£120million spent.
The biggest spenders in the Premier League at the time of writing.
Three first team players signed.
Is it unreasonable to think Arsneal’s transfer spending this summer might be done?
It would not surprise me if we did not sign another player.
We needed a new striker, we signed Gabriel Jesus. Fabio Vieira has bought in more creativity in the middle. And Olexsandr Zinchenko provides an option both at left back and central midfield.
Matt Turner is the back up goalkeeper to replace Bernd Leno whilst Marquinhos is an exciting talent on the wing.
The only other real problem position for us going into the next season was centre back – we needed top class cover – but this has been resolved with William Saliba’s return. The Frenchman really is like a new signing.
So where else do we need?
Some will say a right back, especially considering Takehiro Tomiyasu’s injury concerns. But I think we will stick for now.
Cedric Soares is a Premier League level right back whilst Ben White can also cover there. And In Brooke Norton-Cuffy we have someone very special.
What makes most sense is to review the right back position in 12 months.
If Tomiyasu’s injury issues do not clear up, then we need to be looking at someone to replace him. And f they do sort themselves out, then hopefully Norton-Cuffy will be ready to step up as his back up./
I expect the 18-year-old Englishman to spend a year on loan in the Championship this season. If he performs how I suspect then he will save us £10-15million in buying cover at right back.
Central midfield is another area I see people crying out for. But why?
Thomas Partey is one of the best central midfielders in the league. We then have Mohamed Elneny and Granit Xhaka as cover.
Remember under Mikel Arteta we have begun to play just one deep lying midfielder – with two ‘8s’ ahead of him.
This means we do not need a great deal of strength in depth.
Yes, I would like an improvement on Elneny in that area, but with Partey now 29 I want us to sign someone young and exciting who could eventually take over from the Ghanian.
We were never going to get someone like Yves Bissouma to sit on our bench.
With £120million spent this summer, we could not really “go big” on a younger Thomas Partey. I think this will become one of our 2 transfer focuses next summer.
Ahead of Partey, in the number 8 roles, we have Martin Odergaard, Vieira, Xhaka and Albert Sambi Lokonga. Add in Charlie Patino and Emile Smith Rowe and we are clearly well set their with plenty of different options. It is why I do not think Youri Tielemans is on the agenda.
We do feel a little light on the wings. And I think if someone does come in it will be a wideman.
In Gabriel Martinelli and Bukayo Saka we have two of the most exciting young wingers in world football. So any signing coming in ahead of these will have to be very special.
If we are talking about someone to provide cover for the pair (plus Smith Rowe and Marquinhos), then it becomes a bit of a conundrum.
Omari Hutchinson decided to join Chelsea as he knew he had little chance of playing ahead of the quartet.
They would have to be good enough that they can make an impact, but happy to sit behind a pair of 21-year-olds in the pecking order.
If you are a 25-year-old footballer, this is not an attractive place to be.
Why would the likes of Cody Gakpo or Jarrod Bowen join Arsenal, only to set on the bench behind starlets a few years younger?
I feel the only players that would be happy doing that would probably not be good enough to make an impact on the first team.
On solution could be that the wing cover also provides forward cover.
Gabriel Jesus did it for years at Manchester City – cover for Sergio Aguero up top whilst also playing out wide. Is that what we need?
Up front we have Jesus, Eddie Nketiah and Folarin Balogun. I wouldn’t be surprised if the latter departs.
He was not as impressive as we all would have liked on loan at Middlesbrough last season and is clearly in need in a longer run out somewhere. Reports of a year long loan deal in France make a lot of sense.
That would potentially leave a spot open and brings us back to someone like Gakpo.
Someone who plays out wide and up top will give Arteta more options off the bench in the forthcoming 5-sub era. But will we really spend £30million+? That will take our spending this summer to £150million.
Like in central midfield, I think we might keep our powder dry until next summer.
A decision needs to be made on Martinelli over the next 12 months. I think he will have a huge season.
But if he does not then we need to begin looking at recruiting a front-line left winger. That could be impacted if we sign someone like Gakpo for £30million.
We would be better passing up the chance this summer and then spending £50m+ next summer on a first choice winger (if Martinelli is not the man). Martinelli then becomes that option of playing on the wing or upfront.
Edu has a plan. He is forward thinking.
He knows what we need now and what we need in the future. We saw in January he would rather not buy if his primary targets are not available.
Some might say that decision cost us top 4 last season. But it also might have meant we ended up with Dominc Calvert Lewin rather than Gabriel Jesus.
I think unless a truly special left winger comes on the market this summer, we have probably seen the end of our transfer dealings.
Then expect summer 2023 for us to go big on a central midfielder and winger.
Edu’s blue shirt has been put away until next summer
Enjoy your Tuesday.
Keenos
She Wore A Yellow Ribbon 