Arsenal have signed six players in the summer transfer window. Ben White, Martin Odegaard, Aaron Ramsdale, Albert Lokonga, Nuno Tavares and Takehiro Tomiyasu. One thing that all five players have in common, not one exceeds the age of 23. This represents a change in transfer strategy for Arsenal as they target young hungry players who possess both instant quality and potential.
Players have been signed of similar profiles in previous windows of course, but never so exclusively over multiple signings. There is a clear view on the future at Arsenal as they look to create a young squad capable of taking the club to the next level in years to come. While this strategy can be successful, big question marks remain over the sustainability of this model and the futures of the people involved in the implementation of this model.
Balancing future and present
Bukayo Saka 19 years old, Emile Smith Rowe 21, Albert Sambi Lokonga 21, Ben White 23, Gabriel Martinelli 20, Folarin Balogun 20. It’s clear Arsenal have some very, very good young players who will grow to be incredible players. However, for some level of success in the present day, there has to be a balance. Young players have talent. They have energy, hunger. But what they lack is experience. Having top, experienced players who can lead and help out their younger teammates is vital in a winning squad.
Massive question marks remain over Arsenal’s most notable experienced players. Pierre Emerick Aubameyang and Alex Lacazette have not yet rediscovered their form of old. Granit Xhaka is undoubtedly a leader and a great player, but has moments of complete madness. A perfect example being his needless two-footed challenge against Manchester City, one that saw him sent off – whether the referee made the right decision or not. Thomas Partey is an ideal candidate for that leadership role, but cannot seem to escape injury currently.
The result is a squad of very talented players eager for leadership and guidance where there doesn’t seem to be much. With this in mind, the question has to be asked of Arsenal’s transfer strategy. A slightly older player perhaps wouldn’t have gone amiss.
With this being said, Arsenal can still turn around their poor start to the season. Partey will return to the team following the international break and Arsenal’s two main strikers are coming off goal scoring performances in the League Cup against West Brom. Mikel Arteta must ask of his older players to help their younger counterparts and drag Arsenal out of this mess. There needs to be signs of this and quickly.
Change in Management?
Massive question marks still remain over the futures of key figures in Arsenal’s strategy team.
Mikel Arteta is under huge pressure both internally and externally right now after his Arsenal side lost their three opening Premier League games, failing to score a goal. Recent situations have reflected poorly on him also, notably, Ainsley Maitland-Niles took to social media to express his desire to leave the club. Talks have been held since and the matter appears to be resolved, but the fact it got to that extremity is eye-opening.
Edu Gaspar is another figure under the microscope. The former Arsenal midfielder and Invincible has received mixed opinions since arriving to take the role of Technical Director in 2019. In the period since then Arsenal have made some key deals such as the arrival of Gabriel from Lille, the signing of Thomas Partey from Atletico Madrid too. Contract extensions have also been a strength under Edu. Saka, Smith Rowe, Tierney, Aubameyang, Balogun and other players important to Arsenal’s future have all extended their stay at the club in recent times.
The real negative comes in the failure to shift players out the door. The vast majority of the Football world is recovering from a pandemic and financial disaster. There is no doubt this is an extremely hard environment to sell in but the sheer lack of funds arriving at Arsenal is a concern nonetheless.
Only one straight sale was made this summer, Joe Willock leaving to Newcastle for a fee of £25m. A number of players were loaned out, including Lucas Torreira, Hector Bellerin and Alex Runarsson. All three are players Arsenal intended to sell this summer. Matteo Guendouzi and Dinos Mavrapanos were loaned, but with clauses likely making the moves permanent further in the season. Albeit for not particularly impressive fees. Willian agreed to tear iup his contract to head for a move to Corinthians. Sead Kolasinac, Cedric Soares and Mohamed Elneny are still at the club for the time being.
For a club with fans who were promised a huge rebuild, the clear-out has not been effective enough on Edu’s part.
For Arteta, there is still an opportunity to turn his ship around. Following the current international break, Arsenal will have a run of five games before the next. Norwich, Burnley, Wimbledon (Cup), Tottenham and Brighton. Arteta should be hoping to win at least four of these games to get Arsenal’s season back on track. He will have at his disposal for the first time this season, a full-strength team (touch wood) and can surely no longer see the team as anything but his, having overseen the signings or extensions of most players.
For Edu, his future is less clear. It is not public knowledge what the Arsenal board’s current views are on their Technical Director but they will be wary of the factors that interfered with Arsenal’s summer. Edu may not be the only man responsible for the poor sales anyhow. Richard Garlick was hired this summer to help with the negotiation and contractual side of Arsenal’s recruitment team but it is unclear what parts each man played.
An uncertain future
Arsenal’s strategy has been clear this summer. They have bought players of the profile they wanted and the focus is clearly set on the future. Uncertainties remain however and truthfully, we will not know how successful Arsenal’s plan has been in the immediate future.
For now, all eyes turn to Mikel Arteta. Now he must work to prove Arsenal made the right decision in backing his targets and show he is still the right man to lead Arsenal’s new-look more youthful squad to a future containing success.