Chris Sutton has claimed in his column for the Daily Mail that he would not blame Arsenal supporters for feeling underwhelmed with their club’s transfer activity over the summer.
The Gunners ended the window making six signings, and offloaded a raft of players on loan, letting their contracts expire or after accepting modest sums. Mikel Arteta and Technical Director Edu’s deals also saw the north Londoners top the Premier League’s spending list.
For the near £155m spent, Arsenal have strengthened their backline with Aaron Ramsdale, Nuno Tavares, Ben White and Takehiro Tomiyasu. They re-signed former loan star Martin Odegaard permanently from Real Madrid, plus Albert Sambi Lokonga in the engine room.
But Sutton believes Arsenal still lack a game-changing addition amid their transfer success. Adding some nice names who will give Arteta options, but not a finished product who will make an instant impact. One who will make a sizable change to a side who finished eighth.
“I wouldn’t blame you [Arsenal fans] for being pretty underwhelmed,” Sutton said. “You’ve ended up as the top spenders in England, I make it just over £150m.
“They’re all decent players, don’t get me wrong. Tomiyasu, who joined on Deadline Day, is a nice signing. He’s only 22 and he can play at centre-back, right-back or right wing-back, so he gives you options.
“But that list of names doesn’t give me that oomph — that sense that this is a game-changer. None of them are the finished product. Not even White who, at £50m, is a very big investment.”
Arsenal stick to transfer plan, despite Sutton pessimism
Arsenal stuck to a clear plan in the transfer market as Arteta and Edu sought to bring youth to the Emirates Stadium, despite Sutton’s pessimism with the lack of a game-changing deal.
It remains to be seen if the Gunners were right to focus on younger names, not necessarily unproven up-and-comers. Or if Sutton was right, and that Arsenal needed to make a move in the transfer market for a game-changer.
Although, those who can have that scale of impact may not have been too eager to jump onboard Arteta’s ship. Especially given Arsenal ended last season just eighth in the Premier League and failed to qualify for Europe. Thus slipping further away from title contention.
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