Sky Sports transfer expert Dharmesh Sheth has said on the Transfer Talk podcast that he believes Arsenal’s active transfer window is down to the trust in their ‘long-term project’ of Mikel Arteta.
The Gunners have already added Porto playmaker Fabio Vieira to their squad ahead of next season for £34m and the arrival of Manchester City striker Gabriel Jesus for a further £45m looks imminent.
Meanwhile, journalist Graeme Bailey believes that Edu and company will return to sign Leicester City maestro Youri Tielemans despite interest cooling (Talking Transfers, 38:37) and they were attempting to land Raphinha from Leeds United although the Brazilian now seems set for a move to west London with Chelsea.
Nonetheless, it doesn’t seem as if Arsenal’s window is anywhere but done with American goalkeeper Matt Turner and Brazilian starlet Marquinhos also joining and Sheth believes that the marquee arrival of Jesus epitomises how highly the club hierarchy rate their Spanish coach.
Should Arsenal be making top four this season?
Yes
No
(17:13)”If you look at what Arsenal are trying to do he feels Jesus will fit his formation and the way they want to play perfectly so this will be a really good signing for Arsenal and it highlights once again how much Mikel Arteta is being backed.
“He is the long-term project at Arsenal is Mikel Arteta. They were in for Raphinha, looks like he might be going to Chelsea but it just highlights the ambition of Arsenal.
“Make no mistake about it, Arsenal are going for it and they believe Arteta is the man to take them forward.”
TIF Thoughts on Arsenal…
There is no question the north London outfit aren’t holding back having just missed out on Champions League football last season.
They spent a club-record £142m in one window last summer as Arteta looked to put his stamp in the team and bolster his squad but the arrival of Jesus feels like a totally different proposition due to his pedigree.
The 95-goal City ace could be the making of this side but with heavy investment over the past couple of seasons and if Arteta can’t match that ambition then it could also be the breaking.