What Mikel Arteta said about Arsenal’s interest in Real Madrid star Rodrygo

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Mikel Arteta has underlined Arsenal’s ambition to compete for major honours by suggesting the club must target the world’s best players — amid growing speculation linking the Gunners with a move for Real Madrid winger Rodrygo.

Arsenal are expected to be active in the summer transfer window, with attacking reinforcements high on their agenda following another trophyless campaign. The North London side have been linked with several forwards, including Sporting Lisbon’s Viktor Gyokeres and RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko, but recent reports have also connected them with a bold move for Rodrygo.

Speaking at his press conference on Thursday, Arteta refused to comment on specific targets, but made it clear Arsenal must be in the market for elite talent if they are to take the final step in their development and win silverware.

“I mean, if you want to win major trophies, you have to be the best in the market, no?” Arteta said. “The teams that win have the best players, always — always at this level.”

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Arteta highlighted Arsenal’s progress under his leadership, pointing to the club’s improved consistency and growing stature both domestically and in Europe.

“The biggest thing is that we’ve brought the club into a position where next season, you have to win a major trophy,” he added.

“That means everybody believes — that we’ve shown the level, the consistency, and that we’re an elite team in this country and in Europe. And if you don’t build on that, then what’s going to happen? For me, that’s the biggest statement — that Arsenal is there.”

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With second place in the Premier League all but secured, Arsenal are already planning for next season, and Arteta has repeatedly stressed the need for more attacking firepower. The Gunners have scored 67 league goals this season — 18 fewer than champions Liverpool — and have struggled at times to convert their dominance into goals.

Injuries to key forwards such as Gabriel Jesus and Kai Havertz have only underlined the need for greater depth and reliability up front.

“What is clear, with the amount of injuries we had in the front line, is that we need a goal threat and we need firepower out there,” Arteta said. “We cannot rely just on the numbers we had before. We have to add goals, we have to add creativity, we have to add numbers — and that will be in different positions.”

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