Andrea Berta: Four Key Priorities For Arsenal’s New Sporting Director

‎Andrea Berta is stepping into a pivotal role as the new sporting director of Arsenal.

‎The Italian arrives at the north London club following over a decade of esteemed service at Atletico Madrid, taking over the reins from Edu Gaspar.

‎Arsenal were caught off guard by Edu’s departure last November and were determined to exercise patience in their search for an ideal replacement.

‎In the meantime, the Brazilian’s assistant, Jason Ayto, stepped in as interim sporting director while the Gunners conducted their search for a permanent successor.

‎Ayto, a former scout who has climbed the ranks at Arsenal, was a strong candidate for the permanent position.

‎However, after he departed from Atletico Madrid in January, the club had its sights firmly set on Berta for the role.

‎Mikel Arteta’s strong preference for Berta is believed to have played a crucial role in his hiring. Their relationship is expected to be pivotal for Arsenal’s success during this critical phase of Arteta’s project.

‎Berta has a big job on his hands. Here are four big tasks for the experienced director at the start of his Arsenal tenure.

‎New contracts for key players

‎Liverpool are on the verge of clinching the Premier League title, yet the backdrop of contract uncertainty looms large.

‎Three key players in their title challenge have only a few months left on their respective contracts, with Trent Alexander-Arnold reportedly considering a move to Real Madrid.

‎Meanwhile, the futures of Virgil van Dijk and Mohamed Salah remain uncertain.

‎This is a situation Arsenal will desperately want to avoid, but there’s potential for a similar debacle to break out in north London.

‎Bukayo Saka, Gabriel, and William Saliba are all tied down until 2027.

‎The Gunners have plenty of time to act, but Berta would be wise to bring each of them to the negotiating table early to prevent speculation from spreading over their respective futures.

‎While Bukayo Saka is expected to pledge his long-term future to Arsenal, Gabriel has been linked with a possible move to Saudi Arabia, and Real Madrid is showing interest in William Saliba.

‎Edu had his flaws, but he was proactive in ensuring Arteta’s cornerstones were signed up for the long term. Berta must follow suit.

‎World Class center-forward signing

‎Arsenal simply haven’t done enough to give themselves the best possible chance of success in recent windows.

‎A loan for Raheem Sterling was the sole move in attack they made this season, and their lack of aggression in the market has come back to bite them.

‎A string of injuries has left Arteta short on forward options, forcing him to use Mikel Merino as a makeshift No. 9, while attacking midfielder Ethan Nwaneri has been deployed on the wing.

‎Absences have undoubtedly played a major role in the Gunners’ attacking dip this term, but Arteta’s side also had issues when all their forward options were available.

‎Arsenal’s foundations are still solid, but their performance in the final third has been lacking. Many feel that an injection of talent could significantly improve their situation, and it’s difficult to dispute that perspective.

‎Arsenal requires a greater threat in transition and a superior dribbler wide left to complement Saka, but their biggest need is a No. 9.

‎Kai Havertz has value up top and performed superbly well down the stretch last season, but the Gunners need more game-breakers in their frontline.

‎Alexander Isak is the name every Gooner is talking about, and he would be the star signing that could elevate the Gunners from challengers to champions.

‎It’ll require a breaking of the bank, but the Swede’s shown this season that the money Newcastle reportedly wants will be well worth it. He’s a cut above alternative options such as Benjamin Sesko, Viktor Gyokeres, and Hugo Ekitike.

‎Challenge Mikel Arteta on the recruitment front

‎Some have expressed concern at just how much power Mikel Arteta has at Arsenal. Berta isn’t arriving to serve as the Spaniard’s boss, but to work in partnership with the Gunners manager.

‎This project ultimately belongs to him, and Arteta’s partnership with former director Edu has been vital in removing the toxicity that plagued the north London club.

‎Together, they have executed a savvy recruitment strategy, with Arteta as the primary voice in identifying ideal targets. Edu has played a key role in ensuring those deals come to fruition.

‎Edu’s exit sparked a hierarchical shift, and there was room for Arteta to claim even greater power.

‎However, Berta seems like the ideal candidate for keeping the Spaniard in check. Now, Arteta has earned the right to emerge as the key voice in north London, but there have been a few question marks on the recruitment front in recent windows.

‎Berta, who collaborated seamlessly with Diego Simeone for over a decade, received the manager’s endorsement.

‎The Italian must assume a more authoritative role than Edu, positioning himself to challenge the project leader’s decisions. Their chemistry will be essential for the club’s success in the years ahead.

‎New Midfielder Needed

‎Arsenal are seemingly happy to let Thomas Partey and Jorginho walk this summer, with both players unlikely to extend their contracts which expire in June.

‎Consequently, Berta will need to focus on acquiring a few replacements. Arsenal’s interest in Martin Zubimendi began before Berta’s arrival, with efforts already underway in recent months to secure the Spaniard’s signing this summer.

‎However, Real Madrid’s reported interest may compel the Gunners to put in extra effort to secure his signature.

‎Arsenal remains confident of getting a deal for holding midfielder Zubimendi over the line, and his profile is somewhat of a combination between Jorginho and Partey.

‎The Spaniard alone won’t be enough to rejuvenate the Gunners’ engine room, however, so we have to expect the club to make another signing.

‎Arteta is likely to seek another versatile midfielder who can fulfill various roles within his system.

‎They may consider inquiring about Bruno Guimaraes while also pursuing Isak.

‎Despite several attempts, they have not yet found a suitable replacement for Granit Xhaka.