Arteta excited about ambitious summer plans at Arsenal

Arsenal head coach Mikel Arteta has suggested that they are ready for a big summer of spending in their pursuit of a first Premier League title since 2004.

While his comments come with the Gunners 12 points behind Liverpool in this year's Premier League table, there is a realistic hope that investment could see that gap narrow in the 2025-26 season.

"The way we planned the five first summers [since I took charge], they were going to be very big and they were going to have different objectives because the turnaround of players and the objective of those windows was different," said Arteta.

"Now we want to increase the depth of the squad, but as well we want to increase the quality and the skills that we need to go to the next step. It's going to be a big one and we are very excited about it.'

Arteta's excitement comes just days after Arsenal appointed Andrea Berta as their new sporting director, taking over from Edu Gaspar who had left to work with Nottingham Forest owner Evangelos Marianakis on a multi-club role.

Berta had previously worked at Atletico Madrid in a similar role and will now join up with the Gunners.

“I am thrilled to be joining Arsenal in what is a hugely exciting period for the club," he said.

“I have watched with great interest the way Arsenal has evolved in recent years and I have admired the hard work that has gone into re-establishing the club as a major force in European football with a passionate following around the world. 

“The club has great values and a rich history, and I am looking forward to playing my part in shaping a successful future with a great team.” 

Arteta, meanwhile, could not hide his positivity when asked about the arrival of Berta.

 'What I'm very confident about is how he's going to make everybody better. Because of the way he is, because of the personality he has, the way he talks and how passionate he is," he said.

"That's what we need, new blood with people that are ambitious.'