If Mikel Arteta isn’t urging the Arsenal decision-makers to be bold in the winter transfer window with his latest comments, then I really don’t know what he was doing.
Speaking to the media, Mikel Arteta highlighted what some of us Gooners have been saying—we failed to take advantage of it—about Arsenal’s summer transfer business of 2024.
Some of us felt the Gunners didn’t do enough to bolster the team for this campaign, only signing Mikel Merino, Riccardo Calafiori, Tommy Setford, Neto, and Raheem Sterling while letting go of Emile Smith Rowe, Aaron Ramsdale, Fabio Vieira, Nuno Tavares, Reiss Nelson, Albert Sambi Lokonga, Eddie Nketiah, and Cedric Soares. Surely that wasn’t enough. Our squad depth was depleted, and worse, most of our new signings have struggled with injuries. It is also worth noting that Riccardo Calafiori is the only recruit likely to break into this Arsenal team.
With that out of the way, it should be no surprise that Arteta highlighted his problems. “We started the season with one of the thinnest squads in the Premier League,” Arteta said.
With the winter transfer window fast approaching, the Arsenal decision-makers need to support Arteta. They failed him last summer by not bolstering his attack. Now, there are enough reasons to reinforce the Spaniard’s squad. Can they try signing players like Nico Williams, Mohammed Kudus, or Viktor Gyökeres? Those are players Arsenal may need to break the bank for, but they could be worth it.
As high-flying as Liverpool are and as poor as Manchester City are, in the summer we could either be saying, “Hadn’t we signed ‘Player X’ and ‘Player Y’, City would have stood a chance against us,” or “We never capitalized on that Liverpool slip.”
What do you think?
Darren N
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We have NOT got a small squad. But if the article writer thinks we have. He needs to explain after 5 years, nearly a billion invested and numerous players let go for free. Why we have a small squad, say compared too Liverpool? Who are one year into their project, have had 6 players out and are still managing to be 9 points ahead of us.
Sorry Liverpool are in the first year of their rebuild.
Then why would Arteta say he entered this season with the thinnest squad?
Yet another lame excuse?
What has he spent 800 mil on?
Why did he let good players leave for Zilch?
I don’t think it’s squad depth that is Arsenal’s issue! Check out Liverpool squad, they don’t also have a large squad. Injuries, form of players and the manager tactics is basically responsible for the present position of any team. Last season Arsenal do not have much injury issues, yet they did not win anything. Quality acquisition and the Manager tactics really matters here!
Slapping us in the face.
Liverpool do not have a huge squad but have been less affected by injuries to key players this season. Overall, they seem to have a slightly more balanced squad than we have mainly due to their attacking options. With Salah in the form he is they will also always be a threat against any team.
There is no doubt that Slot has got them playing well and consistently. Slot would currently obviously rank amongst the world’s best.
Arsenal do have an issue with squad depth. Unfortunately, we now also have a significant injury problem.
Yrs they HAVE David, stop telling porkies. They have had six players out and so have we..they are missing their goalie, striker, center back and midfielder, all woukd have started. Please stop talking rubbish.
No Reggie
Not all of them or have we moved on a week or to?
Sue, they were without 6 first teamers for a while and that is a fact. The most we had out was 6.
I have stated facts. Your comment is dishonest and clearly designed to create a narrative of underperformance.
Arsenal are currently one of the most injury hit teams in the PL and have had more key injuries than Liverpool.
Anyone can check this for themselves. An assessment of impact needs to take account of days lost due to injury, amongst other factors, not just the number of players out at any one time. Although this is probably too complicated for people whose main agenda is just to rubbish the team they claim to support.
The fact, we got Sterling, Kiwior, Vierra, Zinchenko, Lakonga and Tavares, who obviously were not good enough is a far bigger problem than the smoke and mirrors of injuries and apparently small squad. The fact Arteta chise Jesus as our striker, is the bigger problem. All have let us down and all his purchases. Stop hiding behind the truth.
And at the moment we can throw in Merino, who has been a real damp squib.
Well said Reggie,
It’s far easier to hide behind injury’s, than admit the truth that this manager as bought very average players to this club, and continues to do so.
And to think, there will be people out there who still believe that we can win the title this season, or the coming seasons.
Not with Arteta at the helm we won’t.
Something I’m always banging the drum about, and will continue to do so.
And be unapologetic about it to.
Yeah, those two points were a huge stumbling block and certainly an indication that we can never win the title under MA.
The recruitment of Sterling was the straw which broke the camels back as far as I am concerned ,adding to the numerous errors of judgement made by Arteta and his Management team in their attempts to “strengthen” our squad.Merino may yet prove to be a decent signing but he has hardly set the heather on fire thus far, and as far as I am concerned the jury is still out as far as Calafiori is concerned particularly in view of his record of injuries during the past year or two.He is basically a very decent LCB who is unlikely to shine in a LB role,whether inverted or otherwise as, unlike Timber, he lacks real pace in recovery.The injury to Saka is a blow from which we may be unable to overcome in the January transfer window and there is absolutely no point in bringing in someone unless they have been a long term target with real quality.
Where the money coming from to sign players ?
Arteta as spent an insane amount of money in 5 years ,not a problem if you sell at a decent lvl ,like Chelsea and mancity .
That is where as a club we are awful,given players away ,holding onto players until their value is laughable.
A recurring practice under this manager .
Now fans expect the club to try and buy our way out of trouble because apparently we don’t have a big enough squad after 5 years and countless monies spent .
Let me guess it’s still Wenger and Emerys fault with the squad Arteta was left with .
Wasn’t ment as reply
It’s not as if Mikel is the only Arsenal manager that’s given players away.
If your referring to Wenger HD that’s a very bad example.
Why is it a very bad example DK when it’s true ?
Not true at all HD.
I know you classify someone who’s contract has run out and, either, they’re not offered a new contract or refuse to sign one that’s offered, as giving a player away, but that’s nonsense.
We’re talking here of the likes of Ozil and Aubemeyang and how the club not only gave them away, but paid the player for going?
Ken, when you don’t receive any money for an item then you give it away for free.
Regarding Ozil and PEA, no clubs were willing to pay a fee for either player, they had caused problems at the club, so the club saw fit to terminate their contracts. Iirc, neither player were paid the full amount of their wages that remained on their contract.
Yes Dan Kit,
A lot of the decisions this manager (Arteta), has made is now coming home to roost.
A lot of your points have a lot of merit to them, and therefore you won’t get any arguments from me there.👍
This season’s winter transfer window hasn’t opened yet. But when it does’ opene next week, Arsenal might enter the market to do some transfer businesses on the incomings and outgoings front before the window closes.
In the meantime as’matters in the Epl concerning us tonight. Is for Arsenal to be ware that they don’t have any other choice on the table. Other than the only one choice on it. Which is to beat Ipwich as the are at home playing against them and go 2nd in the table.
Therefore, the Gunners SHOULD make things count in their performance in the match exhilaratingly to beat Ipwich. And beat them by 5 goals to nil at the end of the match unfailingly.
Having looked at the bench for tonight’s game injury’s not withstanding, Nwaneri is the only creative option we’ve got to come on if needed.
I have my doubts as to whether Arteta will buy in the January window, if anything he may try to loan someone.
Who that may be, is anyone’s guess. But if he does loan someone, please make it a more telling one than Sterling was, as that one was very underwhelming.
Arteta has spent 5 years but hasn’t developed a single in-house attacking player or even bought a young relatively cheaper talent who could play bit more regularly.
That is why inspite of spending so much squad is shallow.
So you don’t think that changing Saka from the left wing onto the right wing is developing a in-house attacker ?
No.
It is not.
Saka has not scored 70 goals a season like Messi did from that position.
So that can’t count as success coming from Arteta.
😁
Arteta can never do anything right for some.
😂😉
Yeah!
Write anything but give Arteta credit.
Second on the table week after week of being rubbish.
So what exactly are your many other magician coaches doing that they are not ahead of Arteta who keeps fumbling and stumbling.
Where’s your Ange, Amorim, Chelsea and whoever now.
Keep going Arteta.
Thrill is with you on this.