With just a few more days left of the transfer window, there are still many Arsenal transfer rumours coming through, despite the fact that Unai Emery said just a couple of days ago: “My focus is on the first match and preparing, and not for the window and the possibility to sign another player. Maybe we need some players to leave because we have lots in the squad, but at the moment, my one focus is on our work.”
We need players to leave? Well Calum Chambers has gone to Fulham on loan, while Lucas Perez has been sold cheaply to West Ham. We are still expecting sales of Danny Welbeck, David Ospina and Joel Campbell, but why would we still expect any more new arrivals? The Arsenal legend Martin Keown doesn’t think there will be any more incoming players, and he thinks that that is the sensible thing to do in Emery’s first season while the Spaniard assesses the current squad’s abilities. “I think it’s difficult for a manager,” Keown told Starsport.
“If you think about it he’s got 22 new signings doesn’t he. He’s got to come in, he’s got to work with all the players.
“He’s got four central defenders there with (Calum) Chambers, (Rob) Holding, (Shkodran) Mustafi and Sokratis. He’s got to get that message across and identify quickly.
“I don’t know whether the money’s there. I think he’s going to have to sell probably if he’s going to buy and there doesn’t seem to be much happening in the transfer market.
“So I think he’s possibly done his business nice and early and he’s going to prepare with this group, see how he goes from there and maybe the next transfer window he goes in again.
“But I think it’s sensible what they’re doing, he’s working with what they’ve got.
“It’s only when the season starts and they play games for real, you work out who can cut it and who can’t.”
Keown was wrong about Chambers, but we also have Mavropanos and maybe Koscielny will return at some point, so do you agree that we should give Emery until at least January to identify the weaknesses in the squad before buying anyone else?
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