The tears in the eyes of Mikel Arteta On Wednesday evening reflected the enormous weight of Arsenal's Champions League Semi-final defeat against Paris Saint-Germain.
It was the most emotional arteta that was seen this season after a competition, because he resorted to delusions of the Gunners who was the best side in the competition and how the PSG bank told him that his party deserved to win.
In reality, the core of the loss returns to the reason why the North London club was defeated last season by Bayern Munich in the quarterfinals, and why Liverpool transferred them in this campaign in this campaign in this campaign with games that save games and a lack of firepower at the top.
Injuries to a number of important players, including Kai Havertz and Gabriel, have clearly been a burden, although it is the inability of the club to buy a forward player in the previous two transfers players who have gone a way to a fifth year without a trophy for Arteta.
With Rivals Manchester City, Manchester United, Liverpool and Chelsea with all seized in that period, the feeling among Goooners is one of frustration, regardless of the progression of eighth place in the competition to the point to lift a trophy.
'Next time' can only be enough for as long; “We are almost there” a plaster that eventually comes loose. It raises the question: what kind of Arsenal?
So far they are a club that so close to a trophy-arteta mimed this with a water bottle at his press conference after the game on Wednesday, but ultimately unable to find the last obstacle.
For all Defensivity of Arteta there is an acceptance by the Spaniard, the new sports director Andrea Berta and the club that serious investment in the front line is needed this summer.
A striker is their priority, with left wing then on the list. Alexander Isak from Newcastle, very admired by Arteta and other key figures, is the dream goal – although unlikely.
He would wipe out most of their transfer budget and the move is now made more unlikely with the Toon Club that will probably protect the Champions League football next season.
The two fronts that are mainly pursued are RB Leipzig's Benjamin Sesko and Viktor Gyokeres from Sporting Lisbon.
It is understanding that Sporting Lisbon is currently looking for a new striker and expect that Gyokeres will leave this summer.
Because the Portuguese side demands a prize of more than £ 70 million, the options of the Swede are limited to a few clubs with the financial power and willingness to spend them on a single player.
Arsenal is such a team, Berta said to admire Gyokeres of his time working in Atletico Madrid.
But internally views are torn or the striker can hit the ground in the Premier League, because the Primeira Liga is a different proposition, although he has scored 38 league goals this season.
It is understanding that Manchester United is also interested in the player, manager Ruben Amorim worked with Gyokeres when he was Sporting Boss.
Slovenia International Sesko has achieved 26 goals in this campaign and at the age of 21 presents an ideal profile for future growth. The Gunners have also done a lot of the basics on a potential Sesko deal.
In terms of left wing, Nico Williams is the number one priority. The position is an area that the Gunners have viewed since last year, Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard their current most important options.
It was then seen as light and will be more bald next season, with Trossard again exploring a move to the Saudi Pro League, which has previously shown interest.
At 30 and with another year left to his contract, it is clear that he now sees the suitable time to get a final lucrative contract and play regularly. The North -London club would not stand in the way of him.
Back to Williams, he is seen by Arsenal as the ideal player to compete with Martinelli who has been hot and cold in this campaign. Although it is complicated by Chelsea, which are considered interested in the Atletico Bilbao player.
If that movement becomes impossible, other names on the Arsenal list for Left Wing are supposed to record AC Milan's Rafael Leao and Borussia Dortmund's Jamie Gittens.
The other Avenue Arsenal is the most important backbone of their current team.
The contracts of Bukayo Saka, William Saliba and Gabriel will all expire in two years, who will warn clubs throughout Europe.
The club is relaxed about the contracting situation of Saka, who, according to them, will sign a new long -term agreement this summer.
It is the Saliba situation where there is fear. Real Madrid is enthusiastic about the Frenchman and has begun to generate their public interest in him.
The most important motivation of the 24-year-old is to win trophies. With the Gunners a different season without silverware, protecting his future becomes more complicated in the long term.
If he moved, it would leave a huge gap that will cost tens of millions to replace.
The Gunners are well within PSR limits, so the capacity to spend -but also want to discharge a number of squadron players to strengthen their Summer War box.
They have already prepared Martin Zubimendi, the midfielder expected to participate in Real Sociedad and to replace Jorginho who takes place to become a member of the Brazilian side Flamengo.
At least an estimated £ 80 million is the target of the sale of Arsenal Players in the coming window, to add to the reserves that have already been built up last summer in which the expenditures of Emile Smith Rowe, Eddie Nketiah, Aaron Ramsdale and others created almost £ 100 million.
Oleksandr Zinchenko looks at an exit at Borussia Dortmund, a movement that was investigated in January. With the rise of the 18-year-old Myles Lewis-Skelly, Zinchenko fell further in the pecking order and has been set to leave.
Offensive midfielder Fabio Vieira, currently on loan at Porto, is not in the first team plans of Arteta. Since he joined the Gunners for £ 30 million in June 2022, he has not gained a foothold in the team.
He only made four league-start in the 2022-23 campaign and was able to attract approximately £ 20-25 million.
Nuno Tavares, on loan in Lazio, has a buy -out clause of approximately £ 7 million that will activate the Serie A team. This includes a clause of 20 percent.
Sambi Lokonga is on loan on La Liga side Sevilla, who has an option of £ 10 million – the club still has to decide on activating. The player has a clause of 25 percent sales.
Reiss Nelson, who is currently back in Arsenal to recover from the hamstring injury he sustained during the loan at Fulham, has no purchase option in his deal with the cottagers.
Although he has a wages of £ 100,000 a week, is a substantial amount for a player who is on the edge of Arteta's starting line-up. He is also reserved for a permanent transfer elsewhere this summer.
Earlier in the season, Arsenal was planning to sell Jakub Kiwior this summer. After his recent performances, after he had occupied the bank for the most part of this campaign, there is the temptation to keep him, but the club is aware that he will attract a larger compensation than a few months ago.
In general, that is a lot of money to be capitalized on.
The attacking of midfield is another area that can be done with some attention, but Arteta is convinced that 15-year-old Max Dowman can offer depth in the future.
He is expected to go on Arsenal's Asia-Pre season, with a view to following the first team of the first team next season.
So the Gunners to-do list for this summer runs long but the difference between silverware or another season as a bridesmaid remains.
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