01 Sep 2021 11:40:21
So another transfer season has come to an end. Firstly thanks to all the Ed's for all their continued hard work and patience!

Second, and I don't want to come across negative as I think some of our signings will work out well, but ultimately we've just spent around 147 million, and yet we have no star player, or anyone who I see making an immediate impact, in fact anyone who would stop us from getting relegated, let alone back in the top 4.

Am I seeing this wrong? For me, if I was given 147 million, I would have signed Lukaku and Bissouma, and the left back we did sign if there was any spare change. Yes I know Lukaku would never come to Arsenal, but you get my point.

Two established players who would be straight in the first XI, not the squad, and who I think would make the difference to push us back up towards the top 4.

{Ed014's Note - there’s always a ton of ifs what’s and maybes I guess but in Aubamayang we should have our star player.

He wasn’t going anywhere so Arteta has to ensure he gets the best from him.

We have still to see the best of Pepe and for me Lacazette.

Bissouma would have been the one and maybe that’s where the White money should have gone but White is only 23 and has improved each year so let’s not be to quick to knock him until we see him with say Gabriel.

The thought of Lokonga and Partey actually excites me and hoping they hit it off.

My only concern is Arteta getting it all together straight after the international break.

He needs to settle on a team, say Ramsdale, Tommy, White, Gabriel, Tierney, Lokonga, Partey, Saka, Odegaard, ESR and Auba and go with it for a run of at least 5 games.

1.) 01 Sep 2021
01 Sep 2021 12:25:48
Yeah mad we were the biggest spenders and yet have we really improved the first 11 to take up a level, time will tell I suppose. I am staying positive that Odegaard will come good and Lokonga looks to have talent so we have improved the midfield area a little. I was not too concerned with Willock leaving think he was only ever going to be a fringe player for us. Keeping Party fit though is key to give a solid base from which to attack.

Defence is still a concern especially the RB position This Japanese player is a complete unknown and no idea if will fit in seem a bit of a last day panic job to me to replace Bellerin with anyone. Why did we not try for Trippier with a swap with Bellerin + Cash I would have be far more comfy with that. I get we were properly not a first choice over Utd. but he wanted to come back to England. White is a football playing defender good on the deck but don't think he is the type that will ever really command the box in the air for set pieces and that is a still a big weakness for us. Physically we are still liable to be builled at the back. Ramsdale maybe our future long term number 1 but we had a keeper that did command the box a lot better than Leno in Martinez but let him go, crazy move that. Just seems we have wasted a lot of money right at this moment on future potential.

Attack still has plenty of goals in it with the right service but we have to get PEA confident and firing again and play quicker on the counter. We not going to attract the really big names no more up front but do think someone like Ings would have been a decent shout. We really do miss Giroud as he offered a different option and that the type we really need to make the most of crosses that Tierney in particular sends in that gets wasted.

2.) 01 Sep 2021
01 Sep 2021 13:03:33
To add if we keep our senior players in particular PEA, Partey and Odegaard fit and Arteta can get them confident and motivated consistently I think we can still get into the Europa places 6th for me is our best effort. (Piping one of Leicester or Spurs most likely although West Ham and Everton in the mix also) That would be a big achievement this season and one we would all bite your hands off for right now.

3.) 01 Sep 2021
01 Sep 2021 13:38:24
You are right - to get just 20m for Emi who plays from back well and owns his 6 yard box to spend more on the lesser replacement plus have Leno is just poor.

I think the key is - can Arteta decide on his best 11, can he play to our strengths and get the best out of PEA. Big IFs but hopefully he does it.

Completely agree that there are some exciting players in the squad and potentially some great partnerships but not sure we have really improved the squad despite the huge investment.

4.) 01 Sep 2021
01 Sep 2021 15:22:06
I agree with SY4 that losing Martinez was just bad business, a move that all of us condemned at the time: Leno has never convinced.

The club is fielding a lot of criticism for loaning without obligations to buy, but it was clearly a very difficult market. If these players are as good as they think they are, maybe they'll impress and we'll finally move them out next year.

Ed, do either of Mavropanos and Guendozi have options to buy for Stuttgart and Marseille?

{Ed002's Note - Mavropanos has an option and Guendozi will move unless something uplanned happens.}

5.) 01 Sep 2021
01 Sep 2021 15:00:15
I like that starting XI above from Ed014 (given the squad we now have assembled)
Frankly though, any straying eleven that doesn’t have any of Leno, Xhaka, Kolasanic or Nketiah is automatically better than one which does.

6.) 01 Sep 2021
01 Sep 2021 16:47:22
We will only know if we've improves the first 11 after we've seen them play together, I accept on paper these signings don't look exciting like Partey and Gabriel did last year or Pepe singing the season before did but as much as we were disappointed by that trio who knows we may turn out to be delighted by how the class of summer 2021 turn out! That's the thing about football, you never know anything until it actually happens, regardless of what you thought you knew before hand.

7.) 01 Sep 2021
01 Sep 2021 17:24:52
Lets trust the process and get behind the Team

Kronke and co out as soon as possible.

{Ed014's Note - without doubt we get behind the team but Arteta hasn’t given us a lot to trust to be honest.

8.) 01 Sep 2021
01 Sep 2021 17:37:27
I worry about partey watched him a lot at atletico and he was a beast… the only game I’ve seen him match that was Man U away… just hoping it’s first season blues and C.V. not helped him settle and we see the real partey when he’s back.

{Ed014's Note - think it’s safe to say we all do Wilfred