Arsenal’s vital summer transfer window balance

Leadership Demands Thought by Arteta at Arsenal

Tierney has just signed a new contract at Arsenal and it’s universally agreed that once Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang departs, he will assume the armband.

Being here for only two years and struggling to settle in during an injury-ravaged first season in north London, to be in a position where already he is adored by the fans and those within the club that the captaincy conversation is being discussed proves that leaders can be made, as well as purchased.

Having no spine, no commanders, in the team has long been a stinging criticism of Arsenal. From the successful Premier League side of years gone by, the current crop trail in their shadows.

Granit Xhaka, Bernd Leno, David Luiz and Hector Bellerin were all considered as part of last season’s focal leaders. All four of them may well not be here come pre-season.

With Rob Holding, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Calum Chambers, Tierney and potentially Pablo Mari among the new ‘leadership group’, it represents a total shift from the former troupe.

While there is no ‘ruling party’ at Arsenal, those who replace the departed need to be scouted with a view to how they can embed.

And this is what is crucial about this rebuild: it has to be done periodically. Suddenly gutting the whole squad and replacing them with fresh faces will not have the immediate impact Arteta sorely desires beyond just a footballing level.

Nobody is shying away from the seismic task at hand but beyond it being infeasible to get everything done in 12 weeks, it’s also unadvisable.

To ensure this transition is as smooth as can be, tackling it in installments after the first big down payment is the only way to allow the culture to settle and the adequate time for the players to immerse themselves into the club, their surroundings and the manager’s ideas.

It is, in other words, a daunting proposition. One that has to be confronted conscientiously.