‘I want’: Mikel Arteta shares exactly how many players Arsenal will try to sign this summer

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Mikel Arteta has revealed the exact number of players he wants at Arsenal next season to ensure that he isn’t short of options in Europe.

The Gunners are currently fifth in the Premier League table, level on points with fourth-place Tottenham, who have played a game more. A top-four finish is still very much in Arsenal’s hands and if things don’t fall apart in the coming weeks, they should be able to get over the line.

Even if Arsenal miss out on qualifying for the Champions League, they will almost certainly be in the Europa League.

Arteta was quizzed about his side’s lack of depth and he admitted that Arsenal will have to increase the numbers in their squad to be able to compete in Europe next season.

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Mikel Arteta: I want 25 players in Arsenal’s first team

In his press conference ahead of Arsenal’s game against Brighton this afternoon, Arteta said, as per The Evening Standard: “I’m expecting so (a busy summer transfer window for the club), yes.

“I think both competitions [the Champions League and Europa League] require a much larger squad because the amount of games you play is much bigger in both, so I don’t think [which you qualify for] makes a lot of difference or changes a lot.

“If you can financially afford it and we don’t have to do the turnaround in the squad that we’ve had to do.

“If you ask me what I want, it’s 22 outfield players and three goalkeepers.”

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How many players do the Gunners have in their squad now?

Arsenal’s first-team squad currently has 21 players – 18 outfielders and three goalkeepers. (Transfermarkt)

Even if the Gunners retain all the players they currently have, apart from the ones who are currently out on loan, Arteta’s comments suggest that Arsenal will try and increase the numbers in their squad by four.

Considering that the likes of Alexandre Lacazette, Eddie Nketiah and Mohamed Elneny are all set to leave at the end of their contracts this summer, the number of incomings may increase even further.

Arsenal are definitely set for a busy summer transfer window and it will be interesting to see how many new faces Arteta and Edu will bring in before the start of next season.

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