Isak IN, Jesus OUT: What Arsenal need to finally win the Premier League

Cameron Smith

• Updated: 20 May 2024 11:20 BST
• 5 min read

Arsenal came within two points of winning the Premier League title for the first time since 2004, but they fell short for the second consecutive year.

Last season, Mikel Arteta’s side led the English top flight table for 248 days, however a late season collapse and Manchester City’s incredible form ensured the title went back to the Etihad Stadium once again.

It was a similar story this time around, although the Gunners won 49 points from a possible 54 in 2024 as City clinched the title for a fourth consecutive time after a flawless end to the campaign.

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The Gunners are set for a huge summer of transfer business, FootballTransfers understands, as they look to finally end Man City’s Premier League dominance.

However, what must they do to leapfrog Pep Guardiola’s side and win the league for the first time since 2004?

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Sign a prolific No.9

The days of Man City playing a false nine through the middle are well and truly over, with Pep Guardiola utilising the incredible Erling Haaland as his central striker.

The Norway international may have regressed from his mesmerising debut campaign at the Etihad Stadium, but he still notched 27 league goals - enough to win the Premier League Golden Boot by a margin of five.

By comparison, Arsenal’s top goalscorer in the English top flight was Bukayo Saka with 16 - the ninth most in the division.

Of course, the Gunners were agonisingly close to winning the Premier League without a consistently reliable number nine, but if they want to beat Man City, signing a prolific goalscorer could be necessary.

Viktor Gyokeres and Benjamin Sesko could become this player, although Alexander Isak is the man Arsenal should sign if they want to win the English top flight.

Newcastle United don’t want to sell, but the Swedish star is the striker Arsenal need to beat Man City.

Keep the majority of the squad

Arsenal have historically sold their best players to the likes of Barcelona, Manchester United and Man City; Cesc Fabregas, Robin van Persie and Samir Nasri all spring to mind.

However, if Arteta wants to overthrow Guardiola’s side, Arsenal cannot sell any of their best players.

For example, William Saliba has recently been linked with a sensational exit, but the Gunners must retain the Frenchman no matter the cost. The same goes for the likes of Martin Odegaard, Declan Rice, Saka, and Arteta himself.

Sign a reliable Bukayo Saka back-up

Man City don’t have the deepest squad in the Premier League, but Guardiola has a core group of 15/16 players that he relies upon to perform every week. As a result, the Spaniard is able to tinker his squad on a match-by-match basis.

Arteta, on the other hand, doesn’t have the same luxury - or at least he doesn’t trust his current back-up players.

The most pressing area of concern is the lack of a reliable back-up to Saka. The England star has played far too much football in recent years and an injury wouldn’t come as a surprise given the treatment he receives from opposition full-backs.

Signing a new right winger should therefore be a priority for Arteta as a title challenge could evaporate without Saka.

Arsenal already have the foundation of a title-winning team and it may simply take a slight drop-off from Man City for the Gunners to finally emerge triumphant. However, signing a prolific number nine and an adequate Saka back-up, as well as retaining the majority of the squad, could be enough for Man City to be beaten fair and square.