Arsenal: 5 transfers that need to be successful

Arsenal concluded their summer business with one half of the window less successful than the other.

An astounding amount of work has been undertaken across the squad over the last 12 months with activity in the departure lounge starting to take shape back in January: Sead Kolasinac, Shkodran Mustafi, Mesut Ozil and Sokratis were all moved on in some capacity during the month.

Not in the manner desired, of course. There were multiple financial hits taken in order to facilitate some of those exits, while others were simple loan deals just to bring a degree of harmony into the camp.

This summer transfer window continued that trend. Bringing in six players for a combined fee of around £150m was a huge step towards attaining balance and security. The age profiles ensure that whatever happens with the new arrivals, be them successful or not, they won’t enter the latter stages of their contracts on huge wages without resale value.

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5 transfers that Arsenal desperately need to be successful after a summer transfer window were sales were poorly managed in Mikel Arteta’s squad

It’s a huge step in the right direction even if some additional experience would have been desired to supplement those arrivals.

Any incomings were going to be met with numerous outgoings, although despite the difficulties of navigating through this window with a wealth of players either unaffordable or unwanted by European sides, the end result was disappointing.

Only Joe Willock left for a fee this window, one that reinforces how excellent the £25m deal was, with the rest being made up of various different means.

Given the expenditure, Arsenal have to hope there are successes to come over the coming season to justify the manner of the exits. Ironically, having not relied on the individuals previously, they are now resting all their hope on an unwanted few doing what they weren’t deemed capable of in north London.

1. Reiss Nelson – Feyenoord

Deal: Simple loan
Contract expiry: 2023

Unlike Eddie Nketiah, Arsenal managed to convince Reiss Nelson that signing a new contract at the club was the best move for his career. Had he have turned the extension down with a deal walking away for free.

Agreeing to a year extension, Feyenoord were the club that won the race to sign Nelson on a season-long loan.

This is a defining period in the forward’s career having yet to play a full season of football since bursting onto the scene. With a value shot to pieces having barely featured under Mikel Arteta, a successful spell in a technical league – that should suit his style – has the chance to open up his options come the following summer.

If he thrives he either returns to Arsenal as a senior option (unlikely) or boosts his value enough for Arsenal to welcome some form of Premier League bidding war. There is still money to be made on Nelson and regular top-flight minutes are imperative to that.