It feels like it's now or never for Arsenal in the Premier League this season.
Mikel Arteta has done a sensational job taking the Gunners from mid-table mediocrity to genuine challengers, but following three back-to-back second-placed finishes, he needs to get them over the line this year.
Granted, Liverpool look as strong as ever, and Manchester City can't be as bad as they were last season, but after the summer window, the Spaniard has the tools to get the job done.
Arsenal 2025 summer window (timeless)
Moreover, he already had several superstars in the squad to begin with, including one worth more than new signings Eberechi Eze and Martin Zubimendi.
Reviewing Arsenal's summer transfer window
In early April, Mikel Arteta told the press that this summer was "going to be a big one," and he was certainly right about that.
Arsenal's Bukayo Saka, Arsenal's Cristhian Mosquera, Arsenal's Martin Zubimendi, Arsenal's Noni Madueke, Arsenal's Ethan Nwaneri and Arsenal's Myles Lewis-Skelly line up
Arsenal's Bukayo Saka, Arsenal's Cristhian Mosquera, Arsenal's Martin Zubimendi, Arsenal's Noni Madueke, Arsenal's Ethan Nwaneri and Arsenal's Myles Lewis-Skelly line up
For starters, the North Londoners added some quality depth options to the side in Christian Norgaard, Cristhian Mosquera, Kepa Arrizabalaga and Noni Madueke.
However, arguably more important than that, Arteta was handed a few top-quality additions that should dramatically improve the starting lineup.
For example, Zubimendi, who cost around £51m, was one of the most highly sought-after sixes in Europe and once again showed what he can do for Spain last night with a brilliant assist.
Viktor Gyokeres was the most prolific number nine in Europe last year, with a sensational tally of 54 goals and 13 assists in 52 games, and while he wasn't great on Sunday, he's still got two goals already this season.
Finally, Eze was one of the most creative and exciting players to watch in the Premier League last season, racking up 25 goal involvements in 43 games, and while £68m is a lot of money, he could be just the player Arsenal need.
Yet, even then, he and Zubimendi are worth less than one of Arteta's best-ever signings.
The Arsenal star worth millions more than Zubimendi and Eze
Just like every other manager in the game, Arteta has made his fair share of poor signings.
However, he has also overseen plenty of fantastic ones during his time at Arsenal, and one of his very best has undoubtedly been Declan Rice.
The former West Ham United captain joined the North Londoners for a record fee, and instead of wilting under pressure, he has only improved over the last two years.
Arsenal-Declan-Rice-1
Impressively, he is still worth a king's ransom as well, with Football Transfers valuing him at a whopping €114m, which translates to approximately £99m, or £48m more than Zubimendi cost the club and £31m more than Eze.
It might sound like an absurd valuation, but the Englishman's performances over the last couple of years more than back it up.
For example, the "world-class" international, as dubbed by journalist Tom Marshall-Bailey, has made 106 appearances for the Gunners, totalling 8665 minutes.
In that time, he's scored 16 goals and provided 22 assists, which comes out to an average of a goal involvement every 2.78 games, or every 228.02 minutes.
Rice's Arsenal record
Appearances
Starts
Minutes
Goals
Assists
Goal Involvements per Match
Minutes per Goal Involvement
All Stats via Transfermarkt
That rate of return is only made more impressive by the fact that he started his career at the club playing as a six, only to move into the eight role.
In other words, his level of output is incredible for someone whose main job isn't to score or assist goals.
Ultimately, while he cost a lot of money, and the pressure on him to succeed was immense, Rice has been a runaway success at Arsenal; therefore, his valuation more than makes sense.