By Brian Bariyo Tumuramye
 Mikel Arteta has revealed that Arsenal have already started planning for the summer transfer window as he looks to continue his overhaul at the Emirates.
Arsenal are already planning for the summer transfer spree as his rebuilding project begins to take shape
Arsenal added defenders Pablo Mari and Cedric Soares to their ranks last month following a difficult first half of the campaign.
Neither has yet featured for the Gunners but already Arteta is looking ahead to the end of the ‘We have to plan and we need to know the direction we want to head and with that we need to bear in mind different scenarios,’ he said.
‘With that in mind, I have to tell the club what we need, where we think we can improve and where we want to end. And if we all end with the same thing, we put a plan together to try and execute it and make the process as short as possible.’
Arsenal have young defender William Saliba arriving from Saint-Etienne this summer. He will join an already swelling band of starlets looking to cement their place in the Arsenal XI.
The likes of Joe Willock, Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli have all shone so far this season and Arteta said securing their long-term futures will be a crucial part of the youngsters’ improvement.
‘I am really happy with how they (young players) are developing. Part of that developing is to improve the contract and to tie them to the club. But that has to follow a natural process. We have Edu, we have Raul (Sanllehi), Vinai Venkatesham and Huss (Fahmy) who are in charge of that and I am sure we will do the right thing when players deserve to improve and extend their contracts.’
Arsenal face Newcastle at the Emirates on Sunday following a winter break which Arteta described as a ‘mini pre-season’.
With his side sitting 10th in the Premier League table, the manager needs an upturn in results if they are to have any hope of securing European football next term.
‘We take it game by game. The input, the work ethic and the commitment they have been having through training and games has been really good,’ he said.
‘They know how crucial it is going to be in the next three to four weeks and until the end of the season. They are very aware of that and have a really good mindset towards that, they are highly motivated.’
The club are likely to be without any of Mari, Cedric or Kieran Tierney for the Premier League clash.
‘Pablo has not competed since the end of December I think, he had a little issue, but he has been training with us the last week or so, in and out a little bit, but he has been looking good. I think this game will come a little bit too early for him but I expect him to start joining the squad in the next week or so.’
Cedric is battling back from a knee problem, while Tierney is still recovering from a dislocated shoulder.
‘He has been training, his work ethic is incredible, I have been really impressed with him so hopefully we can get him back soon but we need to be a little bit patient with him.
