As Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta – and the likes of Andrea Berta – prepare for a defining summer window in 2026, reports have suggested that one of their primary midfield candidates would ‘love to play’ at the Emirates Stadium.
By virtue of the fact that Arsenal spent well last summer, reports have suggested the club may be forced into selling at least one of their current first-team stars. The likes of Martin Odegaard, Gabriel Martinelli and Myles Lewis-Skelly could be on the way out.
That said, incomings are still on the agenda of Arsenal, who are whiskers away from winning their first Premier League title since 2003/04.
As mentioned, Arsenal oversaw plenty of new additions in the summer of 2026 – from Viktor Gyokeres and Noni Madueke – but Arteta is hoping to keep the good times rolling by picking at the pockets of the club’s higher-ups by signing even more players.
Bundesliga midfield mooted by top clubs in Europe, Arsenal ‘leading the race’
Arsenal’s midfield, which is spearheaded by Declan Rice, was strengthened by the arrivals of Martin Zubimendi and Christian Norgaard last summer. The former has looked rather spent in recent weeks and it proves that the engine room is in need of some steel if they are to continue fighting on all four fronts.
Earlier this week, a report from German journalist Christian Falk (via CFBayernInsider) suggested that Arsenal were among those interested in Leon Goretzka’s signature this summer.
Currently, the 31-year-old’s contract in Bavaria is coming to an end in the summer months and he’d therefore be allowed to move to a new club on a free transfer, thus catching the attention of Arsenal.
Tottenham Hotspur, too, are interested in the one-time Champions League-winning midfielder but Falk reported that moving to the red side of north London was much more favourable. Inter Milan are another club with Goretzka on their radar.
Leon Goretzka ‘would love to play’ for Arsenal amid race for signature
With Spurs no longer on the agenda of Goretzka, Falk has insisted that he would love to play for the Gunners. “It is TRUE. Arsenal are currently leading the race for Leon Goretzka. This is indeed true from Goretzka’s point of view,” he wrote.
“The Gunners didn’t make an offer in January, but they did signal that they were aware of the fact that Goretzka was considering a move away from Bayern. There were very concrete talks with Atletico Madrid – their sporting director was in Munich.”
He added: “The player’s goal is to move to the Premier League; he would love to play for Arsenal. Of course, he can’t guarantee that Arsenal will come back again in the summer with a concrete offer.
“In his heart, he feels this would be a perfect next club. I heard he loves the Premier League and his playing style suits English football.
| Statistic | Leon Goretzka | Declan Rice | Martin Zubimendi |
| Appearances | 16(5) | 28(1) | 29(1) |
| Minutes | 1207 | 2495 | 2532 |
| Shots per match | 0.7 | 1.2 | 0.8 |
| Pass success rate (%) | 93.1 | 87.7 | 88.2 |
| Tackles and interceptions per match | 1.8 | 2.9 | 2.9 |
| Key passes per match | 0.5 | 1.9 | 0.5 |
| Overall rating | 6.81 | 7.33 | 6.96 |
“However, he’s not focused on one club and only one club this summer. If Arsenal are there, he’d be more than happy to sit at the table and listen to offers,” the journalist continued.
“Arsenal are playing very well at the moment, and they’re in the Champions League,” he said when comparing Arsenal’s attractiveness to that of their local rivals Spurs.
“For Leon Goretzka, it would be a great thing to win the Champions League with another club. So, we have to wait and see if Arsenal make an offer!” Falk concluded.
Is Goretzka the missing piece of experience for Arteta?
It’s important to note that his signature, despite him being able to be signed on a free, will not come cheap. Leon Goretzka possesses a wealth of experience at the top level of football – domestically and on the continental stage – and his wages would be vast.
According to Tuttosport, the engine room operator is looking to sign a three-year deal worth €6.5 million per season.
For a player of his stature, though, this deal could be a no-brainer for the Gunners, who are actively looking to add proven quality to the middle of the park.
Read More: Supercomputer reveals Arsenal’s updated Premier League title chances after Brighton win
Standing at 189cm (6’2″), the 67-cap Germany international’s ability wo in possession and turn that into a transitional threat means that he offers an all-action intensity.
The only thing that could prevent Arteta and co from getting a deal over the line is the fact that Arsenal having been looking at younger – and potentially fresher – talent to build a project around. Goretzka certainly isn’t that, but he’s brilliant nonetheless.
