Arsenal made six new signings during the summer transfer window, thereby, becoming the Premier League’s biggest spenders. Yet, question marks remain over whether the north London giants actually improved their starting XI.
The Gunners have endured the worst possible start to a season in 67 years, losing their opening three games. After being backed heavily in the transfer market, Mikel Arteta will now be under severe pressure to turn things around at the Emirates Stadium following a forgettable start to the campaign.
The Arsenal boss wanted to add a defender to his squad on the deadline day and got his wish fulfilled with the arrival of Takehiro Tomiyasu from Bologna.
Let’s take a detailed look at the Gunners’ summer recruits and what they’ll bring to Arteta’s squad.
Ins
Nuno Tavares
Signed in an £8 million deal from Benfica, Nuno Tavares kick-started Arsenal’s summer spending shortly before pre-season began. Tavares, 21, is a talented young player who will play back-up to left-back Kieran Tierney, who has had injury problems since arriving at the club from Celtic two summers ago.
Nuno Tavares could end up a massive bargain signing for £8m very very raw but you can see the talent is there to be a top LB potentially LW in the future pic.twitter.com/jTubAMSK0B
— GunForceEdits 🎗️ (@GunForceEdits) August 25, 2021
The Portuguese defender’s game time this season is likely to come more in domestic cup competitions, with Arteta expected to ease him into English football. Considering how badly the Arsenal defence have fared of late, it wouldn’t be a surprise if Tavares sees more playing time though.
Albert Sambi Lokonga
Albert Sambi Lokonga, a highly-rated talent in Belgium, arrived from Anderlecht and started Arsenal’s opening two games of the season.
The Belgian, 21, has shown signs of what he can do from central midfield, with his bustling displays once the entire team is up to speed. It is tough to expect Lokonga to quickly adapt to the demands of English football after his arrival from the Jupiler Pro League.
Ben White
Ben White created headlines when he joined the Gunners in a £50 million deal from Brighton, thus becoming one of the most expensive defenders in Premier League history.
The Englishman, 23, is Arsenal’s most senior addition in a young, talented pool of players that arrived over the summer transfer window. White is an up and coming promising English defender, who was a part of the England squad that reached the Euro 2020 final.
He failed to show much promise in his competitive debut for Arsenal during their opening day 2-0 defeat to newly-promoted Brentford, with Ivan Toney and Bryan Mbeumo making a mockery of Arteta’s rear-guard.
Martin Odegaard
After impressing on a short-loan spell from Real Madrid last season, Martin Odegaard was Arteta’s no.1 midfield target, and after weeks of trying Arsenal managed to sign him permanently.
Odegaard, 22, is undoubtedly the north Londoners’ best recruit of the transfer window, a player in regards to his potential is the highest of all. The Norwegian international brings creativity, guile, energy and movement.
The former Real Madrid ace will look to combine well with the likes of Emile Smith Rowe, Nicolas Pepe and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang in the Arsenal attack and unlock defences.
Aaron Ramsdale
£30m for Aaron Ramsdale—a back-up goalkeeper—is unbelievably steep, and for someone who has suffered back-to-back Premier League relegation with Bournemouth and Sheffield United.
Yet, the hope will be to see Ramsdale challenge first-choice goalkeeper Leno, who hasn’t been in the best of form for 16-18 months at Arsenal. The English shot-stopper is only 23, so he could turn out to be a shrewd investment in the long run.
Takehiro Tomiyasu
The acquisition of Takehiro Tomiyasu from Bologna on the deadline day wrapped up Arsenal’s transfer business.
The Japanese isn’t a high-profile signing that will get the Arsenal fans excited by any means but he will add some depth to an area they have filled with poor choices in recent years.
Outs
Right-back Hector Bellerin has regressed in recent years at the Emirates Stadium and he was allowed to join Real Betis on a season-long loan. Reiss Nelson also completed a temporary loan switch to Eredivisie side Feyenoord, while Willian was released.
Joe Willock and Matteo Guendouzi are also among few players to have left the north Londoners in the recently concluded transfer window, either on loan or permanently.
Arsenal Transfer window rating – Could have been better – 6/10
Arsenal splashing around £150 million in transfer fees means no fans can complain the manager hasn’t been backed by the club owners. However, for the significant amounts they’ve spent, Arteta and co. could have done much better and solved the club’s immediate problems rather than adapting a futuristic approach by bringing in only young prospects.
The summer recruits categorically don’t improve the Gunners’ starting XI, and considering what Manchester United, Chelsea, Manchester City and Spurs have done, Arteta’s side are in for a long season.
The only positive is the players are talented, and should be able to implement the brand of football Arteta wants. After a woeful start, though, the pressure is on the manager and the players to deliver.
