Rating the summer window: Page 5 - The Arsenal discussion forum and community: One More in the Tolly

Rating the summer window

USArsenal

I can't believe there are still people that are saying "if we only got X or Y, it would be a 10".

We literally got EVERY player/position that we needed. We got a starting Striker (Gyokeres). We got backup for Saka (Madueke), we are getting a LW/CAM alternative (Eze), we got a starting 6 (Zubi), we got a backup 6 (Norgaard), we got a young but experienced CB (Mosquera), we got a steady backup GK, for peanuts (Kepa). The only blight is that Kai is injured, but that won't be forever, and we managed to keep hold of Martinelli (to some people's chagrin, though im not sure why), and Trossard (probably due to Kai's injury, but i can think of worse backups of backups that can play across the front line and score some goals)

We extended MLS, Ethan, we're probably going to get Saka and Saliba to sign extensions...Big Gab has already signed his. We've locked down major talent (and that is not even talking about Dowman), and we're working on locking down much of our core.

If anyone thinks this is anything less than a ridiculously good window, maybe the best in club history, they are kidding themselves.

Yes, it now needs to translate to success, but we've now given ourselves a much bigger chance at doing that. If we can win either the league or the CL this season, then everyone else in the world shuts up and can no longer say anything about us. And it earns Arteta the respect and trust that he (clearly, to me) deserves.

Don Pacifico

USArsenal you can't really argue all that much with the quantity that's been achieved this window but you can argue with some of the quality.

And that's probably why people aren't giving it a 10/10.

I also personally discount contract renewals from how I'd judge a window's success as a transfer window is about bringing players in, and selling ones we don't want.

USArsenal

Don Pacifico

Its hard to argue about the quality either. The only one that many seem to be questioning is Madueke, but he's not nearly as bad as many make him out to be. Price a little high? Maybe, but thats the going rate for a good (with potential to be very good) winger these days, especially at his age. Its hard to argue about the quality in any other signing.

I don't discount contract renewals, they are just as important IMO. Especially for the top talent and team core.

I can't see how anyone, by any metric, would give this window anything less than a 9 at the absolute lowest.

RocktheCasbah

Really though, the truth of this is that judging the window before we get to the end of it and can assess it in totality is a mug's game.

Not that I'm calling any of you mugs, of course. I wouldn't dare. 🙂

USArsenal

RocktheCasbah Really though, the truth of this is that judging the window before we get to the end of it and can assess it in totality is a mug's game.

Yeah, but even still, what we've done thus far in the window has been nothing short of spectacular.

Qwiss

RocktheCasbah yeah if we sell Saka tomorrow its a 0.

Klaus But why? We're not in need of money.

We are very tight on PSR at the moment. We need to make sales or we'll be fucked in future windows.

RocktheCasbah I get the feeling they are very confident on some of the sales and that's why they've gone ahead with the Eze deal.

Sicario2

USArsenal yeah I went too soon when I thought extending Leo was the end of our LW hunt.

I think 90 percent of Arsenal summer transfers are done on the last day or two so perhaps should waited.

Don Pacifico

USArsenal Its hard to argue about the quality either.

I obviously disagree - Madueke isn't an elite tier winger and I probably don't need to rehash my views on Gyokeres. Whilst I like Eze and think he'll be a a great addition, if I'm being nitpicky, he's also 27 and unlikely to be ever considered elite. So overall, attack for me is good - we've fixed some issues but I don't think any of those players is on the level of a Sanchez when we signed him. So yeah, quantity but not elite quality for my money, in an area of the pitch where we're severely lacking.

Zubimendi is an elite level signing for me.

After that, we're taking reserves where my only hesitation is Norgaard. Great price but serious question marks if we have to rely on him if Zubimendi is out for any stretch of time. Hopefully, that doesn't happen or I've grossly underestimated the attributes he brings to the table.

Overall, it's clearly a very good window but I think the distinctions I've made are valid.

USArsenal I don't discount contract renewals, they are just as important IMO. Especially for the top talent and team core.

I'm not discounting their importance but contract renewals aren't dependent on the transfer window, they occur all year round. The objective of the transfer window is to buy and sell well.

USArsenal

Sicario2

I wasn't being specific to you, i meant in general, there are still quite a few who think we've not done enough. I just don't see how addressing all of our needs is anything less than stellar business this summer. Berta has been an absolute fucking revelation.

Klaus

10/10 window. I said back in April or so that all I wanted was Gyökeres, Zubimendi and Eze. Can't believe I got all three plus Mosquera and Madueke (Edit: I forgot Nørgaard). We ridded ourselves of a rapist and picked up three class players in positions where we were weak. Top, top window that puts us in pole position for the league.

Arteta just needs to keep picking up three-pointers now while he tries to find a good shape for the team. In a month or two we're gonna look so sexy.

Coombs

Klaus I said back in April or so that all I wanted was Gyökeres, Zubimendi and Eze.

I was in exactly the same place - last summer!

Except I still wanted Isak more, but still.

Don Pacifico

Don Pacifico one other point: we're all forgetting the fact that other than Tavares, we're yet to make any sales!

Need to bring some decent money in to get a good rating.

Klaus

Don Pacifico But why? We're not in need of money.

We might have to leave some fringe player outside the squad altogether in the end but who cares honestly. We can only register 25 players. It's their own fault if they don't want to move. Sales are only relevant if incomings depend on them, which they clearly don't this summer. I couldn't care less about whatever Fabio Vieira is up to in London over the next year as long as we land our big targets.

Sicario2

Extending Saka and Saliba will also add a half point for me

Don Pacifico

Klaus because longer term, that isn't a sustainable strategy and PSR exists. But appreciate people's mileage on that varies.

Klaus

Don Pacifico Yeah fair enough. I just don't think it affects the rating of this window. By all accounts we're not worried at all about PSR.

I'd forgotten we still had Tavares on our books this summer btw. The bloody state of our Portugal signings under Edu. We went for the Nuno Tavares at Benfica who couldn't run in a straight line instead of the Nuno Tavares Mendes at Sporting who is now the best leftback in the world.

RocktheCasbah

Klaus watched a podcast with Ornstein earlier, he said PSR is not a problem for us this summer, we've got headroom there and we could sell players in the January window and that contribute to our accounting numbers. What could be a problem is UEFA's FFP rules.

You like to think though that with the players who have come in, the guys surplus to requirements will know exactly their place, or lack of it, in the pecking order. I mean that Zinchenko extra chapter is a proper "come and get me" cry for help, isn't it?

Burnwinter

RocktheCasbah I mean that Zinchenko extra chapter is a proper "come and get me" cry for help, isn't it?

Yeah, having a published biography you're updating in real-time with whining about your current workplace and colleagues is very 2025 ...

RocktheCasbah

Qwiss I get the feeling they are very confident on some of the sales and that's why they've gone ahead with the Eze deal.

Yeah, obviously Arteta says a few weeks back some players had to leave, didn't he? So we've obviously been looking to get going on that for a while.

RocktheCasbah

Qwiss yeah if we sell Saka tomorrow its a 0

WHY WOULD YOU EVEN SAY THAT??!

daredevil

Qwiss

Have a feeling we are going to see a big departure.

daredevil

Coombs

We had our chance with Enrique, but we went for Emery instead.

Coombs

daredevil tomorrow never dies.

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