Mikel Arteta has become accustomed to disappointment during his brief and eventful time as Arsenal manager. The Gunners finished his first full season in charge in their lowest position since 1995, only eighth. Arsenal have spent a quarter of a century playing European football every season. Now one of their most southerly journeys this season will be to Brentford on Friday.
Arteta goes there with an incomplete squad, with Arsenal’s business half done. The breakdown of a move for Sheffield United goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale leaves them looking dangerously short of alternatives to Bernd Leno. Some mooted transfer targets, whether James Maddison or Tammy Abraham, have not arrived. Arteta admitted it has been tough.
“We are talking about the most difficult transfer market in this industry over the last years, for sure, and we are trying to adapt,” he said. But with Joe Willock’s move to Newcastle not completed, Roma unable to afford Granit Xhaka and a host of players who Arsenal might have been willing to sell not attracting sufficient offers, funds are limited.
“It is [the same] for every club at the moment,” said Arteta. “We have ownership that they are willing to invest in the team and they want to get the team better with bigger aims. But at the same time we need to be careful because we want to be in a financial position that is sustainable for the club.”
Arsenal’s owners, the Kroenke family, have felt parsimonious in the past but they authorised a £50 million ($69m) deal for Ben White, making him the most expensive defender in the club’s history. “He is a player we have looked at for a long time,” Arteta said. “He fitted the profile of exactly what we wanted.”
Nuno Tavares has also arrived to understudy Kieran Tierney at left-back while Albert Sambi Lokonga, who seemed a youthful addition to the midfield ranks, may be parachuted into the team as Thomas Partey is out until September's international break, as are Eddie Nketiah and Gabriel Martinelli. “The difficulty with him is how long he has been injured,” said Arteta of the oft-sidelined Partey.
There may be a makeshift look to the midfield. Arsenal feel in limbo. “In this first period of the transfer window I think we’ve done a few things we wanted to do,” added Arteta, but he has encountered frustration since then.
“There are a lot of question marks still to be resolved. Anything is possible and there is still a lot of things to be done and a lot of clubs involved. But I am willing to work with the players I have at the moment.”
One of those is Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang. The captain turned 32 in the summer and had his worst season, with just 10 league goals, since 2010-11 last year. Arsenal could do with seeing the Aubameyang of old.
“Since he came back he looked in the right mindset and he’s trying to put last season, which was difficult for everybody and not just for him, for many different reasons, and go back to the level that he can achieve,” Arteta said.
Arsenal finished the campaign with five straight wins but still unfulfilled. As rivals have spent, they risk being left behind. This season has to be better than last. “Our goal is to get the best version consistently that is going to bring us closer to winning football matches,” Arteta said. “That’s what I want from the team. [Fans] need to be excited and they need to see a team that is capable of competing with those teams because our history is related to that. Nobody can deny that. That's the aim and that should be the objective.”
Five players Arsenal should look to sign this transfer window
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James Maddison - Leicester City's England schemer can count himself unlucky to have missed out on selection for Euro 2020, such was his form last season. Maddison, 24, is both creator and finisher and cherishes space in which to operate. One stumbling block for the Gunners will be the £60 million price tag, with finances dented by missing out on Champions League and Europa League footballer. -
Manuel Locatelli - was one of the star finds for Euro 2020 winners Italy, scoring twice in the 3-0 win over Switzerland in the group phase. Sassuolo are holding out for £35 million for the midfielder, 23, who played in five out of the seven games as Italy went all the way to clinch the title with a shoot-out victory over England in the final. Arsenal face competition from Juventus, who have offered €30m but as a loan for the 2021/22 season and and obligation to buy next summer. -
Martin Odegaard - was voted Arsenal's Player of the Month in March following some stellar performances most notable in the North London derby win over Tottenham. The problem was those performances were too infrequent during a six-month loan from Real Madrid. The Norwegian, 22, has returned to his parent club but it remains to be seen whether he features in Carlo Ancelotti's plans. Another loan move could suit all parties. -
Tyler Adams - the 22-year-old American can operate at both right-back and in midfield - two areas Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta must look to strengthen. Adams, 22, is a USA international who has gone from strength to strength since moving to RB Leipzig in 2019. The Bundesliga side are reluctant to sell, but if Adams' historical tweets are anything to go by a transfer to the Emirates Stadium would certainly appeal. -
Kalvin Phillips - was one of England's best performers at the European Championship. Showed he is more than just a destroyer with some dynamic running and invention further up the field. The Leeds United midfielder helped inspire his boyhood club to a ninth-place finish in the Premier League last season, so it will take an intriguing offer to tempt him away from Elland Road.
