‘We will be alert’

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has hinted at more signings during this summer transfer window ahead of the 2023-24 Premier League season.

The Gunners have spent more than £200m to sign Declan Rice, Jurrien Timber and Kai Havertz this window, but the Spaniard has not ruled out Arsenal making more additions to his squad.

“Let’s see there is a lot of time still in the market and a lot of expectation in some of our players,” Arteta said.

“So we will have to see how things develop in the next couple of weeks.

“We will be alert, there is still time to do things, there is still time for exits as well obviously. I’m sure things will move.”

Arteta says Rice, Havertz and Timber all bring “special things” to his side as Arsenal look to win the Premier League title this season after finishing the 2022-23 campaign in second.

“Every signing that we have made brings special things to the team,” Arteta said.

“We are very pleased as you can imagine that we signed the players that we wanted. We’ve signed them early and they’ve started to adapt to the team really fast.

“We have some time now to prepare and for them to get the best chance to express themselves in the right way and to adapt they need to experience a few days how it looks like Arsenal.”

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Rice was announced on Saturday as the latest addition to Arsenal’s squad following the completion of his £105m move from West Ham.

Arteta says the England international has settled into the squad and that he is “delighted” to have the 24-year-old at the north London club.

He said: “You all know his leadership, personality, and the experience he already has at 24. He’s already close with some of the boys, he knew a few of the boys from the England camp as well.

“Declan is very much known within the league and has done tremendously well both for West Ham and England.

“He’s a player that is going to bring a lot of qualities, a lot of leadership, a lot of experience in the league, very specific in the position with the qualities that he has. We are delighted to have him.”

Arsenal are currently on a pre-season tour of America and are in Washington as they get set to play MLS All-Stars at Audi Field on Wednesday evening before friendlies against Manchester United in New Jersey on Saturday (July 22) and Barcelona in California (July 26).

Arteta has added that striker Folarin Balogun is part of his pre-season plans.

The 22-year-old is reportedly a transfer target for Inter Milan. He spent last season on loan at Ligue 1 club Reims where he scored 22 goals in 39 matches.

“We have to think about what is best to do,” he said.

“We want to see him, we want to experience him in the next few games, he played the last game against Nuremberg and he will do so again in the next few games, then we’ll make the best decision.”