Arsenal are on the verge of achieving a remarkable milestone in the modern transfer era, as they edge closer to signing six new first-team players before the start of pre-season.
After a quiet June with no confirmed arrivals, the Gunners have shifted gears dramatically since the start of July. The signings of Kepa Arrizabalaga, Martin Zubimendi and Christian Nørgaard have already been completed. Now, the club is aiming to wrap up deals for Viktor Gyökeres, Christian Mosquera and Noni Madueke this week.
Fastest business in 23 years of transfer window history
If all three additional signings are finalised as expected, Arsenal will reach an unprecedented total of six first-team arrivals before the first day of pre-season. This would mark the first time in 23 years, since the transfer window system was introduced in 2002, that Arsenal have made so many early signings ahead of their summer schedule.
The Gunners’ aggressive approach this summer reflects a clear intent from manager Mikel Arteta and Sporting Director Andrea Berta to avoid the delays of past windows. Early integration of new players could prove vital, particularly with a demanding domestic and European calendar ahead.
Statement of intent by Arsenal
The signing of Mosquera from Valencia appears to be closest, with a €15 million fee plus add-ons. The player is said to have only wanted Arsenal, with a medical lined up this week if all goes to plan. Gyökeres and Madueke are also believed to be in advanced stages, though formal announcements are still pending.
Should the final pieces fall into place, it would be a statement of intent from Arsenal and a clear departure from the cautious starts of recent transfer windows.
Andrea Berta is starting to win over the Arsenal fans.
What do you think of Arsenal’s early transfer business so far? Are you impressed by the speed of deals being done? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.
Benjamin Kenneth
__________________________________________________________________________________________
ADMIN COMMENT
So here are some simple rules which I must insist commenters follow….
You agree not to give any personal abuse to other Arsenal fans. Everyone is allowed to hold their own opinions even if you disagree with them. It COSTS NOTHING TO BE POLITE TO OTHER ARSENAL FANS.
CALLING ALL ARSENAL FANS! Anyone who would like to contribute an Article or Video opinion piece on JustArsenal, please contact us through this link…
If Gyokeres’ hold-up and link-up plays aren’t good, we’d likely have the same problem when playing against well-organized low-block teams
Sesko’s superior aerial ability could help us a lot when playing against the likes of Aston Villa, West Ham and Atletico Madrid, but Arsenal seemed to have chosen the cheapest top CF in the market
I just hope Gyokeres can hold the big CBs off as Giroud did and form a telephatic communication with Odegaard using their Scandinavian word in the field
If he becomes our new main free-kick taker, I think he’ll score more than fifteen goals in all competition
Sesko is 6.5 while VG is just a tad shorter. Gameplan and everything in between will be straightforward different. I’m smelling blood. Arsenal is not the same anymore. Different, untamed, robust, wounded yet agile Animal.
Gyokeres didn’t score any header goals last season, but I hope it’ll be different at Arsenal with Saka’s and Odegaard’s diagonal crosses
Gyokeres said when asked about a lack of headed goals, he replied that he’d have scored more headers if the wingers were better …lol. Sporting to me doesn’t look like a high crossing team, you have to consider that
The problem is our wingers’ crosses aren’t great either
So then he’s perfect according to your own words lol
The lost Tierney ‘s ones were good, probably great if considering our wingers who’s crosses lack precision🙄
If his hold up isn’t great,we don’t have to use him like a target man. Gyokeres has the physique of a target man but is not one; he is a runner who stays on the last line, looking to run behind the defenders. He is more Jamie Vardy than Drogba/Giroud.
His running can still be effective against low blocks. Instead of aiming for his head like we do Havertz, we’d aim for space, beyond the defensive line so that he can chase. In our game against Sporting,there’s one moment he managed to run past Saliba and got a shot off,hitting the post. Let’s play to his strengths (like Jamie Vardy), not like something he’s clearly not great at- pinning defenders with his back to goal like Giroud/Drogba/Havertz.
If that’s the case, he’d likely flop at Arsenal
Aubameyang also lived on the shoulder of the last defender as the prime Vardy did, yet he struggled with Arteta’s slow build-up tactics
Aubameyang couldn’t use his pace because the opposing teams didn’t give him enough space using their low-block tactics
Hopefully Gyokeres will offer something different than what Aubameyang and Vardy did, since we rarely have the chance to do counter-attacks
The signing of Zubimendi signals a change in tactics. He has the ability to speed up the tempo of a game and doesn’t take as many touches as Partey.So I don’t think our build up will be as slow as last season. This should suit Gyokeres. Raya and Norgaard also have the ability to hit accurate balls in the channels.
Gyokeres can also score from cut back crosses which our wingers make a ton of. How often does Saka make a low cross into the six yard box and there’s no one to tap it in? You’d expect Gyokeres to be in these positions.
Another way Gyokeres can be useful against low blocks is his tendency to drift to wide positions,particularly to the left. When he drifts to the left,like Jesus used to, he’ll drag defenders with him,creating space for the likes of Rice,Martinelli,Odegaard and Saka to create chances or score.
I think you’re right that our transitional play and build up will accelerate with Zubimendi.
One critique though that I’ve seen levelled at Gyokeres is that he often takes several touches before setting himself up for a shot. That’s something that he won’t be able to get away with against Premier League defenders. Apparently he ranks in the 22nd percentile for center-forwards when it comes to dispossession (quick Google) so hopefully that can be trained out of him.
I’m 100% sure Gykorese will score well over 15 goals in all competitions. He’s an awesome striker
It would be possible if he gets the penalties and the free-kicks, as he got in Portugal
@Gai, you seem to have sentiments for Sesko without putting his stats into consideration, interestingky you can’t bet on him, he misses a lot of scoring chances compared to Gyokeres. Even at national team level Gyokeres performs more than Isak check the stats
Sesko has imposing stature but not as physical as Helen Halland and Sesko doesn’t score many headers.
I like the fact Gyokeres want to play for Arsenal, that’s a motivation for the CF. We have been chasing Sesko last two seasons, he seem indifferent playing for us.
Gyokeres is a bully like Lukaku
Gai, watch Nani a formal ManU stalwart who plays in Oortugues speak on Gyokeres.
Both Sesko and Gyokeres remains a gamble. Buy VGyokeres imo is more assured of result.
In my opinion, Arteta’s tactics need someone like Giroud instead of a goal-stat-chaser like Gyokeres
Aubameyang was also a prolific goal-scorer, but he struggled with Arteta’s slow build-up tactics since he wasn’t strong and aerially-good enough to bring his teammates into play
GAI. We already have a Giroud 2.0 in Havertz.
For a plan b ,it’s imperative we get a different mould. A Tevez or an Aguero like .That’s why Gyokeres makes more sense..
Havertz is a weakling on the ground and in the air as compared to Giroud
Maybe Gyokeres will play ahead of Martinelli on the left wing and let Havertz or Merino play false-nine
It’s the way you are hyping giroud as if he’s RVP or Henry.
Giroud is one of the most frustrating CF’s we’ve had in our history.
Falls easily is the box 18, over does flicking the ball, most dispossesed.
What did we win with giroud leading the line?
Went on a barren run for months at a time we had a shot at competing for the league.
Imo. What we lack last season is a clinical finisher, to finish of lots of chances we create and no and our strikers kept missing a lot them, and i think gyok can be clinical.
Well done with the window, it’s amazing what 1 compitent person can achieve after the years of last minute scrambling.
I know the goal posts keep shifting apparently but this is MA’s second rebuild now after not winning anything with his first squad so there’s zero excuses now. Even the least ambitious fans around here would now struggle to find excuses
Financial flexibility and knowing what to do with it. Now if we could only get Eze in the door and a few out the door.
It was only a few days ago that fans on JA were complaining about the LACK of signings!!
We were reading that Berta didn’t have a clue, the owner was more interested in saving pennies and our rivals were forging ahead in strengthening their squads.
Now, it’s all coming up roses, Berta is the next coming, Mr Kronkie is potentially going to spend over £200 million and top players are saying they only want to play for The Arsenal under Mikel Arteta.
Perhaps we should wait until this window closes before judging anyone?
Hear, hear. I couldn’t understand those comments about lack of signings when there were (then) around two months left in the window and weeks to go before the pre-season games.
Arsenal wanted to achieve a step-change in their approach to and negotiations of transfers which is why they brought in Berta – and after less than four months with the club it seems to be working.
So we are on an another rebuild ?so the phases ,process didn’t work the first time .
Let’s hope this one does not take another 6 years to come to fruition .
Will be close to 1 billion spent with 1 fa cup to his name ,surely if no big trophy comes in this year the club will see sense and revise their strategy concerning this manager .
Slot did it in his first year without signing a player that actually played after finishing 10 points behind us the season before .
I have a good feeling g this time around but …….