5 Arsenal signings since Josh Kroenke transfer promise - and what it tells us
Co-chairman Josh Kroenke has made a bold statement about Arsenal's ambitions under Mikel Arteta, who was allowed to strengthen his squad over the summer.
Josh Kroenke has stressed Arsenal won't stand still (Image: Getty)
Arsenal's summer spending indicates a serious intent to dethrone Manchester City. As the last season concluded, with the Premier League crown hanging in the balance on the final day against Everton, co-chairman Josh Kroenke made a strong statement about the club's ambition.
Despite Arsenal's title bid ultimately falling short thanks to City's triumph over West Ham, which made their victory over Everton irrelevant, Kroenke's message still stood. Writing on the club website, he said: "While we are undoubtedly proud of the progress we have made, I want to be clear that no one at the club will stand still.
"Regardless of how things end today, we're all working behind the scenes to propel us forward always forward again. We have lofty ambitions, both domestically and in Europe, and we are focused on crafting some thrilling new narratives and chapters that build on Arsenal Football Club's rich history.
“There have been so many stories and milestones across the season, shaped by so many of our players. We have all enjoyed seeing our summer signings flourish into being Arsenal players and we’re delighted that a number of players have committed to new contracts to keep this squad together, fighting on all fronts. We want to continue to forge that winning mentality that runs so deeply throughout the club."
In light of recent developments, here's a look at Arsenal's signings during the transfer window and what they reveal about the club's aspirations under Mikel Arteta....
The Gunners had a busy, but not manic, transfer window. Given the close competition with City over the past two seasons, it seems the club believed in fine-tuning rather than a complete overhaul.
Mikel Arteta with new loan signing Raheem Sterling (Image: Getty)
As anticipated, David Raya's loan from Brentford was made permanent for £27million, while Aaron Ramsdale was sold to Southampton just three years after becoming Arsenal's priciest goalkeeper. Experienced Bournemouth keeper Neto joined on loan as Raya's back-up.
Over £40million was spent on Italian defender Riccardo Calafiori, who is currently battling for the left-back position. These transactions highlight the board's faith in Arteta and contradict Arsenal's traditionally cautious approach, which has been criticised in the past.
Mikel Merino, a player expected to make an immediate impact, unluckily suffered a shoulder injury in one of his early training sessions. Despite not yet playing for the club, his £31.6million signing appears to be a shrewd move.
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Raheem Sterling, the surprise deadline day arrival from Chelsea, is another example of the faith in Arteta's ability to rejuvenate careers. After Sterling's struggles at Stamford Bridge, the move could be seen as a gamble, although the loan deal minimises much of the perceived risk.
It's clear that Arteta believes he can rebuild Sterling's career, much like he did with another Chelsea cast-off, Kai Havertz. Given their relationship at City, it seems likely that if anyone can extract the best from Sterling, it's Arteta.
In addition to Ramsdale, Emile Smith Rowe and Eddie Nketiah have permanently left the club, indicating Arsenal's desire to make room for top-tier talent, rather than simply retaining good, long-serving players who can only take the club so far.
