ARSENAL are gearing up for an unprecedented summer spending spree after signing ZERO players in January.

And Newcastle striker Alexander Isak is the name at the top of Mikel Arteta‘s lengthy wanted list.

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Arsenal fans aren’t exactly happy that the club failed to bring in reinforcements in January – Arteta expressed his disappointment too before taking his team out to Dubai for some TLC.

Wednesday’s Carabao Cup semi-final exit to Newcastle will serve only to strengthen the fans’ view that the window was a huge let down.

Fans and pundits alike have been belting: “Arsenal need a striker!” for some time now.

Injuries to star boy Bukayo Saka (hamstring), goalscorer Gabriel Jesus (knee) and now seemingly Gabriel Martinelli have only compounded that assertion.

The Gunners have just one fit centre-forward in ex-Chelsea man Kai Havertz, 25, having decided to stick with what they have instead of bringing in a body to bolster the team.

Arsenal did try to sign Ollie Watkins from Aston Villa but had a £45m bid rejected after the Villans sold Jhon Duran to Al-Nassr for £70m.

With all that said, Arteta’s quiet January should result in a summer of hefty spending.

The foundations are in place but there is an understanding the next window is “critical” to firing the club towards trophies, reports The Mail.

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Arsenal are at risk of finishing second best in the Prem for the third successive year after Liverpool‘s incredible season replaced the dominance of Manchester City.

But the Gunners also have their eyes on winning the Champions League for the first time in their history.

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Achieving that goal requires investment. Having kept their purses closed in January, there will be a spending spree before next season.

But the big money will be spent on a new dream ticket centre forward – ideally 25-year-old Isak.

The Swede has scored 59 goals in 94 games for Newcastle since joining the Toon for a club record from Real Sociedad in 2022.

Yet before Isak’s move to St James’ Park was made final, Arsenal had been chasing the striker too.

But his £75million release clause was deemed a risk at the time for the then 22-year-old star.

Arteta insisted the Gunners’ lack of transfer activity was NOT a “gamble” in January as the club will splash the cash in few months.

Martin Zubimendi, who has a £52million release clause, looks certain to arrive from Real Sociedad in the summer.

Arsenal are preparing for the expected midfield departures of Jorginho and Thomas Partey, who are both out of contract in June.

They will likely go all out for Red Bull Leipzig striker Benjamin Sesko, 21, who is valued at £60m, after registering their interest during the last two windows.

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The North London club will explore a move for a versatile right winger too, with Athletic Bilbao winger Nico Williams on the list.

Meanwhile, Wolves forward Matheus Cunha was linked with a move the Emirates in the summer.

Cunha surprisingly signed a new four-and-a half-year deal to stay at Molineux on February 1 – but it does include a £62.5million release clause.

Potential moves for Mathys Tel – who has since joined rivals Tottenham – and AC Milan striker Alvaro Morata were also discussed.

The role of interim sporting director Jason Ayto was an intriguing backdrop to Arsenal’s January activity.

Ayto is effectively sitting an on-the-job interview for the permanent position after Edu’s shock departure towards the end of 2024.

While fans are furious, Ayto’s considered approach is one that’s aligned with the club’s long-term strategy.

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