Mikel Arteta and Edu Gaspar decided not to sign short-term fixes in problem areas for Arsenal due to long-term plans for the club’s transfer policies, a decision that has left fans unhappy.
According to the Athletic, the Gunners restrained themselves to plug holes in the squad with loan deals and last-minute permanent signings following departures to the likes of Ainsley Maitland-Niles and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.
Arsenal head into the second half of the Premier League with just two senior strikers in Alexandre Lacazette and Eddie Nketiah as well as four central midfielders, with fans left fuming on Monday night when no new signings were made.
Instead, this January was focused on offloading more players. Calum Chambers and Sead Kolasinac both left on permanent moves, whilst Pablo Mari was loaned out to Udinese on loan for the remainder of the season.
Indeed, the transfers have left Arsenal in a brilliant financial position for the summer, with the Gunners having their cleanest wage bill in some time which could increase even further if Lacazette and Bernd Leno depart the club.
However, the decision from Edu and Arteta to not make any signings has left supporters puzzled and fuming as to how much the duo value Arsenal’s hopes of qualifying for the top-four, with the Gunners sitting sixth in the standings and two points off Manchester United in fourth.
Edu and Arteta are taking their biggest gamble yet at Arsenal
Offloading players with no future at the club is always a good thing and something Arsenal have become quite good at in recent years since the arrivals of Edu and Arteta. However, there’s no denying that the pair are taking a huge risk in not signing anyone.
Of course, there’s always the possibility Arsenal go from now until May with zero major injuries or problems.
However, given the north London side’s record with key players going down with bumps and bruises around this time of year, Edu and Arteta will be praying for the best in the coming months.
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