Arteta Targets Midfield Reinforcements as Key Player Exit Looms

With Thomas Partey’s future at Arsenal still unresolved, Mikel Arteta is exploring options to reinforce the club’s midfield ahead of the new season.

The Ghanaian midfielder’s contract expires at the end of this month, and no agreement has been reached on an extension. Partey featured prominently last season, making 52 appearances in all competitions, and his departure would leave a significant gap in Arsenal’s defensive midfield.

While Arsenal are close to finalising the signing of Real Sociedad’s Martin Zubimendi, Arteta is reportedly keen to add further depth in midfield, particularly given the recent exit of Jorginho. The Italian international completed a move to Flamengo earlier this month, ending his two-and-a-half-year spell in North London. Jorginho featured in Flamengo’s recent FIFA Club World Cup victory over Chelsea.

One name being considered is Brentford’s Christian Nørgaard. The 31-year-old Denmark international has two years remaining on his current contract with the Bees and is seen as a reliable, experienced Premier League midfielder who could provide leadership and stability in Arsenal’s engine room. His strong positional awareness and work rate could make him a valuable asset, particularly if Partey leaves.

Although Zubimendi is expected to arrive soon, Arsenal’s transfer strategy appears focused on securing at least one more midfielder to ensure squad balance and maintain competitiveness across multiple competitions. With Partey’s situation unresolved, Arsenal may look to accelerate talks in the coming days as the summer window progresses.