After accepting defeat in their pursuit of Julian Alvarez, Arsenal tried to sign at least one top striker on the final day of the transfer window, but they failed.
Several top strikers had been on their shopping list, but the Gunners focused on Alvarez until the final hours, when it became clear that he would not move to North London. Arsenal then turned to other options in their search for a world-class striker.
Arsenal turn to Martinez
The Gunners looked towards Inter Milan’s Lautaro Martinez as another option. A report in the Daily Mail says Arsenal tried to sign the Argentinian, who has long been a player of interest to the Gunners.
Arsenal have worked hard to ensure their team is in fine shape, while signing another striker became even more important after they offloaded Gabriel Jesus and Gabriel Martinelli. With Alvarez no longer available, Martinez emerged as another possible solution.
However, Martinez also turned Arsenal down and insists he is happy at Inter Milan. The striker reportedly never planned to change clubs, meaning the Gunners were unable to complete another late move for a leading forward.
Gunners miss out again
Martinez has been one of the world’s best strikers, just like Alvarez, so signing him would have given Arsenal another top option in attack. The Gunners had hoped to strengthen their squad, but their late attempts ended without the addition they wanted.
His arrival could also have created more selection problems for Viktor Gyokeres, who has ruthlessly been overlooked for selection so far. With Martinez unavailable, Gyokeres will not have to compete with another elite striker brought in during the final hours.
Arsenal therefore ended the transfer window without completing the striker signing they wanted. Their pursuit of Alvarez and Martinez shows how strongly the Gunners wanted another leading forward, but neither target was willing to make the move.
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I know Arteta has been keen on Lautaro Martinez for a long time and they really wanted to add quality over quantity in attack, but he had already turned down Barcelona’s romancing in the window, saying he wanted to remain at Inter as long as they wanted him there… bit of a hail mary attempt really!
Other than the few players we acquired and a few hail mary attempts with VJ, Yildiz, Alvarez, Martinez, etc. for what was seen as exceptional quality, Arsenal clearly decided not to pay the exorbitant prices being charged to PL clubs this season. Part of the reason is likely because MA feels and communicated that he believes there is more than one way to skin an attack and change it for the better even with just the more healthy players we have now. Consideration of the younger talent may have been a factor as well.
11 of the clubs in the premiership had record setting acquisitions and 6 of them broke their record more than once. The league as a whole set a record for spending. We did not participate nearly as much as we could have. Good, have for the most part the same guys train and play together as a cohesive unit with less injuries and do one better this season. I just wonder how so many other clubs were even able to recklessly spend under the new guidelines. A bunch of City130’s out there now, lol.
so they refuse to pay exorbitant prices but charge customers ….exorbitant prices and some customers defend them
what a genius business model
I wonder when Arteta signs his new contract if he cares then about Arsenal paying exorbitant prices ?
You, I assume, accidentally replied to my comment with whatever you’re on about.
Good points BB.
The club took a measured approach to refreshing the team (unlike say Liverpool last season!) and did most of what they could to strengthen, even if we all know there are some areas that can still be improved. They did try at least, just didn’t pan out. I also appreciate that Arteta is mature and skillful enough as a manager to find innovative solutions now with the talent he’s got available.
I’m curious to see what fall out there is from some of this spending. Spurs in particular seem crazy. And City flexing their massive capital muscle in an all-out effort to rebuild after Pep and reclaim the title. Which might well work, but it obviously introduces risks too given they’re not the beast they were. Hopefully they get a huge points penalty sometime soon 😉
We did make our second most expensive signing ever, but as you say wisely didn’t spend recklessly. Luxury position!
The club almost certainly balked at paying some of the prices that players were going for. Arsenal have continued to struggle with transfers out as they can’t get substantial fees for most players.
Some teams, such as MC, have been in a stronger position for years as they are able to sell some of their own players at huge prices. Chelsea have taken huge risks and may yet come undone with their approach despite huge transfer fees for players leaving. Spurs problems may be to do largely with the quality of their team when considering the prices they have paid in transfers. However, they are unlikely to have significant financial issues.
😂😂
😂😂
Now I know that when dealing with transfers it depends on more than one party.
But am I the only one who season after season get surprised that our club always seem to leave it to the last day to get deals done.
As I say, it involves more than one party, but there must be times when deals can be done far earlier than they are. It also gives the selling team a chance to replace the player their selling if thats the case.
I suspect the reason we leave it late is in the hope of getting the deal a bit cheaper but of course that then leaves the chance of another club nipping in. Surely it’s worth paying that little bit extra to get signings in early to integrate in the club.
That’s exactly it. Risk vs reward.
They do occasionally make early signings – Havertz springs to mind, but it’s way more normal historically for Arsenal to sign players in late July or August or even very late in the window.
Spurs had to pay up to £100m (including add-ons) for Tonali, and £85m for Mateus Fernandes in early July.
We got Guimaraes for £75m a month later.
It’s kind of amusing to me in this regard when I remember so many slamming MA and Edu for paying £65m to bring in the purported Chelsea reject Havertz. I don’t remember very many praising them for getting the deal done early, especially after it took him half the season to fit into any decent rhythm with the team play.
True that… I wasn’t triggered by the Havertz signing myself, he was a beast at Leverkusen. It probably had more to do with him being from Chelsea than anything.
I think I was more surprised that they did an early deal in June for once.
That was certainly strange as the world wasn’t exactly beating down Chelsea’s door to get him. I do wonder if sometimes things are done in the shadows which cause unexpected events like this one.
Well not to sound overly conspiratorial, but even just based on the goings on between Chelsea and Villa this window alone, definitely seems like Chelsea’s transfer team spend a bit of time in the shadows…
City130 must have the most expensive (and perhaps overpriced) engine room in history. I’m just glad Rodri isn’t still in the league. It will be interesting to see if Enzo will be able to be a good team player. I was surprised that Maresca wanted him.
Come on Derek
Transfer deadline day has frequently been a last minute job for many clubs
SueP,
I agree lots of teams do it. But I don’t care about other teams, It’s only my team I cars about. And I just think it would be nice to get deals done early on occasion
It’s only my team I care about. OOPS! Flipping spelling classes I’m going to ask for my money back. 😂🤣