Seven league games into the season, we are unbeaten, and we aim to make it eight in a row this weekend when we face Manchester City. Our fine start to the season isn’t pure luck. It is from our fine investment in the summer to build on last season’s progress. We paid £105 million for Declan Rice, £65 million for Havertz, made a £3 million loan deal for David Raya (with a £27 million option for a permanent contract), and made a £40 million agreement for Jurrien Timber’s signature.
Of our investments in the summer, Rice and Raya have been fantastic. They have been impactful. They have brought another dynamic to how we play. As for Havertz, he hasn’t influenced our game as we hoped he would, but we need to understand he’s playing in a completely different position in a completely different role. The hope is that the German international will find his magic over time.
Jurrien Timber, on the other hand, picked up an ACL injury in our first game of the season. He was promising in that game, and many who watched him remarked on what a gifted defender he is. His versatility would have been a plus to our title race, but we will have to wait for his return sometime next year.
I know you are wondering why I’m preaching to you about how our summer investments are paying off? Pep Guardiola’s comments about our recruitment are why. The Manchester City manager has complimented the deals we made in the summer in the Standard, declaring them a brilliant use of our transfer budget.
“The recruitment they have done is top, exceptional level of players,” he told reporters before his team’s visit to the Emirates. “The keeper, Havertz, Rice; they are a good team.”
Do you think we got value for money with our summer deals?
Sam P
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Rice was a great signing and Timber was beginning to look similarly impressive. I thought Raya was OK – he looks no better than Ramsdale to be honest.
Kai Havertz was a confusing signing as we were really looking for a replacement for Xhaka and Havertz does not bring that to the table – you have to wonder where does he fit?
Obviously MA knows much more than I do so hopefully he will come good..
Arteta has done a great job since his been at Arsenal. He learnt his tade under two of the best managers in the game.
The players he brought to the club are all good. He has had a good summer transfer window.
Here’s to hoping Havertz will prove him right. There is no better game for a breakthrough.
We could have done considerably, we still need a winger, striker and another powerful midfielder whether Partey stays or goes.
Arsenal made the best single signing of the summer and that had mask our short comings in the recruitment.
We certainly could do with Marina Granoskaia as Managing director
There’s always two sides to transfers. One is how good is the player, the other how much did he cost. That’s why Brighton have been the best in terms of transfer activity in recent years, repeatedly buying quality for peanuts. There are question marks over Havertz but no one can question the quality of the other signings. They weren’t cheap though. Rice cost 2.5 James Maddisons, West Ham offered no discounts. It doesn’t mean he wasn’t a good signing. But clubs like Arsenal can only spend what they earn so value for money is an issue. You want to stretch the budget as far as possible.
Brighton is a good example. Considering most expensive players weren’t that expensive few years ago, it is a matter of being very good at finding quality foe cheap.
Rice, obviously was the key signing and is working out as expected. Timber obviously unfortunate, after looking the real deal. Haverz was a totally baffling signing, so far a failure. Raya, a good goalkeeper but the whole situation is baffling and probably means Ramsdale out. Is that an improvement?