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The hardest part of any transfer window, especially if you're a fiend for transfers, is watching everyone else get high off of fast moves while you sit in the car park of Colney literally begging for a hit of anything.
Manchester United seem to have taken the cuts to staff meals so far, they're able to operate like they just won the Champions League with their outlays. They've spent well in my humble opinion. Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha before the first day of summer is some movement. They've added hard work, goals, and a bit of bang BANG Arsenal lack.
You can't deny that those two wouldn't have done well at Arsenal. They fit the general profile, if a little older. They are Premier League experienced and they have a set of G&As so solid, you don't need to ask one of the stats bloggers to help you see it. The only question I had was over the attitude of Cunha. Putting someone with that sort of body language in a dressing room like Arsenal is fine… but Cunha looks like he could let the toxic fumes of Old Trafford get into his arteries.
My other question that has been nagging me is… are they getting the money for all of this party time window work because Saudi are going to put £100m their way for Bruno Fernandes? Arsenal went there last summer, why is PIF so against buying up one of our players for that sort of cash? I swear man, if our early Arteta banter team was around during the Saudi Sports Era, we'd have made a small fortune.
So, we haven't seen any official unveilings yet, but we do know a few things that I've told you before, so I'll repeat them.
Zubimendi is the best 6 in Europe and that deal has been locked for over a year, at least in terms of fee, and a principle agreement from the player.
Sesko and Gyokeres are the main interest points from a striker perspective - unless Newcastle do a madness without a Sporting Director in place. Both deals are fairly straightforward to do. This notion being peddled that Arsenal are only just investigating the structure of a deal is ridiculous. Arsenal will have been talking to clubs for months working out what needs to be done to ensure movement at exceptional speed.
Only one word of caution, don't anchor yourself too closely to any one player at this point… things change fast in football and a lot of decisions will be made in the moment, especially if new options like, say, a Raheem Sterling come available at a cut price deal.
Just kidding on Raheem, hopefully we've learned a very good lesson there… 29-year-old players that rely on pace are NOT a good bet.
Yeah, I'm watching you, Ollie Watkins lovers…
Something non-football that I am watching this off season is how the backroom team is going to be shaped. Arsenal are losing Jason Ayto and a decade's worth of institutional knowledge. Does that gap get filled by someone behind him or are we going to let Andrea Berta bring his people in and slowly populate the technical team with his people that he liked from Atletico?
I'm also interested to know whether he is a technical Sporting Director, or just a suit with a BlackBerry.
Arteta isn't very good at managing squad load. Is there a hire who can help with that?
Does Andrea Berta have any feeling for things we lack in the dressing room department that could be beneficial?
Does Arteta have some ideas about how he can upgrade behind the scenes as he seeks out some edge for the upcoming year?
Ok, I'll say it… IS SANTI JOINING AS A COACH? A move for the nostalgist pining for simpler times.
P.S. Johnny’s end of season wrap is here… ratings of the ratings type thing.