Arsenal are set to resume Premier League action this weekend, having booked a place in the FA Cup semi final with an impressive win at Old Trafford.
The Gunners were tipped to challenge for either the Premier League or the Champions League this term, having spent big money on the likes of Alexis Sanchez in the summer.
But a slow start has had them playing catch up in the league, whilst a 3-1 home defeat to Monaco in the first leg of the last 16 has them fighting for their Champions League futures.
The defeats to Monaco, Tottenham and Southampton aside, Arsene Wenger’s side have been almost faultless since the turn of the year, with their victory over Manchester United on Monday night particularly impressive.
Another top four finish and success in the FA Cup for the second consecutive year would represent a good season for the Gunners, with real hope of a title challenge next term if they can attract the right players.
Here are five players Wenger should look to sign to make that a genuine possibility next season.
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Click on Arsene Wenger to reveal 5 players Arsenal must sign in the summer
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Petr Cech
Whilst David Ospina has been impressive since taking over the number one spot from Wojciech Szczesny, the word is that Arsene Wenger is still on the lookout for an experienced proven world class number one.
They don’t come much better than Petr Cech, who is reportedly set for a move at the end of the season having lost his regular first team place at Chelsea this season.
Jose Mourinho would be reluctant to sell to a direct rival, but the Chelsea boss has already admitted he wouldn’t stand in the 32-year-old’s way if the right offer came in and he wanted to move to a club that could guarantee him a first team spot.
Sami Khedira
The German has been consistently linked with a move away from Real Madrid for the best part of two years.
He has been used sparingly by Carlo Ancelotti this season, and looks set to finally seal a move away at the end of the season.
Schalke have recently been heavily linked with the World Cup winner, but Arsenal have been boosted by the fact Khedira has said he is not interested in a switch to the Bundesliga side.
Wenger has been on the hunt for that elusive defensive midfielder for a while now, and Khedira certainly fits the bill.
Morgan Schneiderlin
The France international has established himself as one of the top defensive midfielders in the Premier League over the last couple of seasons, and is believed to be another target on Arsene Wenger’s radar.
The prospect of Champions League football may prove an enticing one for Schneiderlin, who tried to force through a move to north London rivals Tottenham last summer.
Arsenal have since registered an interest, and considering they are favourites to land a top four spot ahead of Pochettino’s side this season, Schneiderlin looks most likely to favour a move to the Emirates at the end of the season.
Neven Subotic
It has been an up and down season for Per Mertesacker, and reports suggest he could be shipped out in the summer as Arsene Wenger continues to revamp his defence.
Brazilian Gabriel Paulista was signed from Villarreal in January, but Wenger is still chasing another top class centre back to compete for a starting berth.
Neven Subotic has been on the radar of several Premier League clubs for some time, whilst Borussia Dortmund’s disastrous Bundesliga season could see them make wholesale changes in the summer.
Arsenal have the money in the bank, and with previous target Winston Reid recently signing a contract extension at West Ham, the Gunners are understood to have made the Serb their new top target.
Alvaro Morata
The Spanish striker is another player who has been on Arsene Wenger’s radar for a while.
The Gunners failed in an attempt to bring Morata to the Emirates from Real Madrid in the summer of 2013.
He has since moved to Juventus on a season long loan, and has impressed in a partnership alongside Carlos Tevez.
It is thought Morata will still struggle to get the first team opportunities he is hoping for at the Bernabeu however, and Carlo Ancelotti will consider letting him leave on a permanent deal for the right price – which could lead to a bidding war between Arsenal and Juventus.
