Mikel Arteta played his cards close to his chest with regards any further incomings before tonight’s 11pm transfer deadline, but didn’t categorically rule out an arrival before the window closes.
Speaking ahead of the Brighton game tomorrow, the Arsenal boss was inevitably asked about any potential deals that might go down, and said, “Let’s see. It’s always possible, and the last 24 hours in in the transfer window never rule out anything.
“You know, overall, we have tried to do all the things that we wanted. There was a lot to do, still a few hours to go and we are prepared.”
Refusing to be drawn on links with Raheem Sterling, Arteta was asked if he was comfortable with the state of the squad, and the idea that if an opportunity arises it’s something the club could consider.
“I wouldn’t use comfortable as a word in the last hours of this transfer window in this league,” he said, “but we’ve done a lot of the things that we wanted to do, and there’s still a few hours.
“And let’s see.”
Fan focus is on adding something to the forward line, and the manager was asked if it was a risk to go into the season down a player from last year once Eddie Nketiah’s move to Crystal Palace is confirmed later today.
“We know about the depth of the squad and it’s something that we cannot change dramatically in one or two seasons,” he said.
“It’s something that we are constantly trying to build, build the numbers, being the robustness of the squad as well, which is something critical. On top of that, to bring more quality, and we are trying to bring some quality as well from our academy that looks like it is happening, and that’s going to be very, very helpful.
“Then trust the players that we have and and do the maximum that we can with the squad.”
So, while nobody’s gonna hold their breath, let’s see and remember you can follow all the latest on the Transfer Deadline Day Live Blog.
I’m a little surprised if I’m honest.
The last three summer windows have been meticulously planned and executed. We had first choice, second and third and went through them until we found our solution.
This all feels a bit haphazard. I know it’s been a funny market but we clearly haven’t had a clear plan for who our attacking target is.
Unless… Arteta is playing unbelievable 4D chess and always wanted Sterling but is just playing it totally cool so we get a panic deal from Chelsea.
I wouldn’t put it past him…
I’m 99% sure Arsenal have a plan or half of a plan at least.
I fear they are going to do Kalstrom, Park Chu Yong deals.
99% sure that plan doesn’t include a top striker.
I don’t think a striker is the priority. We need Saka cover. Tross, Havertz and Jesus are decent striker options. Nelson and untested teenagers are not decent winger options.
I disagree – I think our first choice target was always Nico Williams, but we couldn’t convince him to move. After that, they likely had a few back up options, but also wanted to see what the market presented (like Sterling and Coman).
I feel like we knew Nico favoured Barca about two months ago. And Arteta always said that no player should need too much convincing.
Waiting to see what the market presents is a fine enough tactic. But it’s not a plan. And when there’s 8 hours to go before the deadline it does start to feel less opportunistic and more blindly grabbing from the bargain bin.
Maybe Edu and Arteta have just been totally taken by surprise by their own selling capacity and expected at least to not be able to sell one of ESR and Eddie based on our selling history…
The market has been very confusing tbh and dominated by sketchy deals involving fraudulent clubs (I don’t need to name names). Merino and Califiori are good (planned) signings but how can there not be a single attacker of note, either on loan or otherwise, who can give us options this year? It really smacks of poor planning which is unlike Edu. I mean…how are Oisheim and Toney ending up in Saudi? Why has there been no movement for Rafinha (and others) knowing Barca are desperate for cash? What happened to the Kiwior interest? We have 25 odd games (maybe more)… Read more »
What club is giving away a CF or forward good enough to make the difference for us? Possibly only Sterling from Chelsea is genuinely achievable but then again we don’t know what CFC want or the player in terms of wages.
Our first choice was Benjamin Sesko, and I’m sure we inquired about Williams as well. Maybe we were a bit lucky with our back up options in previous windows? Trossard and Jorginho were great value opportunities but we probably can’t rely on finding a steal like that every window.
Exactly!
Everyone expects us to just wave a magic wand and get another striker if we missed out on our target.
Sesko was Arsenal’s striker target but we couldn’t bring him in this window (maybe next summer) and everyone expects us to suddenly pivot to Osimhen or Toney, two players full of character issues.
I have always knew that Osimeh isn’t an Arsenal player. A quality player but a player with a bag full of bad attitudes.
Trust the process.
I get your point but the 2 positions are the problem I think.
1. Finding a No2 GK you trust that is “happy” to be second choice is very very difficult.
2. Finding a striker you know is better than what we have is difficult and even average CFs are very expensive. I mean Solanke is good but is he 60million good if 60mill is all you have?
I’m surprised (and disappointed) we didn’t push harder for a Raphinha/Sane type player to play across the front line. Not bothered about CF.
Panic deal is exactly what it is. Sterling burnt his bridges by publicly saying he wants out. Chelsea HAVE TO offload him now. I’m sure he had a secret call Mikel first. Trust the process!
Arteta always spoke highly of the City players he worked with. He brought in Jesus and Zinny as soon as he could. He wanted Leroy Sane, wouldn’t be surprised one bit if he goes for Sterling, wage demands permitting. Tactically Sterling fits in many attacking slots upfront for us and he performed wonders for Pep. He’s got a couple years of top football left in him at least.
This is some serious cope.
If somebody told you at the start of the window we would let ESR, Eddie, Vieira go and bring in Sterling, what would you have said? The attacking areas have been neglected ever since Arteta came in.
What do you even mean? ESR, Eddie and Vieira have already gone. So would I be happy to reinforce with Sterling rather than no one? Yes. Would I want Sterling in our squad in place of Eddie? Also yes.
Yeah. City have a habit of selling useful players. Zinny and Jesus have worked out so so well.
Signing Sterling is simply a favor to Chelsea. They made their bed (people were asking why they paid stupid money for him in the first place when he signed) and they can lie in it.
It sounds like it only happens if Chelsea agree to buyout his contract, so in that case it doesn’t seem like we’re doing them much of a favour. Alternatively, offer a season long loan and offer to pay 1/3 of his salary. Otherwise they can sell him to Strasbourg…
If CFC terminates his contract and pays him off his remaining contract money, he becomes a free agent.
Do we still need to pay him if he chooses to play for us for a year after receiving his remaining contract money from CFC. lol
It might be a favor for Chelsea, but I only care what’s best for us, not that lot. We are short in attack, and Sterling is a bonafide proven winger in the PL that we can get for a meager transfer fee. I still remember watching that City team, thinking surely Sterling is one of the best players in the world, just a cut below Messi and Ronaldo. If he can perform 50% of that then Chelsea will be doing us a favor with their mismanagement.
Just no thanks to Raheem 350k a week disruption everywhere he plays sterling, don’t care how good he was in the past or how it could “make sense” it’s just willian 2
I totally agree with you, with wages he will bring instability in the dressing room. With this squad no need for that.
What disruption is this then? Always appeared a model professional from what I’ve seen. Unless you’re including the media’s dislike of his tattoo choices, which we all know has fuck all to do with anything.
I remember the abuse he got from the press when he started at Liverpool that was all motivated by racism.
Arteta and Edu are not going to sign players just for the sake of making a signing. Those days are behind us. They’ve done a tremendous job being ruthless in trimming our squad. I’m okay if they don’t bring in an attacker unless the right player is available because that will challenge our current squad to step up and push beyond their limits. That’s the only way to achieve greatness—by being consistently at the top every single day. Edu and Arteta know they need to be more patient and strategic in the market. The pool of players who can truly… Read more »