cheap, but he could be the man to really take Arsenal to the next level.
Just 20 years old, the Spaniard would be a long-term investment for the Gunners and well worth his reported €35 million release clause. Other clubs will surely be interested, but he may be tempted to follow his former team-mates Santi Cazorla and Nacho Monreal, who moved from Malaga to Arsenal this season.
2. Loic Remy (QPR)
The French striker has impressed since joining QPR from Marseille in January and would be available for £8million when Harry Redknapp’s side are surely relegated.
Arsene Wenger is known to be a fan of the 26-year-old, and considered signing him in January as well. If available again, Arsenal could do with an alternative to Olivier Giroud upfront, who has failed to replace the goals of Robin van Persie.
1. Mario Gotze (Borussia Dortmund)
Gotze is undoubtedly the star of this current Borussia Dortmund side, but he continues to be linked with Arsenal in the press. He has a £30million minimum release fee clause that Arsene Wenger is said to be willing to activate, and this move would show true ambition from the Gunners manager.
However, Gotze will be in high demand and likely to have other offers and may feel he’d be better suited to a move elsewhere.