Arsenal: 3 talking points from transfer deadline day

2. Transfer Direction Becomes Clear

For much of Arsenal’s last few years, it felt like the club was purchasing players just for the sake of it, with an eye on immediate, short-term gain. However, now, it finally appears that we have an idea of exactly what Arteta and Arsenal are trying to do.

All signings in Albert Lokonga, Ben White, Aaron Ramsdale, Martin Odegaard, Nuno Tavares, and Takehiro Tomiyasu are 23 years old or under. That tells us that Arteta is looking for younger players who are hungry to learn, have some experience and will make an impact at the for the mid-term onwards. There is always scope for a sooner impact, though.

While none of these signings, Odegaard aside, were met with much fanfare, it could be great business from the club as all of these players have huge upside with Lokonga, Odegaard, and Tavares already showing their promise. The age of the squad needed bringing down for years.

White came in after a superb season with Brighton last year while Ramsdale and Tomiyasu are somewhat unknowns, although Ramsdale has bags of Premier League experience already while Tomiyasu has been a solid and versatile, if unspectacular, defender for Bologna over the last couple of years.

Youth has clearly been a factor when signing players and Arteta and Arsenal have bought them for essentially low risk and huge upside. Collectively though, it’s some spend. It’s a huge risk that we might not see the fruits of for another couple of years.