Arsenal’s dream XI next season if Vinicius Jr joins in £345m transfer splurge | Football | Sport

For the first time in over 20 years, Arsenal will begin the Premier League season as defending champions. The Gunners ended their two-decade-long wait for the championship last season, but Mikel Arteta will now aim to become the first Arsenal manager in history to win back-to-back Premier League titles.

They’ve already started making improvements to their squad, with Piero Hincapie’s loan move made permanent for £34million, while Christos Tzolis also joined for another £34m. But with reports that Arsenal are eyeing up Vinicius Junior, while Real Madrid could demand as much as £137m for the winger, the north Londoners could be about to rack up a serious bill this summer.

As such, Express Sport have taken a look at what their dream starting XI could look like by the time the transfer window is over…

No changes in the goalkeeper department, with David Raya having established himself as one of the best shot-stoppers in Europe. The Spanish ace was crucial to Arsenal’s success last season and will no doubt be pivotal to anything they look to do this time around.

Defence: Timber, Konsa, Gabriel, Calafiori

Of course, a fully fit William Saliba would partner Gabriel, but the Frenchman is expected to be out for some time. As such, Ezri Konsa has been mooted as a potential option, with early suggestions that Aston Villa could demand as much as £60m for his signature. Jurrien Timber will likely remain at right-back, with Riccardo Calafiori or Hincapie operating off the left.

Attack: Saka, Gyokeres, Vini Jr

And finally, a transfer that would shake European football to its core. Vini Jr is a player of interest to Arsenal, who would no doubt have to shatter not only their own transfer record, but that of the Premier League too. They’ve been crying out for a world class left-winger for some time, and the Brazil international would fit the bill perfectly. It’s likely Viktor Gyokeres will be given another season to establish himself as the leading man up front, while a rejuvenated Bukayo Saka should be back to his best on the right. If it were to happen, it’s a summer that would see Arsenal’s transfer spend most likely eclipse the £340m figure.