Is Arsenal still an attractive destination for the top players?



Is Arsenal still an attractive destination for the top players? 

Despite not being at their peak, Arsenal seem to be becoming an increasingly attractive destination for the world's best with each passing transfer window.
We're challenging for the Champions League again, our manager has started to gain the respect of the footballing world and the fan base seems more united now than it's been in nearly a decade.
But is that being reflected in the players we sign?
For example, during the 2017/18 season, Arsenal brought in big international stars such as Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Alexandre Lacazette and Sead Kolašinac.
Now, with hindsight, some of those signings seem a little silly, but it's easy to forget that all three players were highly rated at the time.
Kolašinac was included in the 2016/17 Bundesliga Team of the Season, Lacazette was a French international and a star in Ligue 1 and of course, Aubameyang was one of the most lethal strikers in Europe.
Last summer, we signed Aaron Ramsdale, Ben White, Takehiro Tomiyasu and Martin Ødegaard, among others.
These players have smaller profiles than their counterparts from four years prior but at first glance, it appears that they'll go on to have a far more significant impact at the club in the long term.
So is it a case of Arsenal being unable to sign Europe's top players, or do the Gunners simply not want to go after big names anymore?

Are Arsenal going after a different type of player?

Under Mikel Arteta, it feels like there is a clear direction in the transfer market.
In the latter days under Wenger and during Unai Emery's time at the club, Arsenal were linked with every big-name player Chelsea or Manchester City weren't chasing.
But in the last few seasons, we've clearly been going after the best British talent we can while also picking up great deals from abroad.
Take Ramsdale and Tomiyasu, for example.
Signing these players filled two big holes in our squad, with Bernd Leno on his way out of North London and Cédric Soares struggling to make an impact.
Their combined fees came to under £50 million and both have proven that they're more than capable of holding their own at the top of the Premier League.
So clearly, Arsenal's transfer strategy has changed.

Which system works better?

We all love the excitement around the club when a Mesut Özil or an Aubameyang joins the club.
Welcoming a top player to your club is one of the best things about being a football fan but it may not be the best way for Arsenal to return to the club in this age of nine-figure transfer fees.
Arteta has shown that this system is much better than what preceded it.
I just hope that the club doesn't get too stuck in their ways as Arsenal should be prepared to sign a top player for a hefty fee if it's obvious they'll genuinely improve our side.
Liverpool can sign as many Mohamed Salahs, Sadio Manés or Andrew Robertsons as they want, but if they weren't prepared to take the risk and spend over £125 million on Virgil van Dijk and Alisson Becker, would they have won the title?

Photo Credit: Getty Images 

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