Is Mikel Arteta right to be angry at Arsenal's transfer strategy


Is Mikel Arteta right to be angry at Arsenal's transfer strategy

While the summer transfer window is only a week old, the rumours have been circulating for far longer. 
Mikel Arteta has made his intentions clear: he desires a squad of 22 outfield players and three goalkeepers.
He is still someway short of achieving that, and a big overhaul of the squad is still to be conducted with several players expected to leave north London. 
Arsenal have been relatively quiet so far which has reportedly angered Arteta and caused even more angst among the Arsenal faithful, who are desperate for new faces to freshen up a squad on the brink of success. That begs the question, should Arteta be concerned with Arsenal’s inactivity? 

Yes

Looking at the league’s best, Arsenal fans will once again feel that they are being left behind. 
Manchester City’s purchase of Erling Haaland, and Liverpool’s capture of Darwin Nunez suggests that the best teams get their business done early and that their targets are identified well in advance. 
Even the signings made by Aston Villa, namely Boubacar Kamara and Diego Carlos, could provide sufficient cause to worry Arsenal fans, with the chasing pack already looking to close the gap. 
One position that urgently needs to be addressed is the striker role. The absence of a consistent goal scorer cost them dearly in their pursuit of Champions League football, and it is hoped that Gabriel Jesus will be the man to remedy their goal-shy attack. 
But the rumoured alternatives to Jesus suggest a lack of coherent planning, the profile of striker Arsenal have been linked with seems worryingly broad. 
Standing at 6 ft 3, Gianluca Scamacca is far more of an aerial threat than Jesus, as is Dominic Calvert-Lewin, who has long been admired at the Emirates. 
Other but less likely targets, Tammy Abraham of Roma and Napoli’s Victor Osimhen, also offer different qualities, making each name on Arteta’s shortlist unique to the other 
A new striker must be in place for Arsenal’s start to the season, when they head to Selhurst Park to play Crystal Palace on 5 August 
Arsenal were made to pay for their lack of urgency last summer, as they lost the opening three games of the season and sat bottom of the table after a 5-0 thumping at Manchester City. 
They cannot afford to do the same if they are serious about challenging for top four this season. 
Although August looks kinder to Arsenal on paper this term, they will be desperate to build some early momentum before the fixtures stack up ahead of the extended break for the winter World Cup. 

No

Arteta will know all too well that a scattergun approach in the market is not necessarily an effective one. 
He was one of five late arrivals in the August of 2011, alongside Per Mertesacker, Andre Santos, Park Chu-Young and Yossi Benayoun. 
The ‘deadline-day five’ enjoyed mixed success in Arsenal red, and Arteta will surely be too smart to be suckered into making new signings for the sake of new signings. 
Player sales could also play a factor in the size of Arsenal’s budget this season. Fees for the likes of Hector Bellerin, Lucas Torreira, Bernd Leno and Nicolas Pepe, would significantly increase the funds at Arteta’s disposal. 
He will not want to be kept waiting, but it has already been suggested that a move for Leeds’ Raphinha is dependent on Pepe’s exit, so Arteta and Arsenal fans may have to be patient if they are to capture their primary targets. 
Another factor to consider is the culture that Arteta has attempted to establish since his appointment in 2019. 
He has worked hard to remove the likes of Mesut Ozil and Pierre Emerick-Aubameyang – talented players but ultimately too divisive for Arteta’s liking – and will be wary of acquiring any more ‘bad eggs.’ 
The final straw in that regard may have been the signing of Willian. The Brazilian failed to settle after his move from Chelsea and Arteta will almost certainly take his time to study the person he is acquiring, as much as the player. 
Finally, it should not be overlooked that Arsenal have already purchased two new stars who are ready to join the squad for pre-season. American goalkeeper Matt Turner, and Brazilian winger Marquinhos will have a chance to impress as Arsenal travel to Germany and the United States ahead of the new campaign. 
Portuguese midfielder Fabio Vieira may soon follow, as could Jesus and Youri Tielemans, with moves for the two Premier League stars edging ever closer. 
For once it seems, Arteta and technical director Edu, are quietly going about their business. 
They have until 1 September to get deals done. For now, time is on their side. 
Photo Credit: Getty Images


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