As Arsenal enter transfer deadline day, though, the question of whether sporting director Edu is heading toward success or failure in the market after more than £200million is somewhat surprisingly still up in the air. Despite deals for Declan Rice, Kai Havertz, Jurrien Timber and David Raya, in addition to contract renewals for William Saliba and Bukayo Saka this summer, the environment does not yet lend itself to anything other than a question mark with a day to go.
The main reason is the £38million investment in Timber which looked to be a huge success in itself has been undermined by a serious ACL injury. The defence was a critical area that the club needed to invest in and it did, but with the injury occurring on the opening weekend, it gave Arsenal just under three weeks to react and ahead of deadline day, so far, they haven’t.
With Kieran Tierney and Nuno Tavares leaving on loan and suggestions Rob Holding and Cedric Soares are looking for exits before the deadline, it leaves Arsenal with six defenders. William Saliba, Ben White, Jakub Kiwior, Takehiro Tomiyasu, Oleksandr Zinchenko and Gabriel Magalhaes are what’s on offer with Timber out until at least March onwards.
There’s arguably depth in the fact Thomas Partey has played a hybrid full-back/midfielder role and youngsters like Reuell Walters have impressed. But without question, without Timber, the defensive unit will be weaker than it was last season and after a summer transfer window that constitutes a failure in that regard.
Thankfully in midfield, goalkeeper and offensive areas the Gunners are well-stocked – with scope to strengthen the right wing perhaps in January when better options are available. And it is the work in these areas combined with the contract renewals that leave me with this conflict between success and failure.
Can it be possible to hold two opposing points of view that contradict one another and both be true? Maybe, depends on who you ask I suppose.But in this case, what I believe will determine whether this window was a success comes down to luck. It will be lucky if all of Arsenal’s defensive options, without a signing, stay fit until at least January.
It will be potentially fortunate if Arsenal remain in the title race, progress through the rounds of the Carabao Cup and the Champions League group stage with these approximate six options. Needing luck cannot be the outcome of a successful window.
At the same time, if Arsenal manage to use this window, without another defender, and successfully remain competitive through to the winter then there’s a strong case the window was therefore indeed a success. So we have reached a stalemate.
Should Arsenal not sign a defender, perhaps a rabbit’s foot might need to go on your shopping list next week. Just make sure to check the relevant laws when you set out to try and get one.
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