The transfer window has closed, and Andrea Berta has been hailed as something of a hero by Arsenal supporters after a record-breaking summer spend. Eight players were signed, four players’ contracts were renewed, and the club managed to find ways to move on their surplus players.
The investment, which could breach £300million with Piero Hincapie’s loan move expected to be made permanent for £45million, football.london understands, firmly puts Arsenal into the bracket of clubs that are vying for the top honours. They were already, of course, but this is a real show of ambition to back Mikel Arteta.
Berta’s work, however, does not simply conclude following the closure of the window. His attention now turns to the players he needs to continue to discuss the futures of.
He will not be alone in these endeavours and will work with an already experienced team. Tim Lewis is constantly across all the ongoings in the club, while director of football operations James King will be involved, as he was noted to have been heavily engaged with Ethan Nwaneri’s contract renewal.
James Ellis has been promoted to Edu Gaspar’s old Arsenal role of technical director. It is the first time the club has both a technical director and a sporting director at the same time after Edu was promoted from one to the other during his time at the club.
There is a broader team involved, too, but these individuals, alongside Arteta, will be critical in player retention. After Nwaneri, Leandro Trossard, Myles Lewis-Skelly and Gabriel Magalhaes, there are two main priorities.
Bukayo Saka and William Saliba have both entered the final two years of their current Arsenal deals. football.london understands the club is calm on both players’ futures, with talks set to step up following the closure of the transfer window, which took away the bulk of the club hierarchy’s attention.
The club have shown both players with their investment in the summer the ambition it has to help them win the biggest of trophies. They have also been given support in the form of Noni Madueke and Cristhian Mosquera, who will help to cover but also push the established starters to be their best and maintain their position in the team.
The burden need not be as heavy as it has been for much of their careers with the team. But they must still earn their place when returning from the current injury issues they have both suffered.
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Arsenal Manager Mikel Arteta, Bukayo Saka, Martin Odegaard and Gabriel Jesus with the Arsenal Therapy Dog Win during the Arsenal Men's team group shoot at London Colney on September 18, 2023
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