In three of the four summer transfer windows since Mikel Arteta was appointed as Arsenal manager, more than £100million has been spent. In the other, Arsenal splashed out with £50million on Thomas Partey and £25million to buy Gabriel Magalhaes, two statement deals.
The focus has changed since, moving first towards even younger players to energise the squad. Last summer it shifted again to filling gaps with Mikel Merino arriving and David Raya’s loan made permanent.
The spending has been justified. Arsenal are set for a third consecutive second-place finish in the Premier League and will almost certainly be playing in the Champions League once more next season. They went further in the Carabao Cup than in previous years and the European adventure has not yet finished either.
Arteta’s squad has been transformed. From a rag-tag, disorganised bunch with senior players being far too powerful and not warranting their fees or wages, to a hungry group now attempting to take the final step in winning major silverware, Arsenal are among the elite in every sense.
