Manchester United legend and prominent pundit Rio Ferdinand has waxed lyrical over Arsenal's summer spending but feels they will still fall short in the race for the title.
The Gunners have forked out serious cash this transfer window, spending north of £200million on Declan Rice, Kai Havertz, Jurrien Timber and David Raya. While the latter is technically a loan deal, the Spanish goalkeeper is expected to join Arsenal on a permanent basis next summer given his contract boasts an option to buy clause worth £27m.
Rice alone cost a club-record fee of £105m and while some raised eyebrows over that level of spending from Arsenal, the former West Ham captain has looked at home in the red and white of the Gunners in the few outings he has enjoyed for the club so far.
Ferdinand is of the belief that Arsenal's summer business will serve them well over the course of the campaign but stopped short of predicting that they will win the title. The former Old Trafford regular told TNT Sports: "Arsenal were brilliant last season, Mikel Arteta was magnificent, the recruitment again has been wonderful.
"They've arguably had one of the best strongest transfer windows up to this point. Declan Rice, Jurrien Timber, Kai Havertz, [David Raya] definitely strengthened the squad, the depth, the quality. I think they’ll be top three this year, they won’t win the league though."
While Timber certainly looks to be a shrewd addition, Arsenal will be without him for most of the entirety of the season. The Dutchman suffered a serious anterior cruciate ligament injury on his Premier League debut last weekend against Nottingham Forest.
Arsenal have already confirmed that their £38m man will undergo surgery and begin his recovery process right away. It is a huge blow to the Gunners, who arguably now lack the defensive depth required to go the distance in terms of the title.Arteta was faced with plenty of questions in the wake of Timber's injury regarding whether he will now look to dip back into the market and sign defensive reinforcements.
"We are always open (to potential transfers)," the Arsenal boss admitted. "And we have to be open as well to the injuries, but also to react to the market."
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Discussing Timber's injury and the impact it will have, Arteta added: "'(It's) a huge blow, especially for him after just joining the club. We recruited him with clear intentions, and what he was bringing to the team was evident.
"I'm thinking more about the resources in the team to do what we want to do (with regard to potential transfers). But it's true, he was giving us a lot on both sides."
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