Shock 3-0 defeat may have ruined Arsenal's summer transfer plans

James Shearman

• Updated: 4 Apr 2022 23:15 BST
• 4 min read

Arsenal's 3-0 defeat to Crystal Palace could have a significant impact on this summer's transfer window.

The Gunners had an excellent chance of finishing in the top four of the Premier League prior to this weekend, which would've seen them qualify for next Champions League.

However, Mikel Arteta's men have now fallen to fifth place, behind north London rivals Tottenham who beat Newcastle 5-1 on Sunday.

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Arsenal do have a game in hand on Spurs, but their young squad are now under serious pressure to secure qualification to Europe's elite competition for the first time since Arsene Wenger left.

And, Arteta's plans to bring the club back to its glory days are heavily reliant on doing so.

While the squad has already improved under his management, there are a number of positions that still need strengthening in order to close the gap to Liverpool and Manchester City.

The Spaniard will fear that, without Champions League football, securing his top targets will be almost impossible.

They could even miss out players of the calibre they are looking for to their arch rivals, which will set them back at least another season as well as causing pain to Gunners fans.

Three of Arsenal's Champions League dependent summer targets

Houssem Aouar (Lyon)

Houssem Aouar reportedly came close to signing for Arsenal in the summer of 2020, only for the deal to collapse.

The Gunners ended up signing Thomas Partey from Atletico Madrid instead, but they still retain an interest in Aouar, who could be available for a cut-price fee as his contract with Lyon runs out in the summer of 2023.

Aouar has stated that his role models are Zinedine Zidane and Juninho Pernambucano, and this is reflected in his style of play. A calm and composed player in possession, he's manipulates the ball excellently, particularly in tight areas.

Renato Sanches (Lille)

Bayern Munich flop Renato Sanches has resurrected his career in France with Lille, emerging as one of the best all-round midfielders in the division.

Now that the Portugal international has rebuilt his reputation after poor spells with Bayern and Swansea, he is once again a wanted commodity.

It seems inevitable that Sanches will leave Lille either in January or possibly in the summer, and Arsenal are among his list of suitors.

The Gunners are crying out for a new central midfielder and the energy Sanches provides in the middle of the park could be just what they need.

Alexander Isak (Real Sociedad)

Although Alexander Isak may not be as widely tipped for success as Kylian Mbappe or Erling Haaland, the young Swede is still one of European football’s most exciting prospects.

The Real Sociedad striker has quickly turned his career around in Spain after a tricky start to senior football at Borussia Dortmund, and is now attracting interest from some of the continent’s biggest clubs.

Arsenal will not be in the market for a Haaland or Mbappe as they simply aren't an elite enough side at the moment, but, they could potentially take the punt, albeit an expensive one, on another potential gem in Isak.