Declan Rice has completely changed things at the Emirates after arriving this summer, while Gabriel Jesus and Oleksandr Zinchenko helped instil a true winning mentality at Arsenal when they arrived last year.
However, according to Wally Downes, speaking on The Game Football Podcast, Arsenal made two signings that changed everything a couple of years ago.
Indeed, Downes says that everything changed at Arsenal when Aaron Ramsdale and Ben White arrived, claiming that these two signings earmarked a change in direction and mood around the club.
Arsenal FC v AFC Bournemouth - Premier League
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White and Ramsdale changed everything
Downes shared his verdict on these two signings.
“Do you know why Arsenal turned it around 18 months or 12 months ago? When they signed Ramsdale and White and he got rid of Aubameyang. That first game they played, I saw Ramsdale make a save and he jumped up and White fistbumped and I thought that was a completely different thing that’s exactly what United don’t have at the moment,” Downes said.
Backed Arteta
White and Ramsdale weren’t necessarily the biggest signings in the world, but their arrivals were a sign that Mikel Arteta was going to be backed to the hilt in the transfer market.
Indeed, while many questioned spending £50m on White and £30m on Ramsdale after spending time in the bottom half of the Premier League with Brighton and Sheffield United, Arsenal bought into Mikel Arteta and Edu’s vision and allowed them to shape this squad in their own vision.
Ramsdale and White have certainly been big contributors at Arsenal, and as Downes says, they symbolise a togetherness and team mentality at the Emirates that just isn’t present at certain other top clubs.
It’s fair to say that Arsenal have got their recruitment spot on in recent years.
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