The Spaniard led the Gunners to their first Premier League title in 22 years and the preparations for the defence of that crown are well underway.

Much has been made of the team's style of play and whether winning the title and the release of that pressure could free Arsenal up to be more expansive next season.

Speaking after the defeat to Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League final, Arteta emphasised the need for Arsenal to be "ambitious" in the transfer market.

He also hailed PSG's quality on the ball and the problems they cause for opponents.

"What they are able to do with the ball, with individual actions, I haven't seen it," Arteta said.

"It's not the plan to play in certain areas when you don't have the ball but they force you to do that, so even more credit to the players."

Asked if he wanted to emulate that, Arteta replied: "Yes, and the individual action that they have for sure."

Bruno Guimaraes would likely primarily be used as a No8, freeing up Zubimendi to cover Rice

Standard Sport understands there has still been no official approach, and no direct club-to-club talks, but Arsenal’s interest is clear and a concrete bid is expected.

Like Rogers, Guimaraes is well-accustomed to the demands of the Premier League and would add yet more physicality to this Arsenal side.

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Declan Rice has been dealing with neural pain in his hamstring for six months and will need to be managed, particularly early next season after the World Cup.

Morgan Rogers and Bruno Guimaraes

London Standard

Guimaraes would likely primarily be used as a No8 and that would free up Martin Zubimendi to cover Rice as the deepest midfielder.

The Brazilian could also play alongside Rice as a double pivot in front of the defence, or as a more advanced No8 in the style of Granit Xhaka did in the 2022-23 season.

That campaign, the first one in which Arsenal challenged for the title, was characterised by free-flowing, almost chaotic football from the Gunners.

Xhaka was central to that as the left No8, slotting in at times at full-back when required but also making bursts into the area and linking up with Gabriel Martinelli out wide.

Since then, Arteta has gone for a more cautious approach and the midfield has been tightened up. This season, the safety blanket of Rice and Zubimendi hardly ever came off.

Arteta at times used a double pivot and at times opted for either Rice or Zubimendi as a No8. Neither offered quite the same impact in the final third as Xhaka.

Bruno Guimaraes would offer more of an attacking threat than Zubimendi and also has the aggression defensively to go with it

If Arteta is looking for more of an unpredictable edge and attacking threat from his midfield, Guimaraes would help bring that.

Guimaraes scored nine Premier League goals this season and registered five assists.

He would offer more of an attacking threat than Zubimendi and also has the aggression defensively to go with it.

Playing as a No8, Guimaraes’ box-crashing ability would also create more space for Arsenal’s wingers, who can get stifled when doubled up.

At times this season, Arsenal looked short of technical quality on the ball. They controlled games through an elite defensive structure rather than being secure in possession.

Guimaraes would go some way to addressing that with his progressing passing, while not diminishing Arsenal’s levels off the ball.

Arsenal remain keen to sign Morgan Rogers and he could complete a physically dominant midfield with Guimaraes and Rice.

If Rogers was used on the left, Odegaard could be the third midfielder instead. That would be a midfield far better suited to suffocating teams in possession than Arsenal managed for much of this season.

Potential Arsenal XI: Raya; Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Calafiori; Rice, Guimaraes, Odegaard; Saka, Havertz, Rogers