Arsenal transfer plans: Mikel Arteta expects more signings before window closes

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta says he expects further arrivals before the summer transfer window shuts, with the Premier League champions determined to strengthen rather than “sit still” ahead of their title defence.

The north London club have conducted less business than several of their major rivals, including Tottenham Hotspur, Manchester City and Chelsea. However, Arsenal remain linked with Newcastle United midfielder Bruno Guimaraes and Real Madrid winger Vinicius Junior.

Arteta declined to comment specifically on the reported interest in either player after Arsenal’s 4-1 pre-season victory over Girona on Saturday. Instead, he stressed that the club were continuing to look for ways to improve the squad.

“We expect to have movements in the next few weeks, obviously,” the Spaniard said.

Arsenal are preparing to defend their first English top-flight title in 22 years, and Arteta believes their progress will depend on raising standards throughout the squad.

“We want to get better like anybody else, and you can see the transfer market and our opponents and what we are doing. We won’t sit still, and we are very ambitious with what we are doing.

“The margins are very small. Because we want to get better and the level is going to increase. We need to increase the competition internally. We need to make sure we identify the things we don’t have in the team.”

The manager’s comments came after Arsenal completed another pre-season match as they build towards the start of the new Premier League campaign. Arteta indicated that further changes to his group could be made in the coming weeks, although he did not provide details about the positions or players the club were targeting.

Arsenal have already added goalkeeper Illan Meslier and forward Christos Tzolis during the current transfer window. Defender Piero Hincapie has also joined on a permanent basis after spending the previous season at Emirates Stadium on loan.

Those moves have so far represented a quieter approach than that of Tottenham Hotspur, Manchester City and Chelsea, who have been more prominent in the market. Arsenal’s interest in Guimaraes and Vinicius Junior has nevertheless kept the club’s recruitment plans in focus as the champions seek to strengthen before the deadline.

Arteta said the need to improve was made more pressing by the expected rise in competition and by the narrow margins that can decide success at the highest level. He also highlighted the importance of ensuring that the squad contains the right balance of qualities and that players compete for places internally.

Arsenal will begin their Premier League title defence at home against promoted Coventry City on 21 August. The fixture will mark the start of their attempt to retain the club’s first English top-flight championship in more than two decades.

The club therefore have several weeks remaining to make the additional moves Arteta expects, with the manager making clear that Arsenal’s transfer activity is not yet complete.