Arsenal are in talks to sign the £26m England star

How can Mikel Arteta make his title-winning Arsenal team even better?

Champions may fall through the most dangerous periods of ‘second season syndrome’, stumbling after incredible success. Look at Arne Slot’s Liverpool, which has fallen into the wrong category.

But there is stability about the Gunners that suggests he is here to stay. After all, they lost on penalties to Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League final.

This is an exciting squad that Arteta has put together, but the forwards have left a lot to be desired, and that’s where the summer strategy lies that the Gunners need to nail down.

Arsenal are in talks to sign the Premier League winger

Arsenal have been quiet on the transfer front so far this summer, but make no mistake, Arteta and technical director Andrea Berta plan to strengthen the frontline.

The likes of Noni Madueke, Viktor Gyokeres and Eberechi Eze contributed to this season’s Premier League title, but none of them established themselves as members of the first division ahead of Arteta.

Now, Arsenal need to consolidate their frontline with an effective striker.

According to reports relayed by TEAMtalk, Arsenal have gained momentum in their bid to sign Manchester United winger Marcus Rashford, with Barcelona unwilling to meet the £26m price tag for the Three Lions international.

Talks are ongoing between the two Premier League clubs, with the Red Devils offering Rashford to the Emirates side as they consider a move for Gabriel Martinelli.

Rashford is the real deal, 28 years old but perhaps at the beginning of his career. In that, he could emerge as Arsenal’s new Alexis Sanchez.

Why Rashford could be Arsenal’s new Alexis

Rashford reached something of a career crossroads when Ruben Amorim replaced Erik ten Hag for the 2024/25 campaign at Old Trafford.

He has been strong again this season on loan with Barcelona, ​​​​​​​​​​​scoring 14 goals and providing 14 assists, and given the La Blaugrana connection and his inside threat in front of goal, Rashford may have emerged as the new Alexis, who has become one of the Gunners’ best players in a generation.

Described as “one of the best players in the world” by Fabrizio Romano, consistency has not been Rashford’s friend in recent years, but there is no doubt that he has the potential to stand out as one of the most outstanding strikers in Europe, as he has seen in Barcelona this season, especially in the Champions League, in the biggest league of all.

Twice since the start of the decade, Rashford has scored 17 goals in one Premier League season. Like Alexis, he has the ability to play an important role in the attack of his team, and due to the lack of health threats in Arsenal this season, it is not out of the question to think that he can surpass Martinelli and Leandro Trossard, hard-working and talented players, without a doubt, who do not boast of world class.

Just imagine Alexis in this Arsenal team, the Chilean maverick makes things happen and pays for the title ambitions of the likes of Liverpool and Manchester City.

Given that Arsenal are the best team in the country, yet not at the top of their game, it’s fair to say that the right signing could widen the margin, widen the gap and really cement Arteta as one of the greatest coaches of his time.

To help him realize that goal, Arsenal need to sign a winger of Alexis’ quality, and while Rashford has been hot and cold in recent years, he rediscovered his best form last year in Spain, and if Arsenal can bring that quality to north London, they could be on to a winner.