Arsenal: 3 statement transfers to prove the Kroenke’s ambition

The plethora of issues Mikel Arteta has had to deal with since he became Arsenal manager has not been restricted to the pitch. Contracting COVID-19 was the beginning of a string of difficulties. Larger ones have arisen in the shape of pay cuts, difficult contract situations and unhappy players, along with the disaster of the creation of the Super League and the subsequent pushback and protest from fans.

The tenuous and fractured relationship between the fans and the owners deteriorated even more with scrutiny on not just the manager but also other executives, like Edu. Arteta has repeatedly mentioned the support of the Kroenke ownership and the constant communication with them, ensuring that they are on the same page. Yet the fruits of these labors have yet to be seen.

The only first team signing this summer has been Ben White. While there are still a few weeks before the end of the window, the owners have a mountain of work to do to regain what scraps of trust their were before the Super League fiasco.

Nothing serves as a more of a distraction from off-field issues, however, than on-field success. In an upcoming campaign that will be crucial in defining the path that Arsenal will follow in the coming years. Arteta has his work cut out for him.

Arsenal: 3 statement transfers to prove the Kroenke’s ambition and give supporters genuine reason to be excited this summer window

Should his comments about the backing of KSE have any truth to them, it has to be seen this window. The purse strings must be loosened to ensure that Arsenal stop sliding down the table before they can eventually begin to climb up.

It is high time for the club to prove that they are serious about changing the fortunes of the club. Here are three crucial statement signings the Kroenke’s could make in order to show their ambition.

3. Bernardo Silva

Seeing Arsenal’s painfully slow build-up play combined with endless sideways and backwards passing, particularly during the first half of last season, would have had countless Arsenal fans turning off their TV in anger.

Generations of new supporters have grown up accustomed to Arsene Wenger’s style of play: small, quick technical players who shift the ball at breakneck speed. Left to right and, most importantly, forward, the ball moved, keeping up the intensity but also having supporters glued to their screens, watching beautiful, pure football being played. Entertainment.

Part of the loss of this “Arsenal DNA” has to do with those donning the kit. The likes of Hector Bellerin, Mohamed Elneny and Rob Holding are not the most adventurous or comfortable on the ball, to say the least. It is clear that these players will have reduced roles in the coming season. The right signing in the top half of the pitch is even more important.

A number of names have surfaced in transfer rumors: Houssem Aouar, Manuel Locatelli and James Maddison have all made the rounds. The latter has particularly grabbed the headlines of late and one that has by contrast slipped under the radar is Bernardo Silva. The Telegraph has reported that Manchester City will be looking to move on the midfielder for around €60m. Arsenal are said to be keen.

This fee will price out most clubs. Should Arsenal find the funds, however, this is one of many signings they should certainly be looking to make. Still only 26, Bernardo Silva has showcased his ability time and time again in the Premier League. A left-footed technical genius, he would prove to be a perfect foil to Emile Smith Rowe.

Whereas Smith Rowe makes intelligent and incisive runs to create space, Silva is more of a pass-centric player, receiving the ball in tight spaces and making divine out to in runs before moving it on quickly. Add to that his versatility in playing on the wing, in a midfield three or in the hole behind the striker and you have a wonderful player, proven at the highest level of English football, trained by arguably the best manager of all time who is still in his prime.

This signing would require the Kroenke’s to open their wallets but Silva would be worth every penny.