Arsenal's dream 2026-27 squad as Viktor Gyokeres swapped for £100m star and Newcastle duo join

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Arsenal have reached a crucial point in the season which will decide whether they're rewarded for their immense efforts over the past eight months. Mikel Arteta's Gunners were heading towards a flawless season until late March, topping the Premier League , winning every Champions League fixture and remaining in the hunt for the FA Cup and Carabao Cup.

Their hopes of securing a historic quadruple have crumbled over the past month, however, with Arsenal suffering four defeats in their last six outings. That included a Carabao Cup final loss to Manchester City , a shock FA Cup exit at Southampton and back-to-back Premier League defeats to hand City the upper hand in the title battle.

While there have undoubtedly been positives this campaign, particularly across the back five, recent results have shown there's substantial work to be done by sporting director Andrea Berta this summer to strengthen the squad and guarantee that the Gunners can challenge on all four fronts again next season.

Here, Mirror Football examines the dream Arsenal squad for the 2026/27 season , if they are able to raise the squad’s level by securing their top transfer targets and finding buyers for some of their deadwood.

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In goal, David Raya has cemented his status as not just one of the Premier League's finest goalkeepers, but also across Europe. The Spaniard, despite the odd nervy moment with the ball at his feet, is mainly flawless and is set to pick up a third successive Premier League Golden Glove.

The future of the No. 2 role is less clear-cut. Kepa Arrizabalaga joined last summer and has been given the nod by Arteta in domestic cup ties. However, the Spaniard is believed to be seeking more game time than a typical reserve goalkeeper, which could lead to Arsenal parting ways with him in the coming transfer window.

That wouldn't necessarily be a disaster, considering Kepa's blunder in the Carabao Cup final, while Diant Ramaj is being touted as a possible replacement. The German is currently on loan at Heidenheim from Borussia Dortmund and Arsenal are said to be monitoring the 24-year-old Bundesliga keeper. He would offer a solid mix of experience and youth, while Tommy Setford, 20, would remain Arsenal's third-choice understudy.

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Arsenal's rock-solid defence has been the main catalyst behind the team's success this campaign. First-choice back four Jurrien Timber, William Saliba, Gabriel Magalhaes and Riccardo Calafiori should all retain their spots in the starting line-up next season, given the superb combination of defensive resilience and attacking threat they deliver.

At left-back, Piero Hincapie has been an outstanding deputy to the frequently-injured Calafiori, while Cristhian Mosquera has fitted in effortlessly across the defensive line whenever called upon in his debut season in north London. Marli Salmon has featured on a handful of occasions this term, and while the teenage talent is still raw, he is expected to be handed more playing time next campaign.

The only concern at the back has arisen when multiple injury problems strike at the same time, leaving Arteta notably stretched in the full-back areas. Ben White seems a shadow of the player he was before injuries riddled his recent Arsenal career, having looked notably off the pace since returning to the fold. Berta would be wise to cash in on any reasonable bids for White this summer, with Everton reportedly keen on the England international.

Tino Livramento remains a long-standing target for Arsenal. The 23-year-old Newcastle defender is capable of operating at both left-back and right-back, something Arteta is known to value greatly. Title rivals Manchester City are also in the hunt for his signature, which should only sharpen the Gunners' resolve to lure him to the Emirates Stadium.

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In the holding midfield role, Arsenal are lucky to have two of the best options in the country in Martin Zubimendi and Declan Rice . The recurring headache for the Gunners this season, however, has been a lack of depth in that area.

Christian Norgaard, bought last summer from Brentford, has not been trusted enough by Arteta to earn a Premier League start this season. This has led Zubimendi and Rice to shoulder the burden throughout the entire campaign, much to their detriment as both have looked increasingly leggy in recent months.

Arsenal therefore have an urgent need to bring in a top-quality central midfielder to share the workload without compromising quality. One such target is Newcastle's Sandro Tonali, who was linked with a surprise deadline day move to the Emirates Stadium in January.

The Italian's contract at Newcastle runs until June 2028 and he is valued at somewhere between £80million and £100m. Despite the considerable outlay, Tonali at 25 is at the peak of his powers and would prove invaluable should Rice ever fall to injury.

Norgaard should be moved on to give Myles Lewis-Skelly a clearer route into the first team. With Arteta no longer viewing the Hale End graduate as a left-back, the time has come for Lewis-Skelly to demonstrate his abilities in his preferred position in lower-stakes cup fixtures.

Further up the pitch, Arsenal are already well stocked with several options at their disposal. Martin Odegaard and Eberechi Eze are the primary creative forces and should be deployed together far more regularly going forward.

Mikel Merino's return from a broken foot will provide a massive lift, with the Gunners sorely lacking his tactical and positional flexibility in recent months. The most significant shift in this area should come from Ethan Nwaneri's reintegration after a dismal loan stint at Marseille . Nwaneri is undoubtedly a gifted playmaker and, at just 19, has already demonstrated he can be a game-changer and a natural successor to Odegaard.

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The right-forward position is Arsenal's most secure across the front line. Bukayo Saka , despite an underwhelming and injury-blighted season by his lofty standards, remains the clear first-choice winger on the right flank. Wonderkid Max Dowman's flashes of brilliance mean he could become the primary back-up to Saka next season, given Noni Madueke's inconsistencies on that side.

In contrast, Arsenal's left flank remains a glaring weakness, as it has been for a number of seasons. Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard have left fans frustrated throughout the campaign and Berta should make signing a replacement his priority this summer. With that in mind, at least one of the pair should be offloaded, with Trossard appearing the more likely candidate to leave given he turns 32 later this year.

RB Leipzig's Yan Diomande is a name that keeps cropping up. The 19-year-old Ivorian has lit up the Bundesliga this season, netting 12 goals and providing seven assists. He can operate on either flank, possesses excellent dribbling skills, boasts electric pace and can find the net in various ways - which is more than can be said for the aforementioned pair. Diomande is also attracting interest from the likes of PSG , Manchester United and Liverpool , but Arsenal remain one of the more appealing destinations for the teenager.

Up front, Gabriel Jesus should be the first player moved on this summer given his injury history. The Brazilian is no longer able to inject the same spark in the final third which he brought when he first arrived in N5.

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In what would be a harsh but essential move, Berta should consider selling Viktor Gyokeres, despite only bringing the Swede in last summer in a £64m deal. The fact Gyokeres is Arsenal's leading scorer this season and has still been so underwhelming demonstrates how limited his overall play is. Arsenal should simply acknowledge they got this signing wrong and cut their losses, even if that means parting company with him for a reduced fee of around £40m.

Kai Havertz, in comparison, has demonstrated how much better equipped he is to spearhead the attack since his return from a lengthy injury. But despite the German's outstanding all-round play, Arsenal are still missing a truly world class striker who can link play and still find the back of the net.

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