Arsenal’s title win has not ended the transfer debate, it has changed it. They finished first in the Premier League with 82 points from 37 matches, scored 69 and conceded 26, then closed with five straight wins across league and Europe. Even so, the talk around the summer is already about whether Mikel Arteta needs more pace and direct running in attack, and whether that means uncomfortable decisions around Martin Ødegaard.
Why the pace argument is growing
John Terry was blunt about what Arsenal lack. “I actually feel you guys are missing out on a top striker that's going to get you 25, possibly 30 goals a season,” he said on football365.com, adding that the best sides usually had one player up front producing those numbers. That is a pointed critique for a team that has already won the league, because it is not about fixing a weak side. It is about pushing a strong one into a higher gear.
Paul Merson made the same point from a different angle. He said Arsenal were “probably” thinking about selling Ødegaard this summer, then added that when you play in that position, “you're screaming out for pace up front. You have to have pace.” Frank Leboeuf was even more direct, saying Ødegaard is elegant but “he's not influential anymore”, and contrasting him with more vertical options.
That view is supported by how Arsenal have looked in their best stretches. They went 8-0-0 in the Champions League group stage, scored 23 and conceded only 4, and finished their five-match league and European run with wins over Crystal Palace, Burnley, West Ham, Atletico Madrid and Fulham. The control is there. The argument is about whether the attack can be made quicker and more decisive.
Which names are being pulled into the debate
Ødegaard is the obvious focal point because the discussion has moved beyond general transfer noise. Steve Nicol said, “Odegaard might be leaving Arsenal. If you're Martin Odegaard, do you stick around? I don't think you do.” That is opinion, not a forecast, but it shows where the conversation has landed.
There is also a wider squad-building question. Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink said Julián Alvarez is “totally different” from Viktor Gyökeres and argued Arsenal would need to change how they play to get the best out of him. He also said a tweak to the system could help a striker score “30-odd goals”. That fits the broader mood around the club: the target is not just more names, but a different kind of attacking profile.
Arsenal’s strong defensive base makes that a logical next step. Conceding 26 league goals and going through the Champions League group stage with only 4 against them means the platform is already elite. The pressure now is on the attacking side to match it, and the public case for pace has been made loudly enough that Arteta will hear it.
The next phase of Arsenal’s summer will show whether that talk becomes action, and whether the club are willing to reshape the front line to do it.
FAQ
Does Arsenal need more pace up front to stay competitive next season?
That is the main argument being made. John Terry said Arsenal need a top striker who can score 25, possibly 30 goals a season, while Paul Merson said the position behind Martin Ødegaard needs pace and that Arsenal “have to have pace”.
Could Martin Odegaard be sold by Arsenal this summer?
It is being discussed, not confirmed. Paul Merson said Arsenal were “probably” thinking about selling Martin Ødegaard, while Steve Nicol also questioned whether he would stay. Frank Leboeuf, though, described Ødegaard as elegant but less influential and contrasted him with more vertical options.
What do Arsenal’s results say about their need for attacking signings?
Arsenal finished first in the Premier League with 82 points, scored 69 and conceded 26, then ended the season on five straight wins. They also went 8-0-0 in the Champions League group stage, scoring 23 and conceding 4, so the squad already has a high floor.
Why are people talking about a faster Arsenal attack now?
Because the debate around Arsenal’s summer is less about what they already have and more about what they still need. Merson said a player in Ødegaard’s position needs pace up front, and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink said Arsenal would need to tweak their system to get the best out of a striker like Julián Alvarez.
Compiled by the ClutchBrief Desk with AI assistance, cross-checked against 3 outlets. How we work →