With the season effectively at its conclusion for Arsenal, despite the need still to officially confirm Champions League qualification for next season, the focus should be on transfers and the summer plans. For the club it is the biggest window in its history if it hopes to build on the last five-plus seasons and end their worryingly long trophy drought.
When the club surprised everyone two years ago and began a season that would exceed expectations of Champions League qualification and instead see the club enter what is now considered the minimum expectation, a title race, they used this momentum to go big in the window. More than £200million was spent on Declan Rice (a record deal at £105milllion), Jurrien Timber and Kai Havertz with David Raya also coming in on loan with a view to a permanent deal.
This was the complete antithesis to the summer that would come the year after. While Rice, Havertz, Timber and Raya all start for Arsenal in their best XI, none of Neto, Raheem Sterling, Riccardo Calafiori or Mikel Merino do.
The latter pair certainly have an important role in the team and Calafiori has been particularly unlucky with injuries, they provide some key depth. Yet having come just two points from pipping Manchester City to the title the club effectively stood still.
The January transfer window was unacceptable in its emptiness. It leaves the upcoming transfer window in a state of pure anticipation and expectation from supporters who rightfully know what is needed.
Finishing has been a crux of the campaign and in previous seasons too. While the goal tallies have been impressive, even record-breaking, there is a real feeling that the key to unlocking that last step to silverware comes in the form of striker.
Securing that centre-forward this summer and potentially a wide forward too would be such a lift to the fans and indeed the players. Both Declan Rice and Martin Odegaard spoke of their hopes of signings in January so it is not a wild extrapolation to suggest both and more will be wanting to see further quality come in.
A Rice-like deal for Arsenal and Mikel Arteta in the summer but for the forward line would have off-field implications too. It sends a clear message to their rivals of where the Gunners stand, this is not the end of the project but yet another sign of what they are aiming for.
For players like William Saliba too who have contract renewal talks to have, it shows them the ambition of the club, reaffirming that they are in the right place. Transfers of stature can do that.
The word rebuild has been thrown around a lot in the lead up to this summer. This is wrong and not the word, this is a summer to upgrade.
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