Arsenal: Henry Onyekuru hints at exciting and refreshing summer

Arsenal are in talks to sing Henry Onyekuru per Sky sources. Such conviction and quick action from Arsene Wenger hints at an exciting and refreshing summer ahead.

Perhaps more than any other aspect of his management, Arsene Wenger has been critiqued for his hesitancy in the transfer window. His unwillingness to be aggressive in his pursuit of new recruits has cost Arsenal the chance to sign players who would undoubtedly improve the quality of the squad.

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That is why recent change is so welcome. Just in the last week, Sky Sports have reported that the Gunners are set to sign Sead Kolasinac when his contract expires on July 1st and are now attempting to sign Herny Onyekuru. Whether both deals are completed or not remains to be seen. But one thing is for sure: Wenger is wanting to do his business quickly and early.

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This behaviour from the Frenchman has not been seen in the transfer window often before. Although he was convicted in the addition of Granit Xhaka last summer, another player of any meaning or relevance (no offence to Rob Holding who, at the time, was considered little more than a punt at a prospective young player) was not added until late in August, when a double move for Shkodran Mustafi and Lucas Perez was completed in the final week of the window.

This summer, though, Wenger is perhaps showcasing a more ruthless streak in his recruitment. And that is a sign for an exciting and refreshing transfer window ahead. It means that there is likely money to spend and that, if the right players of the necessary calibre and character become available, Wenger will be willing to invest it.

That means that it is possible that the squad, by September, could have the makeover that it has needed for some time. Perhaps the older members of the current squad could be on their way out – Nacho Monreal, Gabriel Paulista, Olivier Giroud – with a new, invigorated, passionate group of players coming in, in their place.

Wenger, for the most part, is a fairly accurate evaluator of talent. While he has signings that have not panned out as hoped, so does every manager. Signing players is far from an exact science. There are lots of moving parts that must all run smoothly for it to be a process that produces a successful end.

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But it does offer hope and improvements that are difficult to find elsewhere, and Wenger is as good as any at finding and then incorporating new talent into his squad. Let’s hope that his willingness to act quickly does extend throughout the summer, bringing an exciting period of change and progression.