Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta knows all about the hype that comes with the final few days of a transfer window and deadline day itself.
Since being appointed initially as head coach in December 2019, the Spaniard has experienced as many as five transfer windows during his time in charge of the Gunners. Very soon, he will have overseen a sixth, with September 1 the final day to add to his first-team squad until January at the earliest.
And not for the first time as Arsenal manager, Arteta has entered the closing stages of a transfer window, having made significant signings. In fact, deals for Marquinhos, Fabio Vieira, Matt Turner, Gabriel Jesus, and Oleksandr Zinchenko were all completed before the opening game of the new season.
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Now with deadline day fast approaching, the question is, will the north London outfit conduct any late business? In an ideal world, the answer to that question would be a resounding yes, as Arteta has revealed he is open to more deals, having been linked with moves for a new central midfielder and winger.
Amid talk of Pedro Neto, Youri Tielemans, Cody Gakpo, Marco Asensio or Wilfried Zaha making the move to the Emirates Stadium in the coming days, if, in a dream scenario, Arsenal were to pull off at least two of those deals, then supporters will have any reason to remain optimistic for the rest of the season.
But what are the chances of the Gunners being active all the way up until 11pm Thursday? Going by deadline days in 2020 and in January 2021, then it should be a busy one as deals for Cedric Soares, and Thomas Partey were completed across the first two windows whilst several players departed on loan.
With that said, it should be noted that Arsenal's transfer policy was effectively reset last summer as Arteta and Edu adopted a new, but ruthless, approach, to overhaul the squad, so business from the last two windows may provide a clearer indication of what could happen on September 1.
August 31, 2021
In: Takehiro Tomiyasu (£18m)
Out: Hector Bellerin (loan to Real Betis), Reiss Nelson (loan to Feyenoord), Runar Alex Runarsson (loan to OH Leuven)
All but one of Arsenal's deals with regards to incomings were completed before deadline day last summer, as Nuno Tavares, Albert Sambi Lokonga, Benjamin White, Martin Odegaard, and Aaron Ramsdale had all made at least one appearance for the club before August 31.
Then on deadline day, the Gunners announced the signing of Takehiro Tomiyasu in an £18m deal from Serie A side Bologna, as well as confirming the departures of Hector Bellerin, Reiss Nelson and Runar Alex Runarsson on loan to Real Betis, Feyenoord and OH Leuven respectively.
Interestingly, Willian's contract was officially terminated on August 30 as what turned out to be a disappointing spell in north London lasted one season before he returned to Brazil.
January 31, 2022
In: Auston Trusty (Undisclosed)
Out: Auston Trusty (loan to Colorado Rapids)
In reality, the first transfer deadline day of the new year was a quiet one for Arsenal as their more notable deals occurred just before and after the window officially closed, with Calum Chambers joining Aston Villa four days prior and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang leaving the club by mutual consent a day later.
There was, however, the signing of Auston Trusty in a deal that caught many by surprise on deadline day, but there were never any plans for the defender to play a part in the Gunners' quest for a top-four finish as he was loaned back to Colorado Rapids for the remainder of the season.
September 1, 2022?
History suggests Arsenal will be busy either leading up to or on transfer deadline day itself this year. The fact that deals for Tomiyasu and Trusty in the last two windows came out of the blue could be a sign of what's to come, especially as the move for Fabio Vieira followed that blueprint earlier in the summer.
In totality, Arteta has completed 12 deals for first-team players on deadline day, 10 of which have been for those in need of minutes, and that would suggest that there could be a few announcements regarding outgoings on Thursday - most likely loan moves.
But when taking into consideration that Lucas Torreira, Bernd Leno, Pablo Mari, Nicolas Pepe, Nuno Tavares, Folarin Balogun, Runar Alex Runarsson and Arthur Okonkwo have already left, the only realistic first-team departures left are Hector Bellerin and Ainsley Maitland-Niles.
Furthermore, given Arteta has signed a player on four of the five deadline days he has experienced, maybe Arsenal supporters can expect at least one more signing this summer. Perhaps a decision will be made to speed up the Tielemans transfer rather than wait a year, or a winger will join?
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