COMMENT: The summer transfer window has only been open for eight days and it already feels like it's activating crazy mode, especially if you are an Arsenal fan.
Just under a month since the Gunners' emotionally draining 2022/23 campaign concluded, Mikel Arteta and sporting director Edu are wasting no time as they look to take the team to a whole new level after falling short in the Premier League title race.
There is no hiding from the tinge of disappointment that came with finishing behind the now-treble winners, Manchester City, but the sense of pride and excitement for what lies ahead remains the overriding feeling. A return to the UEFA Champions League following a six-year absence has also helped maintain a positive buzz around the club, and now that looks set to increase with the potential arrival of several high-profile players.
According to multiple reports, Arsenal continue to work on what would be a club-record deal for West Ham and England midfielder Declan Rice after a second bid believed to be worth £90m was turned down by the Hammers. Additionally, an agreement has been reached in principle with Chelsea as attempts are made to secure the services of Kai Havertz, who will cost in the vicinity of £65m. The spending spree isn't expected to stop there either, as moves for Ajax's Jurrien Timber and Southampton's Romeo Lavia also appear to be in motion.
The Athletic's David Ornstein reported on Monday that Arsenal had made an opening £30m offer for Timber, but Ajax are believed to be holding out for a fee closer to £50m. Meanwhile, transfer guru Fabrizio Romano claims talks are advancing over a deal to sign £45m-rated Lavia, adding no official bid has been submitted yet. If all four transfers were to go through, it could see the north London side spend in excess of £250m in the coming weeks, recording the most expensive transfer window in their history.
It is a very exciting prospect which has understandably raised expectations among supporters, and although some fans have become frustrated over the negotiation tactics being used for Rice and the decision to move for Havertz, most realise that those making the big calls have earned the right to be trusted.
Amidst the concerns, recent transfer business has been highlighted as a reason to be optimistic this summer. As it has quite rightly been pointed out, moves for Aaron Ramsdale, Ben White, Martin Odegaard, Jorginho and even Leandro Trossard were questioned at the time, but all five players have since established themselves as crucial members of Arteta's squad. You then have the likes of Gabriel Jesus and Oleksandr Zinchenko, who were tasked with raising the bar, which they have clearly done. Arteta and Edu were also behind deals for Gabriel Magalhaes and Thomas Partey back in 2020, who again have contributed to the club's progression along with their teammates.
When Havertz emerged as a concrete target, many including myself felt underwhelmed and struggled to understand the thinking behind it, which is fair considering he hasn't exactly set the world alight at Chelsea. However, a combination of Arteta's impressive eye for talent and proven ability to make players better soon opened up the bigger picture, resulting in fans warming to the idea rather than outright turning against it.
'If Arteta wants him, then so do I' is an ever-growing mindset throughout the fanbase, and that's a testament to the Spaniard's work so far. Of course, not everyone is for it, but there's a willingness to give it a chance based on how previous deals have worked out.
Another factor that has increased trust and belief towards those in charge is the recent - and ongoing - contract activity. New deals for Ramsdale, Gabriel Martinelli and Bukayo Saka were wrapped up in the space of just four months, with Reiss Nelson and William Saliba also expected to commit their long-term futures to the club in due course. The fact that agreements appear to have been found rather swiftly without any significant hitch is further indication that Arsenal are better organised compared to previous years, while the players in question are confident and satisfied with the club's vision.
Saka and Saliba are said to have attracted interest from some of Europe's elite but instead decided that Arsenal was the right place for them to continue their careers. Interestingly, there's a similar trend emerging with transfer targets this summer, too. Despite Manchester City, Bayern Munich, Manchester United and Chelsea all reportedly circling, Rice is understood to have his heart set on a move to the Emirates Stadium having been sold the Arsenal project by Arteta.
It seems Havertz can be brought into this conversation as well. I think a lot of us would have understood if he was leaning more towards a return to his home country with Bayern, especially after a challenging period in England, but no, we come calling and his mind was seemingly made up. As a certain Raul Sanllehi once said, when Arsenal knock on a player's door, it's a different knock than other clubs. That is a sentiment that has only grown stronger.
If there is one question mark that still lingers over Edu and his recruitment team, it's the ability to get big deals over the line. Now that's not to say that they can't nor won't, but the experience with Mykhailo Mudryk in January did raise some doubts.
It was widely reported that Arsenal first established contact with Mudryk's camp in the months leading up to January, which was subsequently followed by the Ukrainian's public admiration for the Gunners and their manager. However, after seeing three bids including a total package worth £88m rejected, Arsenal were eventually beaten to his signature by Chelsea, who are said to have been more flexible with add-ons and the overall structure of the deal.
Arsenal had been on Mudryk's case for weeks but lost out to a club that managed to wrap things up within just 24 hours. 'How can we allow something like that to happen?', was a question being asked by many of the Arsenal faithful, who were far from pleased about the outcome. It is only now that we can safely look back without regret, but with a similar story playing out with Rice, the hope will be that there is a much more positive outcome this time around.
Although it can be easy to get carried away by all of the excitement, the window is still in its early stages and things can change for better or for worse at any time. However, the indications so far are positive. Big-money deals for big-name players are being worked on, and perhaps most importantly, they are extremely keen on a move to Arsenal.
These are scenarios which fans have dreamt about for a very long time, and after years of stagnation and hurt, you get the feeling that the good days are well and truly back for Arsenal Football Club.
