The limited sample size is part of the issue that is often ignored!
Pepe LeFrits E.g. we sign Calafiori, a CB to play left back, and we complain that he's always signing CBs. We sign Havertz, a CF to play AM, and we complain that he doesn't sign CFs. White underwhelming at CB and then happening to be an awesome RB is evidence of Arteta's defensive talent ID, but Havertz doing well at CF is just luck.
Making incorrect assumptions or misrepresenting quite a few points in there. I didn’t make any judgements on any players; only that there is a distinction between how aggressively we have pursued, and signed, players towards the back end of the park compared to the front end. Has Havertz ever really been considered a CF rather than an AM? That certainly wasn’t the plan when he first signed and stunk the place up in midfield until Arteta used him further forward and he found some form. I don’t know about Calafiori pre-Arsenal but I got the impression he was signed primarily as a left back, though happy to be corrected. The point also not on how good or otherwise he is at CB/RB, but that he was someone identified as a key signing by Arteta we went out and dropped a shitload of money on him because he was identified as someone we needed. The contrast with the forward positions is that for a couple of seasons now it’s been clear we’ve got attacking/striker issues, but here we are in the summer of 2025 doing sums to see whether Sesko or Gyorkeres is the one. There is clearly not the same strength of feeling or conviction about what is needed, either in identifying them or aggressively pursuing them until they sign. Whatever Sesko might sign for, whilst a big amount, is not going to be any more shocking than dropping £50m on Ben White.
Pepe LeFrits We pursued a bunch of forwards aggressively - Mudryk, Sesko, Vlahovic, Raphinha spring to mind - and we were decisive enough with the attacking players we did land. Another situational difference between attacking and defensive signings is that forwards tend to cost a lot more, and even with that we still sometimes miss out on defensive players; Huijsen and Garcia this summer alone, Caicedo and Martinez in earlier ones.
That just sorts of highlights to me the lack of decisiveness with his instincts, not individuals. Vlahovic, Mudryk, Raphinha and Sesko were all identified for some reason. What did we do when we couldn’t get them? Mudryk - we got Trossard instread, who at the time I thought was a great buy but looks even better compared to Mudryk in hindsight. Raphinha? Which pact, tricky wide player did we get when he couldn’t come in? Or Vlahovic? Needed a striker, missed out on him and let Aubameyang go days later without another player coming in. Sesko? Miss him last summer, don’t sign anyone and have the most disappointing league season in years hampered by low numbers of forwards plagued by injuries. And now this summer seemingly be in a position where you’re still not sure if you want him or the other guy. There seems an inability to pivot and move to different targets or profiles if the preferred candidates aren’t available. If I want a steak dinner but only have chicken at home, I’ll have chicken. Not as exciting but it’ll still do the job and I won’t go hungry. Arteta isn’t always going to get what he wants, and whilst we talk a lot of the dearth of striking talent these days, he can’t just wash his hands of it once his man knocks him back. There’s alternatives and you have to work with what’s available, if that means a slightly different approach then that’s what it takes. Maybe it’s not Arteta, maybe it’s those above him. But it’s definitely an issue.
