I think it's safe to say that everything bar the end of the summer transfer window was a success for Arsenal. Gabriel Jesus, Oleksandr Zinchenko and Fabio Vieira represent top-quality additions that undoubtedly raise the bar of Mikel Arteta's squad, but injuries in midfield and a lack of availability on the flanks mean it hasn't taken long for worrying gaps to appear.
The club's priority heading into the final week of the window was well-documented to be a new winger following the loan departure of Nicolas Pepe. Arteta confirmed his exit was part of long-term discussions and that signing a replacement would be looked into if it was possible, which it ultimately wasn't.
Injuries to Thomas Partey and Mohamed Elneny led to a change of approach in the hours leading up to deadline day, with a midfielder becoming the centre of attention for obvious reasons. That pursuit also ended in failure despite three bids going in for Aston Villa's Douglas Luiz. As a result, it means January could be busier than initially anticipated for technical director Edu and it appears plans are already well underway.
