First transfers completed, striker decision, two contracts agreed - Arsenal's dream July

For Arsenal, the first month of summer has been all about laying the groundwork. In July we should see the plan spring into life.

The Gunners are preparing for the new Premier League season, the hope being this is finally the one to put three years of finishing as runners-up behind them. The new season officially gets underway on Sunday, August 17, with a tricky trip to Manchester United, and between now and then there is a clear mandate of what needs to be achieved.

With June coming to a close, no incomings have been announced by the club. It is not indicative of the hard work that has taken place within the Emirates Stadium this past month since the summer window opened, but when rivals are in the position of being able to complete their business, pressure understandably intensifies.

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Manchester City, who finished first to Arsenal in 2023 and 2024, have gone out and added four new players to their squad worth over £100m combined. This can be totted up with the near £200m they spent on talent in January with one eye on 2025/26.

Meanwhile, reigning champions Liverpool have spent over £200m on five signings to join Arne Slot's squad mere weeks after getting their hands on the trophy.

Arsenal supporters may be wondering where their club's similar statement of intent is, and the message is to fear not, as the first transfers of the summer are completed and an announcement is awaited.

Midfielder Martin Zubimendi, arriving from Real Sociedad, and goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga from London rivals Chelsea are on track to be announced in the first week of July, football.london understands.

Zubimendi is a long-term target of Mikel Arteta's and is the fix to the defensive midfield problem that has lingered for some time.

The same could be said of Kepa as when he moves on a permanent deal from Stamford Bridge, it means the club will no longer continuously be forced to dip into the loan market to bolster their goalkeeping ranks as they have done now in recurring seasons.

They look to be the way Arsenal kickstart their summer business in July but may not be the only deals wrapped up. The club are also set to complete a deal around £10m for Brentford midfielder Christian Norgaard, who truly eliminates the defensive midfield issue as Thomas Partey departs at the end of his contract; meanwhile, a new bid is expected close to around £20m for Valencia's promising Spain Under-21 defender Cristhian Mosquera.

Four through the door would surely turn onlooking frowns into smiles, though there is a striking commonality amongst those four players - none are strikers.

That has been the key focus of Arsenal's summer transfer window: who will they sign as the No. 9 that Arteta's squad has so sorely missed in recent years?

A dream July would not be fulfilled without the arrival of one, and so it can only be hoped that the Gunners conclude their efforts with a decision made between Benjamin Sesko and Viktor Gyokeres and a deal swiftly completed.

RB Leipzig and Sporting CP are standing firm over their valuations of their respective players. Arsenal are not looking to overspend, but there is a fine balance between this and the dire need for a man in this position, so the long game is being played to allow for the completion of a favourable deal that will help keep the club financially prepared to go out and wrap up their other deals alongside.

So, the stand-off continues.

Lastly, this cannot detract from the great business being finished internally at the club under sporting director Andrea Berta's plan of action.

A club does not come close to winning the Premier League three times in a row without the basis of a strong squad, and it would be foolish to add to the house without keeping it in order.

Therefore, Gabriel Magalhaes and Myles Lewis-Skelly are the latest to be rewarded with improved, long-term contracts, both confirmed in June.

The perfect July would be complete with Bukayo Saka and WilliamSaliba – both of whom have deals expiring in 2027 as things stand - extending their time with Arsenal.