Pain in the Arsenal Podcast: Transfer window review show notes

Dynamism, pragmatism, youth, and ruthlessness. Four words which perfectly describe Arsenal’s summer transfer window priorities.

It seemed inevitable that the summer would be difficult for Arsenal following their 4-1 Europa League final defeat to Chelsea. Reports of a measly budget were circulating, unrest had returned to the fanbase and the idea of future success seemed distant. However, the club had a secret weapon up our sleeve.

Find the latest episode of the Pain in the Arsenal Podcast here — The summer transfer window review

Raul Sanllehi oversaw a massive overhaul of the squad. He was ruthless in his summer dealings and his pursuit of a more energetic, competitive, youthful, and financially viable Arsenal.

The wage bill was a noose around their neck. As James Benge remarked in a fantastic football.london piece earlier this week, it was ‘in a state of disrepair, overloaded with generously paid players whose contributions did not match their salaries.’ However, in the space of mere weeks, Sanllehi and chief negotiator Huss Fahmy, who has earned a merciless reputation, managed to bring the situation under control. As a result of their summer dealings, Arsenal have reportedly saved an ‘estimated £45million per annum.’ That is not an insignificant sum.

Furthermore, a major benefit of the trimmed first team and academy squad is that the club can progress youngsters throughout the club much more quickly, as mentioned by Jeorge Bird. Arsenal made their academy — and the young players that come from that academy — a priority this summer. Freddie Ljungberg was promoted as part of a strategy to fully develop academy products and ‘to efficiently bring them through to the first team.’

While not all of the aforementioned £45m has gone into Arsenal’s back pocket, I firmly believe that Sanllehi will look to use these funds to make two big signings in January whilst they are ahead of both Manchester United and Chelsea. The money could also be used to reward important players and young phenoms. According to James Benge, ‘(T)alks are underway over extensions for Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Alexandre Lacazette; Mattéo Guendouzi and Joe Willock are expected to follow before the end of the year.’

Nonetheless, the job is far from done. Arsenal were unable to sell error-prone defender Shkodran Mustafi, Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Mohamed Elneny will return at the end of the season, Granit Xhaka seems to be on borrowed time, and the Mesut Özil dilemma remains. Do not be surprised if they accept cut-price deals for these players next summer.

Speaking of transfer fees, Arsenal spent the best part of £150m this summer; it is the most they have ever done so in one summer window, yet they were thrifty in doing so. They had an ageing squad, so the arrivals of Gabriel Martinelli, William Saliba, Dani Ceballos, Nicolas Pépé, Kieran Tierney, and David Luiz have given the club a major facelift.

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Sir Alex Ferguson CBE once declared his belief that ‘the cycle of a successful team lasts maybe four years.’ While there will be a nucleus of players that will outlive that cycle, I completely agree with this analysis. The squad had become synonymous with mental fragility and individual mistakes. Change was necessary.

Inspiration

Inspiration for this show was not particularly difficult. The closing of the European transfer window brought another summer of madness to an end. I am guilty of spending more time than I should refreshing Twitter during the summer months, but I am glad that we can now focus on football.

I am a big fan of the transfer window. I enjoy evaluating players and squads. It was all very exotic, thrilling and mysterious when I was younger. Things are different now. The ‘system’ has become repetitive. The transfer window has become a soap opera. It lacks spontaneity. Rumours and speculation fuel exciting fantasies, yet weirdly, the transfer window has never been more mundane.

Nonetheless, when you review Arsenal’s summer activity, it is clear that Raul Sanllehi has completed rejuvenated the club. It took some time for him to establish himself, but he has provided us with a glimpse of what the future of the club will look like.

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This ruthlessness has been needed for some time. We may not reap the rewards immediately, but we are in a much better position because of Raul Sanllehi’s summer dealings. So long as he remains in London, I am confident that Arsenal will return to prominence.