Arsenal's next transfer priority has been determined with the additions of Declan Rice and Jurrien Timber.
THE MAJOR DEBATE: Arsenal acted quickly in the summer market after finishing second to Manchester City last season to ensure their title bid will not be a flash in the pan.
This summer is all about narrowing the gap with Manchester City for Arsenal and Mikel Arteta.
The Gunners were unfancied at the start of last season, yet they pushed City to the limit and just missed out on the Premier League title. Unfortunately, Pep Guardiola's relentless winning machine accomplished what it does best: lift silverware...a lot of it.
City finished the season five points ahead of Arsenal in the final standings, completing a spectacular treble. But Arteta does not want to be in charge of a one-season wonder, therefore he and Sporting Director Edu have gone all-in on the summer transfer market.
Kai Havertz has already joined from Chelsea, while Declan Rice from West Ham and Jurrien Timber from Feyenoord are set to join soon. So, how far has Arsenal come in terms with City, and what places do they still need to strengthen before they can be sure of unseating City at the top of the Premier League?
Our Mirror Football writers were asked:
Dunn, Andy
Wrapping up the signings of Declan Rice and Jurrien Timber, together with the capture of Kai Havertz, would be the ideal START to Mikel Arteta's summer transfer business.
If anyone wants to compete with Manchester City, squad depth is the obvious key, and Arteta is in desperate need of additional strikers.
Goals may come from wherever on the field with this talented Arsenal team, but they need an attacking fulcrum.
Mr. Alan Smith
Arsenal will be a better team than previous season, but they will not be able to catch City. Declan Rice will improve the midfield, Jurrien Timber will give much-needed depth in defence, and no one should be surprised if Kai Havertz, despite uncertainties about his optimum position, is regularly more impactful than at Chelsea.
But it isn't enough to go past a Treble-winning club that is recruiting Josko Gvardiol at center back and expects even more from Erling Haaland now that he has had a season to settle in. How often do players make significant improvements in their second seasons under Pep Guardiola? That is a terrible prospect.
City will win the Premier League again, raising new concerns about justice.
Tom Blow
Arsenal has improved this summer. Declan Rice replaces Granit Xhaka, who has moved to Bayer Leverkusen, and Kai Havertz adds depth to Mikel Arteta's assault.
It's too early to tell whether Arsenal has closed the gap on Manchester City. As things now stand, they have. Ilkay Gundogan's departure to Barcelona is a significant setback for Pep Guardiola, even if Mateo Kovavic is a capable replacement.
But the transfer window is still open for over two months. City and Arsenal have plenty of time to add more players, while Liverpool has strengthened with the additions of Alexis MacAllister and Dominik Szoboszlai.
Tom Victor
It's undeniably true that Arsenal are making the proper steps in their pursuit of Manchester City, even if any title challenge will need their opponents starting exactly as slowly as they did last year.
Mikel Arteta and Edu look to have come in with a clear aim of strengthening the team's spine, but the major concern last year was depth.
While City could turn to the bench and see players like Julian Alvarez and Riyad Mahrez, among others, Arsenal struggled when the bigger stars were unavailable.
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