Unai Emery says he’s not shut the door on recruiting further players this summer but admits after five incoming transfers his main focus in the short-term is trimming the squad.
Our new signings, coupled with those returning from loan moves, have swelled the first team squad to 31 and that doesn’t even count promising youngsters Eddie Nketiah, Reiss Nelson, Joe Willock or Takuma Asano who has already joined Hannover for the year.
While the new boss has been keen to cast an eye on all his options, it’s fair to assume that Chuba Akpom, Lucas Perez, Joel Campbell, The Jeff, Carl Jenkinson and one of our four keepers will be moved on before the transfer window closes (twice) in August.
Asked about his transfer policy for the rest of the summer, Emery said he’s very pleased with the players sent his way by Sven Mislintat and Raul Sanllehi.
“Normally, in my career the big clubs don’t close the [door] or the moment to sign a new player,” he told media ahead of Saturday’s pre-season friendly with Boreham Wood.
“Today, we are OK. Maybe we can bring in one if there’s a very good possibility for them to help us, but the club has done a great job of signing new players and I am happy.
He added: “We signed the players who we needed and only if one player is a big opportunity for us will we sign them.
“Normally, we are thinking about the young players, the possibility of them staying with us or going to play on loan at another team.
“We are also thinking about the players who were with us last year and whether we need them to stay with us.
“At the moment, I think the squad is complete. We will only sign another player if there is an opportunity to bring in that one player, or two players. We will only sign a player in the next month if he’s a big opportunity.”
He was also specifically asked about links with Steven N’Zonzi, a player with whom he worked at Sevilla and one that’s been tipped to move to the Emirates.
“I know him but we haven’t made a move for him,” replied Emery.
Given we’ve committed £72 million to four transfers this summer (and snapped up Stephan Lichtsteiner on a free), it’s fair to expect an attempt at balancing the books in the coming weeks.
The budget was initially leaked as £50 million. Can we get £20 million for our fringe players? It shouldn’t be impossible. It’s also worth bearing in mind that we’ve got to keep some powder dry for a substantial increase in Aaron Ramsey’s pay, assuming contract talks go well.
wouldn’t have minded seeing a winger come in, but we already are going to have a lot of trouble fitting in all of our big name players (great problem to have) so not surprised. pretty good summer IMO as we added some defensive depth via players who know how to defend, a promising keeper, a DM who looked pretty solid at the world cup and a good prospect.
like u mentioned i would have loved to see a winger come in , someone to change the course at the end of the game at the end of the game like ox used to do it at his last season. i also would have loved if a centre back(soyuncu looked like a beast) and a midfielder come in. in both positions we have numbers but i’m not sure we have enough quality . but as it stands mightly impressed by the transfers , and the way we kept it under budget particularly when both ozil, auba and mkhi put… Read more »
Having big name players is not a reason to abandon the entire role.
Number of wingers at Arsenal = 0 .
Does this make any sense?
nelson 🙂
We’re certainly not desperate for numbers, but adding a significant upgrade in any position would be welcome.
Hopefully we can clear the decks quickly
He’s got his head screwed on….I’m really liking our new boss.
Chelsea and Spudz can be overtaken this season.
Liverpool too, they’ll be very lucky to replicate last year with their energy levels and I expect their attack to have been worked out a bit by some managers.
If de Gea’s form dips, Utd will be vulnerable too.
I understand the positivity, but I’d rather not expect much this season and just enjoy it.
Took both Klopp and Poch at least a season to embed their new pressing style. I fear guys are letting their positivity run away with itself now.
You mention “if De Gea’s form dips” as if the same can’t happen to Ozil, or that United and the others won’t strengthen.
Agree that Emery needs a full season! The optimism around the club is amazing right now. But some of it is allowing people to indulge narratives that don’t make sense. All our rivals are further along with their respective projects except Chelsea. Even Chelsea, who people keep saying are in “disarray”, have the bulk of a title-winning squad and are about to bring in Sarri, the most stylish offensive coach in European football. Even the idea that our pre-season will give us a huge advantage in the first couple of games is a bit far-fetched. Fatigue won’t really be a… Read more »
Reminds me of arsene’s exceptional talent comments. ?
Top top quality
Triple. Top Top Top quality!
Lucas Perez will stay. Great player. Dybala Ozil Micki will be frightening
But, we aren’t going to sign Dybala are we?
Perez is a decent option for Carling cup and off the bench. But ideally, we would let him go and sign a younger player with a higher potential
We already have Nketiah.
Carling Cup, haven’t heard that in a while.
I don’t think we spent actually 72m. We’ve made arrangements to pay in installments like Torreira (clause was 25 but paid 30 to facilitate the 3 yearly installments of 10m)
Well, on the first point Arseblog is pretty careful – the article doesn’t say we’ve paid out 72m. It says we’ve “committed” that amount to the transfers we’ve made so far.
On the second point, the club hasn’t told us the Torreira payments have been split into 3 payments. I might be wrong but neither has Ornstein or the more reliable people at the Guardian or Telegraph. Don’t mean to have a go at anyone but there’s isn’t enough evidence to state that as a fact.
Everything is undisclosed, we’ll probably only find out when the selling clubs publish their accounts
Dybala incoming…
Wanna bet the house on it?
Where do you get this nonsense?
I was hoping the 50 million figure bandied about was simply a negotiating tactic for us to cry poor to ensure that clubs wouldn’t have us over a barrel when purchasing players.
It may still be, as might this statement. It could be the old ‘We’re not really looking, but I suppose we might be open to the right opportunity’ bit. Who knows?
But I’m keeping in mind this IS still the Arsenal.
We’ve brought in a lot of needed renovation, but not ‘stars’ (yet in a couple cases perhaps). If they’re up to the level and we don’t lose any big players,
…then the next widow or two could be really interesting from the ‘star’ standpoint.
Would be nice to see a great marque talent arrive. That would certainly give everyone a boost and increase our chances of top 4.
I think we have improved our team so far but we are one star away from being a genuine threat in the league. That player should be a wide forward who can score and create.
If we sell, Perez, Campbell, Welbeck then that might clear enough wages and space in the team for that kind of player.
I fear for Welbeck. The fact he didn’t play in meaningful games at WC even after three substitutions wouldn’t help him at all. Instead of being at the training ground from day one and trying to impress the new boss, he will come back after Emery has played a team for three games. Same for Iwobi. Nigeria wasn’t even starting him or giving him decent game time.
He didn’t get games for England because he’s not very good…
Welbeck is a decent squad option, I like him and he works hard. He has certianly been unlucky with injuries over the years but I think he simply does not have the talent to be the player we need in that position.
Disappointed the Jeff hasn’t kicked on. I know he had some mystery disciplinary issue, but when he was featuring in the Carabao Cup I thought he looked the most promising of the midfielders. AMN has clearly earned his rotation spot with hard work and presumably no off field issues, but the Jeff looks like a classy and composed player. Here’s hoping if he does go out on loan he can impress and maybe break in next year.
Not quite sure why Blogs keep listing him as one of the players likely off. Outside of his contract being a year left (general Arsenal theme), there’s almost this “out of sight, out of mind” situation with him. The kid had a successful loan last season (one of few, and arguably the best loan) for a Ligue 1 side, which is PL comparable. Also, in a squad that’s lost Jack, Sanchez, Santi, Ox and Gnabry, he’s one of 3 players in our squad that actually dribble (some weekends on his loan, he actually had the highest success rate for dribbling… Read more »
I agree, he offers something different. He can beat a man on occasion and has that calm demeanor which you can’t really teach. I know we saw very little of him, but he clearly had a certain “je ne sais quoi” about him. And like you said his loan at Angers was by all accounts a great success. Hopefully he stays around this season and can make an impact.
I think we are accepting this 50 million budget thing a little too easily for my liking. The budget for a club of Arsenal’s size should be much higher, considering the huge TV deals, match day, revenue, various sponsorship deals. I am definitely pleased with the business we’ve done so far. Fans often talk about the business done in the January window as the reason for restricted spending this summer which I simply don’t understand. Given the fact that we let go of players like Sanchez, Coquelin, Giroud, Walcott, Ox and Mertesacker, Cazorla, and Wilshere this summer. We should be… Read more »
Seems that it’s because Arsenal is run like a business, not at all the same way a lot of these other clubs are run where spending is endless because of sugar-daddy owners.
I think it’s also likely due to us no longer being a top destination for players. If you notice we aren’t really being linked with players that the top clubs are going for. We definitely are a second tier destination for now. If we get back into the CL then that will help attract players. As we currently sit, Arsenal simply is not as attractive of destination for a player as Liverpool, City, etc.
Like Jean Michael Seri? Who chose to go to Fulham…apparently Chelsea and Barcelona were also interested. Or Ronaldo going to Juventus.
It’s not like we are like Leicester who won the league once and will remain outside the top 4 forever. Top 4 isnt outside our reach next year. Arsenal have enough stature to interest players. But doesnt seem like we will be operating at + 50 mil bracket this window. Nabi Keita or Nabil Fekir or Thauvin or Forsberg….any of them will cost over 50.
nonsense
Auba to name but one of our recent signings, is a top player
Aubameyang is terrific but for whatever reason he appeared to have little to no interest in him. He spent the whole summer angling for a move , yet no top club went after him
Don’t forget with Jack gone we have another 100k a week for wages
this whole will go to Ramsey.
& Santi was on about 90k allegedly
As much as I loved Wenger, when he said “we’re open to quality” I heard “we’re done”
Now I get the impression we genuinely are ‘open to quality’
Probably done tbh
How can we be done? We have four goalkeepers (he wants to keep three), Ramsey’s contract issue hasn’t been finalised, and Emery hasn’t finished evaluating young or fringe players like Jenkinson, Campbell, Smith-Rowe and Reine-Adelaide?
Emery’s no fool. He’s not going into his first Premier League season with weaknesses in his squad.
Done in terms of transfers in.
Emery didn’t say what he said for no reason. One more if not two. Bet on it my friend.
Can we get £20m for Welbeck?
It would be so daft to keep him. He had a pretty good end to the season with his contributions in Europe, been part of a World Cup squad and his fitness is much more reliable. His value will never be higher.
Even if we get 12m for him that should be enough for Sven to find a gem as a replacement.
Emery might fancy Welbeck for his pressing-doggedness, not to mention his strength and speed and ability to put the ball in with an unintended limb.
Caglar soyuncu…?
For years I wanted a proper, skillful winger who can take on players for fun, but right now I’m struggling for names as much as how he would potentially slot into the team. As stated numerous times elsewhere, we already have a problem fitting all our star names onto the same pitch. If we brought in this “big opportunity” LW, it would probably mean benching Lacazette, which seems like a huge luxury for any top side in the world. I understand the season is long and there are several competitions to play in, yet the mutual understanding between Laca and… Read more »
Here’s an idea; lets not play Laca and Auba together, that would just mess the equilibrium of the formation. Since it’s almost surely will be 4-3-3.
Neither of both is suitable to play as a winger. So, for now, Auba starts.
The shortfall is a genuine wide player. I would be looking at Flaurien Thauvin. If not keeping track of Hirving Lozano. Outside choice maybe Yannick Carrasco. Otherwise we are looking at either a young solution from squad (say Nketiah or Reiss to step up) or maybe rejuvenating someone like the still very much at large but older (and less quick) Lucas Perez who may prosper under Emery. I think this will have to await what 6 or 7 wealthier teams in the CL decide upon and movement in and out of those teams. Cronaldo has moved to Juve so Real… Read more »
In terms of squad composition I see the squad revolving around 5 players up the spine. If we consider a 4-2-2-2, we have 4 groups of 2 from Cback to CM to AM and CF, plus the 2 fullbacks. At Cback we may have – Papasdoupoulous + Mustafi + Chambers + Holding +youngplayer Mavropanos (Koscielny returning from injury is bonus and may move one of the younger Cback to a loan second half of season) At CM we may have – Torreiro + Granit + Elneny + AMN +young player (the Jeff or Gouedouzi) At AM we may have –… Read more »