Noel Whelan says Arsenal’s summer business has placed them in a position to challenge Tottenham for a top-four spot next season.
The Gunners were beaten to a top-four spot by their north London rivals in the last campaign.
Arsenal was in a very good position to earn a return to Champions League football, but they eventually lost their way after dropping points in games against Spurs and Newcastle United, among others.
They have responded to that setback by adding Matt Turner, Fabio Vieira and Marquinhos to their squad.
Gabriel Jesus is expected to join as they work on even more signings.
Considering the business they have done, former Leeds United man, Whelan believes they are now in a very good position to push for a top-four place.
He tells Football Insider:
“This is the three-year plan taking shape, isn’t it?
“They’ve put the building blocks together and Arteta has built a really good team.
“I like the style of play at Arsenal too, and I think these players are extremely well suited to that style.
“You’ve got to be excited if you’re an Arsenal fan, haven’t you? For years they haven’t really spent big, so they’ve got to be pretty optimistic after this window.
“They’ve got a really competitive squad now to go out and run Tottenham close for the Champions League places.”
Just Arsenal Opinion
A club’s transfer business has a direct impact on how they perform in the following season and this has been a good window for us.
A move for some of these players is a clear sign that we are moving in the right direction and it is now up to them to prove their worth.
If we can build on some of the best performances we showed in the second half of last season, then we can achieve higher than fourth place.
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The Transfer Show discusses what Gabriel Jesus will bring to Arsenal
& THFC have bought & improved upon their squad too & surely will have a better Aug-Dec than last season & with a FULL season under Antonio Conte, chances are THFC will see a big improvement too?
& the major ‘spanner in the works’ for top 4? The Thu/Sun Europa League/Premier League schedule.
Stew? A new name on JA!
Not a surprise, as you are clearly a Spud! The way you use language gives you away, son!
We still have to wait and see. Conte is a top class coach and surely Kane will be better than he was last season. Arsenal still need additional signings to compete.
We also have a coach that they’re “not” worried about…IJS the quiet part out loud.
Not spent big in the past. They spent more than team in the UK last summer.
OT. Anyone know anything about Noa Lang? His name is cropping up in a few places as an Arsenal target. Belgium is all I know.
or Dutch
i dont see it. He plays on the opposite wing as Raphinha. And he is known for being very very arrogant. if Mikel did not like Guendouzi he will not like Lang.
Correct RCH, we scouted him and precisely that, the baggage what comes with him was a big minus. We dont want players that need managing.🙂
very droll Reggie
Sorry Sue, i do apologise.
Arsenal have only added a talented, but lightweight, attacking, midfielder, in Viera (not a position of need) and when announced, a ‘fox in the box’ type striker in Jesus, to replace both Auba and Laca. So far so good, but given as Arsenal have the rigours of Europa League football to contend with this season (unlike last year) and Spurs have added Perisic, Bissouma, Richarlison, and potentially Spence, I fail to see how that is a net ‘gain’ for Arsenal?
Therein lies the comments of someone keeping their eyes on the ball.
The plus for us, of course, is the return of Saliba.
He’s not mentioned or thought of as a new signing, but I am certain he will make one hell of a difference to our defensive play.
We really need to get Martinez signed and then, if possible, another player capable of scoring goals and rotating with Saka.. Gnarby comes to mind
This man is not good pandit , he’s speaking as a supporter not as neutral pandit. Tottenham are now very dangerous team than Arsenal but we live to see.
I asked the question the other day and got no replies. Is Richarlison and Bissouma so far better than our two main signing?
Whatever your answer both of those would have been a great fit for what we need. The season will tell us more but Spuds are not standing still.
Richarlison is not really a big deal for me – I think he’s a serviceable backup striker for them who can play on the wing, as he would have been for us. He a good player, but overall just a different option.
Bissouma is the type of player we are missing, and they were already much stronger in CM imo.
Davi, i dont know where Richarlison fits in at Spuds (He makes their squad up front unbelievable)but he most definitely would have for us, we dont have Kane and Son.
And Bissouma, perfect fit for us and for them but they got him.
And they already have hojberg, who’s very decent and would improve us
I find him a little hard to gauge I must admit, but i think there’s a good chance he just wastes away a bit at spurs, which wouldn’t mean much aside from he’s not as good as kane or son.
I think they’d both be great for us
So do i and that is my problem. Like i said the season will tell all.