Mikel Arteta has praised Arsenal’s summer transfer window and the role of sporting director Andrea Berta, but admitted their business was not ‘perfect’.
After ending their 22-year wait for a Premier League title last season, the Gunners set about strengthening their squad this summer to ensure they remain at the summit of English football this term.
Christos Tzolis arrived from Club Brugge in a £34million deal with Arteta getting his top target in midfield in Bruno Guimaraes, who joined for £75million from Newcastle United. With injuries to William Saliba and Jurrien Saliba delaying their starts to the season, Ezri Konsa was brought in from Aston Villa for £51million.
Piero Hincapie’s loan was also made permanent with back-up goalkeeper Ilan Meslier also brought in.
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Arsenal’s efforts to bring in a world class forward fell short, however. The club explored a move for Real Madrid star Vinicius Jr who rejected their interest to instead sign a new contract in the Spanish capital.
Arteta was also desperate to sign Julian Alvarez from Atletico Madrid with the club pursuing a move throughout the summer despite it being made clear the Argentina international was holding out for a move to Barcelona.
While Atletico Madrid were prepared to negotiate, Alvarez showed no firm interest in joining the Gunners whose only notable late business was selling Gabriel Martinelli to Al-Hilal for £60million with Gabriel Jesus joining Barcelona.
‘I think to get this done in this market is complicated,’ Arteta told a press conference on Friday, reflecting on the club’s transfer window. ‘It’s not that easy. I don’t know how it looks from the outside.
‘We have put everything that we possibly could to make those deals happen, and we have made most of them happen.
“We’ve been very efficient. I think what Andre has done in the market, again, has been incredible with the support of all the club.
“And that’s it. But it’s never perfect. It doesn’t mean to be perfect.’
Arsenal also sold Leandro Trossard to Besiktas with Martinelli’s late exit meaning both left wing options Arteta turned to last season have left the club.
Asked whether Arsenal’s attack is now stronger than it was last season, Arteta said: ‘We have to prove, in that particular position, whether we are better or not. Let’s see.
‘I mean, we need to play. I don’t like to make assumptions before.
‘I think that’s not just the responsibility of those players, it’s the responsibility of the team and the dynamic of the team, and we have multiple options to play there with different profiles as well.’
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