Oh, how I hate the transfer window.
I know most supporters love this time of year, where they get some shiny new toys to enjoy. But it’s been proven in recent years that our shiny new toys seem to mostly come from the rubbish section.
Since Arsene Wenger left we have made very few proper transfers and it seems like the scouts have gone cockeyed.
18/19 Season
Lucas Torreira – £29m
Most believed Arsenal needed a pure CDM to recover balls break up play etc, so this was a purchase I understand.
Berndt Leno – £25m
We needed competition for the aging Petr Cech and Ospina was not rated at the club, so I understand this purchase as well.
Sokratis – £16m
Why were they trying to build us into a Dortmund side? This was such a waste of money. Yes, Arsenal had been horrible defensively but why did they think he would be the solution to this problem?
Guendozi – £8m
Guess he was one for the future .
18/19 Overview: We had a new coach and he wanted to bring in players – I get it. In hindsight, all were bad purchases but I understand them all apart from Sokratis a(nyone who watches football should have known this would be £16m wasted).
19/20 Season
Nicolas Pepe – £80m
Pepe was a great player in the French league at the time we bought him. I was happy at the time that we didn’t purchase Zaha (as Sue wanted in hindsight). Now I wish we had Zaha, because buying players who are not accustomed to the Premier League has not been great for us. I think in general it was a bad transfer because during the 19/20 season Saka was emerging and I felt he had what it takes to be a great player (which was another reason I didn’t want Zaha – so that Saka would be able to receive game time).
William Saliba – £30m
One for the future.
Kieran Tierney – £27m
Money well spent.
David Luiz – £8m
As mentioned in relation to the 18/19 season, Arsenal have a soft defensive spine so we decided to get Luiz. But anyone who has watched Luiz knows he is a liability
Gabriel Martinelli – £8m
The only problem I have with this transfer is that we brought in yet another young player for the future when we already have others who have not been given a chance. As a prime example we have Nelson, who had a decent loan spell in the 18/19 season yet still we get Martinelli. He might eventually be a better player than Nelson in the long run, but Martinelli wasn’t creating too big a buzz in Brazil and even if he was we could have signed him and loaned him out and let Nelson develop with first team. Then, when the 20/21 season came around, we would have known what to do with him instead of leaving his career in limbo.
19/20 Overview: Wasted another £16m on Luiz and Mari, and if we haven’t wasted £16m on Sokratis the season before we could have gotten someone such as Tarkowski for the 19/20 campaign. Tarkowski might not have been the answer (remember when Kean went to Everton – he was horrible) so it could just be that Burnely’s defensive system is really good. Even so, I am sure everyone would rather us gamble on a Tarkowski rather than the likes of Luiz , Sokratis etc.
20/21 Season
Thomas Partey – £50m
As Torreira didn’t work out, a new manager comes in and decides Partey is the one he wants.
Gabriel – £26m
The last Lille transfer worked so well for us we decided to let them screw us for the third time. I wasn’t a fan of this transfer at all (especially after the Pepe and Gervinho experiment). Surely having gone with the likes of Sokratis previously someone at the club might have thought that £26m would be better spent on someone who already knows the league (Tarkowski).
Cedric Soares – £5m
if I remember correctly he was injured for most of his loan spell with us but we still decided to sign him.
Pablo Mari – £8m
Another never-heard – of player added to our brittle back line.
20/21 Season Overview: We wasted £39m on Gabriel, Cedric and Mari. Most would say that Gabriel was a good transfer so for those then we only wasted £13m, ask yourself who you want starting next to Holding next season: Gabriel or Saliba?
21/22 Season
So I have to watch this drama all over again. We are all saying we need to be patient with the team and the Manager yet instead of patience we want a quick fix. Rome wasn’t built in a day. What we need are smart purchases.
“Let’s buy Beundia – he’ll help PEA score goals this season.” So, weren’t the likes of Saka, ESR, Pepe doing that last season? It looks like we’re not getting Buendia, but if we had bought him it would be to rival ESR: does that mean ESR is going to be a squad player again? I know we need cover in case of injury etc, but surely someone inside the ranks can help with this. If we buy a Buendia type player for £30m then obviously they would be starting in front of ESR next season.
“Get Bissouma – he’s the best ball winner in the league.” I mean, he plays for a Brighton side who do nothing but defend so obviously he’ll win a lot of balls. Wasn’t Torreira supposed to be a great ball winner when he came to us as well?
Thus far we still haven’t even touched the main issues in the squad: a proper RB for when Bellerin is injured; and a back-up for Tierney. These I see as the actual issues to be dealt with for the 21/22 season.
Realistically, what should our goal be for next season? Win either the League Cup or the FA Cup and finish high in the league which – to be fair – should be around 5th because it won’t be easy breaking into the Top Four against City, Liverpool, United and Chelsea (who already have better sides than us and are actively looking for elite players such as Kane, Lukaku, Aubameyang, Grealish, Haaland, Mbappe etc).
But with the added advantage of no European competition our players should be able to do better than last season.
Would additions like Buendia and Bissouma get us into the Top Four? I say no, so strengthen the areas we need to strengthen and trust in the youths.
And allow me to have a peaceful transfer window
Fred
Arsenal News 24/7
arsenalarsenal.net 
Thanks Fred – a great personal perspective.
There was definitely some funny business going on with Arsenal’s transfers over the past three years, but it seems the recent boardroom changes may have finally put a stop to the worst of the madness.
In the post-Wenger years I think Tierney has been our best signing. Partey and Gabriel – the jury is still out.
Pepe – he’d be fine if he’d cost, say, £25m but he will always be saddled with that ridiculous £72m price tag.
For me (and as you suggest at the end of your Post) the most exciting prospects are among the young players, especially Saka and ESR. Let’s hope the likes of Azeez and Balogun can break through in the coming season.
1. let us play our best players in their best position
2. let us make sure the team is built around our best players namely Tierney, Saka, ESR and you may wish to add Martinelli, Holding, Partey, Pepe to the mix if you wish to do so and maybe even Auba…
3. let us make we strengthen our weak spots during the transfer window rather than amass similar players:
a. GK
b. DM
c. RB
If we get 3 solid players in these positions, we may have a chance to break into the top 4.
For the sake of total lunacy of fantasy football:
Neuer – Walker, Holding, Gabs, Tierney – Ndidi, Partey – Pepe, ESR, Saka – Martinelli
By adding Neuer, Walker and Ndidi to the team, the team looks very solid to me…
What an appalling analysis of martinelli transfer – the notion that he has restricted nelson’s development by being a far far better player!! You obviously lack real insight into determining good players. Quote – “He might actually become a better player than nelson in the future…”. Hilarious, are you serious?What have you been watching the past 3 seasons?
I can see now why your blog/articles have few readers/followers with analysis like the above!
Flashman
You’re perfectly entitled to disagree with the views expressed by the author of today’s post, but your gratuitous attacks on him and the blog do you no credit.
Your name is well chosen – perhaps you should go back to bullying the younger boys.
Can’t argue with most of those points Fred.
Focus on the youth players. We have a seriously good group coming through. Saka & ESR had good a good season. Willock clearly can score goals from midfield and AMN must be a better option than Soares?
If Xhaka goes Bissouma looks a proper defensive midfielder, but there are plenty of options out there. I don’t fancy Neves. Too expensive and small for the postion.
Buendia never made any sense to me as we’re stacked with right sided creative players. And at £30 million someone is clearly having a laugh!
And… DON’T BUY ANY MORE CHELSEA WASTERS
The press always linking the arsenal with every available player in europe
Well Fred! Where has this light been hiding?
Nothing that I haven’t heard from you, briefly, in the past, I know.
I too believe that Martinelli has shown more in his limited time at the Club than Nelson. (Perhaps Nelson has not had a fair crack of the whip, and may turn out to be another Gnabry).
I also believe that Mari is a superior centre back to Gabriel and, given a chance, will win you over.
The assessment regarding the short and then long term future surely starts with what do we need now? That’s why I wanted Buendia and still hope for Bissouma. If, as reported, Edu still believes we can get BOdegaard back then he will do. But I would like more goals from him, something, I believe, Buendia might have produced. You believe Willock can play the box to box role alongside Partey. I dont, although want to keep him as a home grown squad player. I believe we will see even more quality fro the youth – Tierney, Saka, Smith-Rowe, Martinelli AND Balogun. I think we will soon rave about Azeez and, in general, that the future’s bright.
If you want a quiet and peaceful summer, I suggest you get thoroughly engrossed in your national sport. Nothing like tea and cakes on a sleepy boundary edge.
Nice one Fred, you made some really valid points, a very enjoyable read, well done mate.
LBG we just lost to Bahamas and have been knocked out WC qualification so no peace their either
That my point LBG I believe willock willock would be a great B2B u don’t, only way to find out is actually playing him so that why I not keen on bissouma transfer since it would limit his chances to do so
We currently out of Europe so this is the best season to take the chance with the current squad and root the good players from the not so good
Do u think if we get getting bissouma we would finish higher up the table than if we play willock?
Look how important game time is to our young players
We see what willock did at Newcastle, imagine if had added those 6 goals for arsenal instead of Newcastle, know some would say Newcastle plays a different system but willock was actually good in Europa and he played CDM role under emery a few times and did a good job but was guendouzi was given most games over him
Chambers he has shown how versatile he is
AMN he has shown how versatile he is bit on his loan spell it prove he is not a CM so now we could make a definite decision with him
But mikel sees them in training every day and he knows best
OMG!! Now you wish we had Zaha, Fred?! Woah 😄
Great read, btw. Ah, the good old transfer window… where we miss out on our top targets only to be told ‘at least we tried’ 😂
Well, we’ll see if Xhaka and Bellerin depart and then head off for some bargain basement shopping – old habits die hard, hey?!
I saw we were linked with zaha again this morning lol,
Willock needs to be given a chance at AFC. He also offers options so I would keep him.
Now, as we are linked with all players, a quick point on our rivals:
– Man City pursue Kane
– Chelsea reach out to Dortmund regarding Haaland
– Man Utd in talks over Sancho
They plan in a different league than us, I suppose…
Man City with Kane would be hard to beat domestically
–> Mahrez, KANE, Foden
—> Torres, Jesus, Sterling
Chelsea would strengthen with Haaland, no doubt
–> Werner, HAALAND, Havertz
—> Ziyech, Abraham, Pulisic
Man Utd would address lack of assists from the wings with Sancho
–> Rashford, Cavani, SANCHO
—> Diallo, Martial, Greenwood
I think Chelsea will also splurge in a pure winger too and that Utd may also be interested in going for a 9 in case they sell Martial
Fred
Go man! Sure you could align yourself with West Indies cricket in general sir!
Yes Fred, I believe we can genuinely challenge for top four with Bissouma plus, next season. I believe our young players will be even more significant next season, given this years experience AND one or two diamonds added to the squad.
The Willock argument is fair enough but I want an animal alongside Partey.
Very well done on your post and answers to us poor relations!😉
West Indies haha very funny, I support arsenal and get enough heart attack from watching them might end up on a ventilator if I support WI
Personally, I would prioritise the renewal of contracts for both Emile Smith-Rowe (2 years left) & Calum Chambers (1 year left) firstly. Then, make decisions (either extend, keep for 1 more year or sell) on others who have 1 year left (lliev, Elneny, Lacazette, Nketiah) and 2 years left (Leno, Bellerín, Xhaka, Willock, Willian, Nelson, Aubameyang). The U-23 team also have players to consider for either promoting to the 1st team (likely Balogun), giving them new contracts, loaning out or selling. They also need their new U-23 team manager recruited/promoted.
These are on Edu, Garlick Arteta and Mertesacker.
Xhaka most likely joining Mourinho and Mkhy in Roma for 20 Mln EUR….
JM – Agree with you for ESR, Chambers, El Neny, Lacazette, Willock and Nelson.
My idea would be to extend ESR, Chambers, El Neny, Laca, Willock and Nelson. The rest can leave except Auba who wants to basically stay and find his way back as our star forward.
Fred
PS
We need a proper right back instead of Bellerin. A proper midfielder instead of Xhaka, and Aubang or Laca to score goals to back up Balogun.
Have a super Summer and chill man.
PPS
There are plenty of ventilators now!
PSG to land Donnarumma, Hakimi and Wijlanadum for 65 Mln EUR in transfer fees…
Foreseen starting XI:
Navas – Hakimi, Marquinhos, Kimpembe, Bernat – Wijnaldum, Verratti – Di Maria, Neymar, Mbappe – Kean
All good comments!
I agree with JM – let’s get the young stars signed up to longer contracts.
I saw a Liverpool story today suggesting they should go after Saka and Willock. Cheeky beggars.
Fred, my man, your point on Nelson is flawless. (We might disagree on Zaha, though.)
I have the impression that some/many of the club transfers are decided upon profile, price and fan pressure, completely disregarding the actual need for reinforcement for the particular position.
We became CB-hoarders, and the Willian transfer was just plain stupid. Not from hindsight. Even without knowing how the Brazilian tends to perform we just didn’t need another RW besides Pepe, Nelson and Saka (often being more efficient on the right wing). I kind of worried that we sing Manor Solomon – a fine player obviously – without selling Martinelli, Saka or Auba (obviously). To be honest I’m not a huge fan of the Arteta-Edu tandem, but I really want them to succeed. However if they sign a new winger – without reducing the actual winger count by 2 – I will start calling names that are understandably less popular on this decent blog…
And I’m not sure if we desperately need an attacking midfielder, as – unless a major injury strikes – ESR would be able to play AM on the majority of the lousy 43-45 games we are about to have next season, so it doesn’t make much sense either to buy an inferior AM or to buy a world class that could bench Smith-Rowe or exile him to the left wing practically benching Martinelli.
I think we should focus on the central/defensive midfield and sign 2 high profile player there – Camavinga, Aouar, Llorente, Zakaria – and maybe reinstate Guendouzi (possibly selling Elneny in the process). And that’s it. The rest of the transfer window should be about trimming the squad, selling players and finding quality loan opportunities. I don’t see a need for a RB (even if Bellerin leaves Chamber and Soares could cover), and the same applies to LB as Tierney has the stamina to play week in week out, but even him being unavailable we have Cedric, Xhaka and Saka to step in.
It would be a good idea to clear out at the goalkeeper department, but that shouldn’t concern Leno. I don’t know if there is any real demand for him (and I don’t trust journalists with click-bait claims), so we should focus on selling Iliev, Runarsson and a 2-4 U23 goalkeeper, but the first team stopper issue is not that pressing.
Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) Tweeted: Emile Smith-Rowe is ready to sign a new contract with Arsenal until June 2026 after negotiations started in March. Just waiting last details to be completed – then it’ll be done. ⚪️🔴 #AFC In the meantime, Willian is expected to leave Arsenal this summer as Xhaka and Guendouzi.
Fred,
Way to go man!
Thinking we need a Kante type next to Partey, and another athletic midfielder to help the attack.
Give AMN the ultimatum, play right back or bye bye, and I really like the player!
Guen, forget that guy, slow, holds the ball too long, and can’t create off the dribble, and no final through ball, bye bye..
Eleny is not even in the discussion other than a squad player at best.
Xhaka, bye bye, but only if more athletic player comes in, Tor, bye bye.
Leno, bye bye or bring in some real competition for the number 1, not Ryan who is a 2.
Holding, Chambo, Bel, Mari, Nelson, Laca or Auba, pick three, and sell the others for youth.
Need a proper youth back up to Tierney and ESR, no way they make it through the entire season playing every game.
We have enough up top to rotate, but will Mikel play the youngsters who can?
Not sure, and not sure Edu, Mikel and co. will not waste this transfer window away as usual.
How is it pool already bought for defensive cover when they are already stacked when the get Van and Gomez back???
It is because they have a damn plan. They could also sell one of Firmino, Salah, Mane, Jota or Origi and recoup their investment by buying two younger talents for their price and still have a lethal attack!
Let’s go AFC, let’s go!