The pressure is bubbling away in this early stage of the transfer window and Arsenal are leading the charge with some major moves in the market for key targets. Although Liverpool are the side to pull off the first major signing of the summer for Premier League clubs, the Gunners appear the most active.
After just two days of the window being officially open, the club have had their first bid rejected for Declan Rice, an offer has been made to Ilkay Gundogan to sign him on a free contract, Chelsea have turned down the first approach for Kai Havertz but negotiations continue. Interest exists for further targets Moises Caicedo, Romeo Lavia and Ivan Fresneda.
Yet, despite the eager start, sporting director Edu Gaspar remains under scrutiny from the Arsenal fan base. After serious spending since Mikel Arteta’s appointment in December 2019, the club has one major trophy to show for it.
The expectation only increases on silverware for the forthcoming season but debate rages as to what is a fair projection for the season. Just under £400million has been spent on transfer fees for players since the arrival of Arteta but in reality, this measurement and subsequent expectation from the figure is skewed against the club?
When highlighting solely what Arsenal spends it ignores completely what their rivals have done in the same time frame. Man City have spent just under £400million themselves in the same period, not to mention having already had a brilliant foundation instead of an overhaul job that Arteta and Edu had to do.
Manchester United have spent more than £460million, Liverpool just under £300million, Spurs just over £350million, Newcastle have also spent just over £300million and lastly Chelsea who have spent a humungous £830million-plus in that time. See how easy it might be to take Arsenal on their own in terms of what they’ve spent to measure expectation of success on the field whilst ignoring what their rivals have done.
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Arsenal with Arteta and Edu working with others at the club, have moved out a significant number of players but got relatively little in return and this is undoubtedly an aspect that needs to improve and the hope of an improved recruitment strategy will in turn see profits on players begin to materialise.
This summer the plan is for Arsenal to big again. The second Declan Rice bid is expected to go beyond the £100million-mark including add-ons. Chelsea are looking for more than £60million to sell Havertz and there are still further midfield and defensive additions wanted.
With more money being invested will again the pressure be on? Of course.
However, to discount what other clubs might spend ignorant of the reality. That said, Arsenal must continue to move forwards and a slip out of the top four would be a disaster with expectations of a second successive title push in the minds of most supporters.
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