Arsenal have made six big signings during the summer transfer window and to everyone’s surprise, they have spent a staggering £156 million.
Everyone expected the Gunners to have a muted transfer window but the club have gone out and spend money like crazy. They have signed several midfielders, a goalkeeper, and two defenders.
But still, one glance at the signing and almost everyone will agree that they have spent money on all the wrong players.
Arsenal have paid £50m for Ben White, £30m for Aaron Ramsdale which is much more than they are worth. And according to Paul Merson, the North London side have chosen to take the easy way out in the market this time around.
The pundit said: “It’s not as easy as it used to be. It’s not a free ride to the top four, five or six anymore. These other teams are buying good players. You look at Aston Villa, they’ve got Danny Ings. Why haven’t Arsenal gone and bought him?
“I worry about the recruitment. I’d do a better job, I tell you now. I’m not asking a lot, I’d do it for nothing, but I’d want Tony Adams with me!
“My problem with Arsenal is that they buy players, but they never beat other clubs to a player. No one else is after that player.
“With the lad from Bologna, the first thing that comes into my head is that he’s a right-back, 23m euros, so why are Juventus, Inter Milan, AC Milan not buying him? I don’t get that.”
Merson has hit the nail in the head with his analysis but with no European football to offer, there was no way Arsenal would have been able to match clubs like Man United and Chelsea in the transfer market.
A player like Emi Buendia chose to snub them and join Aston Villa this summer.
So they had to go after players who were easily available in the market and given how their desperation to rebuild, clubs like Brighton have managed to squeeze out massively inflated transfer fees.
But having said that there’s no hiding behind the curtain for Mikel Arteta anymore since the board has backed him with proper funds and signings. Now he has to turn things around on the pitch or else he’s going to have to pack his bags soon.
