Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur have completed 11 signings between them so far this summer. And some pretty exciting ones at that.
But who is the cream of the proverbial crop? The very best of the North London newcomers? A £45 million Brazil international or one of Europe’s most complete midfielders? A Barcelona loanee or a man with four Premier League winner’s medals on his CV?
First, let’s get a couple of back-up goalkeepers out the way…
11) Matt Turner – Arsenal, £7 million
Was there a better second-choice goalkeeper in the Premier League last season than Bernd Leno? With all due respect to Turner, the USA international feels ever-so-slightly like a downgrade on the Fulham-bound German.
He certainly didn’t exactly cover himself in glory during Arsenal’s 5-3 pre-season victory over Nurnburg in July.
10) Fraser Forster – Tottenham Hotspur, free transfer
Like Turner, Forster is unlikely to play much top-flight football in 2022/23. But his proven track record in England’s first division makes the 34-year-old a solid, sensible addition to a side who have lacked a reliable back-up for Hugo Lloris for far too long.
Forster was arguably Southampton’s most consistent performer during the final few months of last term.
9) Marquinhos – Arsenal, £3 million
Arsenal fought off competition from Wolves and Atletico Madrid to sign the latest in a long line of spring-heeled wingers to emerge from Brazilian football. But, at just 19, Marquinhos may have to wait to get his chance at the Emirates. The Mirror believe he could be sent out on loan as he builds up experience this side of the Atlantic.
But then again, no one expected fellow Samba starlet Gabriel Martinelli to take the Emirates by storm. Could Marquinhos emulate his compatriot’s immediate impact in the English capital?
8) Clement Lenglet – Tottenham Hotspur, loan
You might expect to see a Barcelona-owned France international ranking higher in this list. But Lenglet arrives in North London on the back of a difficult couple of seasons at the Camp Nou. In the eyes of some Barca supporters, he became a symbol of the club’s malaise, a series of high-profile mistakes meaning he joins Tottenham with a real point to prove.
7) Djed Spence – Tottenham Hotspur, £20 million
The critics will argue that £20 million for a footballer who has never before played Premier League football represents an expensive risk. But if Spence’s rampaging performances against Arsenal, Leicester City and Liverpool in Nottingham Forest’s FA Cup run are anything to go by, the England U21 international should prove to be an immediate upgrade on the unconvincing Emerson Royal and Matt Doherty.
A perfect fit for Antonio Conte’s wing-back system.
6) Fabio Vieira – Arsenal, £34 million
Last year, Fabio Vieira followed in the footsteps of Juan Mata, Thiago Alcantara, Andrea Pirlo, Fabio Cannavaro and Luis Figo, taking home the Player of the Tournament award at the U21 European Championships.
And the £34 million playmaker feels like the epitome of a classic Arsenal player; All guile and poise, skill and style. The only question is, can Vieira force his way into Mikel Arteta’s starting XI with Martin Odegaard and Emile Smith Rowe providing competition?
5) Richarlison – Tottenham Hotspur, £60 million
The most expensive player on this list, Tottenham’s £60 million number nine was the best of a bad lot at Everton last term. In fact, without him, The Toffees would probably be playing Championship football this weekend.
But it speaks volumes about the strength of Spurs’ attack that the Brazil international may struggle to establish himself at his new surroundings. In Harry Kane, Heung-Min Son and Dejan Kulusevski, Tottenham already have arguably the division’s most potent front-line.
4) Oleksandr Zinchenko – Arsenal, £32 million
One of the most underrated footballers in Europe, Zinchenko feels like an immediate improvement on the similarly left-footed Granit Xhaka. Whether in central midfield or left-back, the classy Ukrainian will bring reliability and versatility to the Arsenal squad, not to mention four Premier League winners’ medals.
3) Ivan Perisic – Tottenham Hotspur, free transfer
Normally, the arrival of a 33-year-old free-agent would raise an eyebrow or two. But Ivan Perisic is no ordinary 33-year-old. Ageing like the finest bottle of red, the evergreen winger was arguably the most influential attacker anywhere in Serie A last term.
Did we mention Perisic was one of the stars of the show as Conte’s Inter stormed to Scudetto glory in 2021?
2) Yves Bissouma – Tottenham Hotspur, £25 million
Is there anything the masterful Malian can’t do? Whether breaking up attacks with a crunching challenge or breezing through the thirds with one of his trademark swashbuckling runs, Bissouma feels like one of the summer’s best bargain signings even at £25 million.
Tottenham could finally have the Mousa Dembele replacement they’ve craved for so long.
1) Gabriel Jesus – Arsenal, £45 million
If the Brazilian’s scintillating pre-season performances are anything to go by, Arsenal could be a fearsome proposition for Premier League defences this term. Jesus combines the work-rate of Alexandre Lacazette with the ruthlessness of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, and already seems to have struck up an understanding with Arsenal’s array of defence-splitting playmakers.
An outside bet for the Golden Boot, perhaps?
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