The key Arsenal consideration when analyzing Edu & Arteta’s window

One whole month, and no incoming transfers. With the carrot of top four dangling in front of Arsenal, this window just passed feels like a huge opportunity missed. The needs of the squad are glaring. Ask any supporter and the thinking, for once, is likely to be unanimous: striker was an absolute necessity, followed by central midfield.

With Alexandre Lacazette aging, both him and Eddie Nketiah running down contracts and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang sealing a move to Barcelona, it seems as if finding a transfer to replace any of these players should be straightforward. The club undoubtedly has a list of transfer targets. At the top of this list was Dusan Vlahovic but there are other names both for the starting berth and a squad option. A simple loan deal for someone with some goalscoring pedigree would have sufficed.

Why neither of these needs was filled remains unknown. All we can do is speculate.

What is important to keep in mind, difficult as it may be, is that both Mikel Arteta and Edu are learning on the job. Arteta is managing a team for the first time and Edu is fairly new to his duties as well, even if he held a similar(ish) role with Brazil. Throughout their time, we have seen them grow and become more knowledgeable about how things at a top football club work.

Arsenal’s January window was marked with numerous outgoings and no incomings – time will tell if a strategy built on patience will work this season

The first lesson was the disastrous transfers of aging stars on big wages. While the issues with Mesut Ozil were passed down from those who have since left the club, the financial outlay on the likes of Pablo Mari and Willian are the result of the new transfer duo. Eager to get in experienced options and paying over the odds to get them was a mistake.

The far too extensive loan deal for Dani Ceballos marks another blotched deal for another subpar player who does not fit the vision Arteta has for the squad. These transfer blunders have proven to be valuable experiences for Arteta and Edu.

Alvaro Morata was linked to the club towards the end of the window. Big wages for a seemingly “experienced” player who has never really proven to be an elite option would have bee the outcome should the deal have gone through. Given the similar deals for Willian, Edu and co chose to pass.

The technical director was also offered an 18-month loan deal for Arthur. Although reports have said Edu sanctioned the deal but the plug was pulled by the hierarchy, another lengthy deal for a player unlikely to elevate the squad was avoided.

Much of the transfer strategy this window has involved finding and signing only the right player: summer targets who could have been pushed forward six months. Those at the club have chosen to wait patiently for the individuals who best suit the tactical vision instead of simply acquiring another body in for depth. Whether this was the right decision can only be truly evaluated at the end of the season.

Should Arsenal finish in the Premier League top four, fans will laud Arteta and Edu for their transfer strategy. Should the team stumble and finish further down the table, others will jump at the opportunity to criticize the duo. Yet wherever Arsenal finish, the approach the club has taken is the right one.

This team is a young one, growing and learning together. One costly mistake could set the rebuild back years. Arsenal can ill-afford to turn the clock back. They have been paying for short-term solutions for far too long. Although some will definitely despise it, it is time to trust the process.