Arsenal transfer news: Charles Watts makes 2026 prediction as Andrea Berta's summer window assessed

Arsenal expert Charles Watts has made an intriguing transfer prediction for 2026 after the Gunners' same old selling problems reared their ugly heads once again in the summer transfer window.

Mikel Arteta's side were hailed as one of the winners of the window after spending over £250m on eight new players, including marquee deals for striker Viktor Gyokeres, creator Eberechi Eze, number six Martin Zubimendi and versatile defender Piero Hincapie.

Arsenal spent less money than Premier League rivals Liverpool and Chelsea, but they recorded a significantly higher net spend than their counterparts owing to a lack of big-money sales, only offloading Nuno Tavares (£7.6m), Marquinhos (£3m) and Albert Sambi Lokonga (£2.5m) on permanent deals.

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain's £35m move to Liverpool in 2017 remains Arsenal's most expensive sale, but while sporting director Andrea Berta "gets a pass" this time around, Watts expects the Gunners to make one major sale when the 2026 summer window rolls around.

“It's hard because it's a problem that's been going on so, so long," Watts told Sports Mole. "I think reputation plays a big part in it. People still view Arsenal as bad sellers, because they are. And clubs will try to take advantage of that.

“Timing is a key thing as well. When Arsenal have sold well in the past, timing has been really, really key. A really good loan for [Folarin] Balogun, they got good money for him. Last summer, the timing was right for [Eddie] Nketiah, [Emile] Smith Rowe. This summer, the players who were going to go, everyone knew they weren't part of the squad.

“It was always going to be a hard summer to bring in big money, but the Kiwior deal is not a good one from an Arsenal point of view. They should have got more for him. If the roles are reversed and he was a Liverpool or Chelsea player, I just don't see any way they don't get more money.

Watts: 'One Arsenal player to go for big money next summer'

“When they've got sellable assets, that's where they need to learn lessons and improve. And I think they will. Arsenal are going to have to make some pretty significant sales over the next few windows, considering what's gone on in this window. As long as Arteta plays them, anyone who goes from this point onwards is going to be a top-tier player.

“Berta probably gets a pass this summer for selling. I don't think he will next summer, definitely by the owners because of the sheer amount of investment they've put into it. I think we'll see at least one big, big Arsenal player go for fairly big money next summer.”

Asked who that one player might be, Watts name-checked struggling attacker Gabriel Martinelli as the most likely to depart for a sizeable fee, although he also highlighted William Saliba's uncertain contract situation amid links with Real Madrid.

“Everyone at the moment is pointing to Martinelli, aren't they? He was really poor against Liverpool, he just looks a player bereft of belief and confidence," he added. "But if you want to get big money for Martinelli, he needs to have a pretty good season.

“A lot depends on William Saliba's contract talks as well. If Saliba doesn't sign a new contract, I think they sell him next year. There will clearly be a market for Saliba as long as he doesn't just play the Madrid game and leave on a free.”

While Arsenal are yet to find a solution to their perpetual selling problems, the Gunners have added an exceptional amount of talent to their ranks for the 2025-26 season, as well as completing smart, cost-effective deals for Kepa Arrizabalaga, Cristhian Mosquera and Christian Norgaard.

However, the Gunners' spending was still dwarfed by Liverpool, who forked out over £400m and broke their own transfer record twice in the same window, firstly capturing Florian Wirtz in a £116m deal before paying Newcastle United £125m for Alexander Isak.

Why Arsenal have "every excuse" not to win Premier League title

Hugo Ekitike, Jeremie Frimpong and Milos Kerkez have also reinforced the champions ranks, and the Reds are the only side with a perfect Premier League record after three matches following their 1-0 win over Arsenal on Sunday.

Arsenal boss Arteta could hardly be under more pressure to deliver a major trophy after another extortionate period of spending, but Watts has disagreed with the notion that there can be no more excuses from the Gunners.

“They have every excuse," he added. "And that excuse is that Liverpool are the best team in the country, spent nearly half a billion pounds in this transfer window, and they've just signed, in my view, the best attacker in the country. So I don't buy into that at all.

“It was going to be really hard for Arsenal to win the league anyway, no matter what they did, because Liverpool won it at a canter last season. They were the best team by a distance and they've improved massively.

“They've given themselves a chance, but this is the Premier League we're talking about. The best league in the world, the best teams in the world, with the best players in the world. And I still think Liverpool are favourites. If Arsenal don't win it and Liverpool do, there's absolutely reasons for that.

“I think [Arsenal] can win it. I'm not waving the white flag, but Liverpool are still understandably favourites.”

Watts also delivered his verdict on the Gunners' recent defeat to Liverpool at Anfield, where he questioned a peculiar second-half decision made by Arteta.

> Click here to listen to the full Arsenal summer transfer window review