Football correspondent Charles Watts has claimed that Arsenal will complete a ‘remarkable’ transfer rebuild this summer as the transformation of the team under Mikel Arteta nears its conclusion.
Over the past few transfer markets, the Gunners have seen a high amount of players coming and going amongst their ranks. Indeed, summer moves for the likes of Ben White, Aaron Ramsdale and Takehiro Tomiyasu has given the club a new-look backline. Meanwhile, senior stars such as Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Willian, Calum Chambers, Sead Kolasinac and others have all been pushed out the door.
With so much turnover, Watts has claimed that Arteta’s rebuild is nearly completed and should actually be finished by the start of next season.
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Speaking on his YouTube channel, he outlined what positions the club need to reinforce, saying: “I don’t think it takes a genius to work out exactly what Arsenal are going to be doing when it comes to the summer transfer window.
“At least a couple of forwards coming in, a central midfielder and a young right-back to compete with Tomiyasu.”
He then concluded: “You kind of look at it that way, and the squad rebuild – it’s going to be pretty much complete after this summer.
“It’s been a long time coming, lots of players going out, and a fair few still to go out this summer when you look at Lacazette, Elneny, Nketiah, and then the players coming in.
“And that pretty much will complete the job in what will have been a pretty remarkable amount of time, two and a half years.”
TIF Thoughts on the Arsenal rebuild…
It does seem as though the Arteta project is finally starting to take shape in north London. Indeed, his men have now got Arsenal back challenging for a Champions League place, as they currently sit four points off Manchester United in fourth, but have three games in hand on the Red Devils.
As alluded to above, the likes of Alexandre Lacazette, Mohamed Elneny, and Eddie Nketiah will all be out of contract in the summer, meaning even more departures at the club.
If Arteta and Edu can get their recruitment correct, though, things could be looking up for the Gunners in the next few years. A few expensive flops, however, and they could be back to worrying contractual situations of the past – as seen with the likes of Mesut Ozil and more recently, Aubameyang.
In other news: 10 goals this season: Arsenal sold the striker Arteta needs for £15.3 million – opinion