Rice and Gundogan sign - how Arsenal could line-up for 2023/24 Premier League title battle

The Gunners' defeat to Nottingham Forest on Saturday handed City the title with three games to spare, for their fifth in six seasons.

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Mikel Arteta's side spent 248 days at the top of the table before collapsing just when it matters at the end of the season.

Whether that was due to injuries or the pressure getting to them, one thing they will definitely need in the summer is new signings.

All signs point to Arsenal attacking the market when it opens in June with a number of star names already linked with joining the Emirates.

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Before they can make signings, there will be several players who are likely to head for the exit.

Granit Xhaka is likely to head to Bayer Leverkusen, while Kieran Tierney has also been linked with an exit after struggling to get in the team since Oleksandr Zinchenko signed.

The midfield is reportedly an area where Arteta will look to strengthen.

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The Athletic report that Ilkay Gundogan is being targeted as well as a swoop on best friends Declan Rice and Mason Mount.

Gundogan is out of contract at Man City and the 32-year-old is yet to decide on his future.

City would like to keep him, while an offer from Barcelona is likely to come.

Arteta was Pep Guardiola's assistant at City and that prior relationship could help land the midfield maestro.

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Gundogan has been the ultimate clutch player for the Premier League champions in recent seasons, something Arsenal desperately need if they do want to get over the line in the title race.

West Ham star Rice is one of the Gunners' top targets this summer, but likely to cost in the region of £100m.

Mason Mount, who is childhood best friends with Rice, continues to have uncertainty around his future after not agreeing a new contract with Chelsea.

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He will have one year left on his current deal in the summer and the club will have to decide whether or not to cash in on him.

Another position in need of strengthening is right-back, with Ben White playing as a makeshift full-back for much of the season.

Real Valladolid teenager Ivan Fresneda has been heavily linked with a move to north London and even came close on deadline day in January.

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Adding those players would give Arsenal some much needed depth going into the new season.

Signing a right-back would allow Ben White to rotate with Gabriel and William Saliba at centre-back, with Rob Holding not quite cutting it when called upon.

Rice would be competing with Thomas Partey for the central midfield role, while Gundogan would come in for Xhaka to complete the midfield trio with Martin Odegaard.

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Mason Mount can also drop back into that midfield, while he has also played on the wide left for Chelsea and England, making room for a marauding left-back.

He would see competition from Gabriel Martinelli and Emile Smith Rowe.

A new striker is likely a must in the summer, should funds allow it, with Gabriel Jesus not the 20+ goal a season forward they need.

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Bukayo Saka is the first name on the team sheet on the right wing and completes the XI.