Arsenal take huge £89m risk after Mikel Arteta misses out on key deadline day transfer
Mikel Arteta wanted Arsenal to raise the ceiling this summer transfer window(Image: Catherine Ivill - AMA/Getty Images)
Arsenal’s chances of signing a player on deadline day continue to flitter away, with everything all a little too late. Mikel Arteta went into the window wanting his side to be improved with level-raisers from the cream of the crop, but so far, it can be said that only one such player has come in, Bruno Guimaraes.
Christos Tzolis, Ezri Konsa, Illan Meslier and Piero Hincapie all have their benefits and will be valuable this season, but none are seen as true starters… other than perhaps the Greek international who might now become a critical starting figure because the plan to sign a top wide left forward has sadly not come to pass.
Arteta was forced to bring on Eberechi Eze on the left in the last two league games, at Aston Villa it was much earlier too after Tzolis had been booked and, to be blunt, was having a bit of a nightmare performance. Thankfully, the change shifted control into Arsenal’s favour, and the 28-year-old was involved in the only goal of the game that would claim all three points for the champions.
The Malick Fofana saga, which has lasted less than 24 hours, is perhaps a great example of where the window has led the Gunners. football.london understands that Arsenal were approached about the availability of the Belgian winger, and subsequently sought out the conditions of a deal from a Lyon side in need of generating funds through late sales.
READ MORE: Follow our live updates on transfer deadline day as Arsenal explore incomings and outgoings!
Fofana is understood to have been looking at a move to a European-qualified side, and personal terms with Arsenal would not have been a problem. However, Arsenal, unconvinced on the player, were not willing to commit financially or with contract longevity to a move for Fofana, opening the door to Europa League participants Sunderland to come in and agree a £30million move, inclusive of add-ons for the 21-year-old.
Arsenal do not want to sign anyone for the sake of signing them. Even if it appears that it leaves them short with the sales of Gabriel Martinelli, £60million, Gabriel Jesus, £12.9million and Fabio Vieira, £7.7million, all set to leave the club - with the Gunners getting a combined £89m for the trio.
In addition, and perhaps more concerning, is that with no sign of a player coming in, the club have still sanctioned the temporary departure of Ethan Nwaneri. 12 months after nearly joining Borussia Dortmund permanently, he leaves for a season-long loan move to the Bundesliga, where he could play against Arsenal in the UEFA Champions League when the teams meet on November 24.
What the exit of Nwaneri highlights, however, is just how short Arsenal are of options in attack. From the side that reached the UEFA Champions League final, Tzolis has been added, while Jesus, Martinelli and Trossard have left, while Nwaneri has been allowed to leave too.
Despite wanting to become stronger, some would argue, and fairly so, the squad is weaker. After becoming champions and both Mikel Arteta and Josh Kroenke speaking so clearly about wanting to take steps forward, which seemed an impossibility two months ago, and yet it is now a reality.
Julian Alvarez had his heart set on Barcelona and Arsenal have not succeeded in convincing him otherwise.
The club have benefitted financially this summer with a record-breaking income from player sales exceeding £120million. That will be further helped by the work of former Sporting Director Edu Gaspar whose legacy of sell-on clauses in player sales like Brooke Norton Cuffy (20%) and Folarin Balogun (17.5%) is set to earn the club more than £10million combined for their respective transfers to Hull City and Everton.
But this will be little consolation when those that have left have not been replaced. Martinelli, Trossard, Nwaneri and Jesus contributed 6809 minutes last season, they have been replaced by just Tzolis.
He featured in over 4400 minutes himself for Club Brugge, and so is clearly capable of delivering twice a week over an extended period. But at the level Arsenal are operating that remains a big ask.
It would be fair to say, Arsenal, despite perhaps being shrewd not spending for the sake of it, look to be taking a risk until they get another crack at the market in January.
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