Arsenal are expected to go big in the transfer market – Andrea Berta wants to sign a striker and the Gunners are already exploring several alternatives to Alexander Isak.
Berta has already recommended Matheus Cunha to Arsenal, but it’s currently anyone’s guess as to which number nine Mikel Arteta will line up with next season.
Of course, Berta was chosen instead of Jason Ayto at Arsenal – the Gunners opted for a more experienced head with stronger reputation in Europe.
And although Arsenal are desperate to keep Ayto in another role, they were seemingly more confident in his Italian counterpart to navigate the challenges of the months ahead.
David Ornstein explains why Andrea Berta could be a good fit for Mikel Arteta
That being said, reliable Arsenal journalist David Ornstein shared further insight into the club’s decision to choose Berta on The Athletic FC podcast.
Ornstein shared what people are already saying about Berta’s personality at Arsenal, who should make a good fit working alongside Arteta.
He said: “Berta, as you point out, has worked with somebody of the ilk of Diego Simeone, and the success and progress that they’ve bought at Atletico Madrid, but also his personality, his combustibility, his emotion, managing that dovetailing.
“It probably hasn’t always been smooth, but that is direct experience of a managerial mold that Arsenal have, to be honest, in Mikel Arteta, someone that’s very powerful, very influential, very vocal, has done a fantastic job, and somebody that can challenge that person and can communicate with them and collaborate with them.
Photo by GLYN KIRK/AFP via Getty Images
Photo by GLYN KIRK/AFP via Getty Images
“And they felt Berta ticked that box, has a very strong network of relationships around Europe and the world, with agents, with club directors, sporting directors. He’s worked outside of football, so that’s where he actually began.
“He then comes into football at a lower level, moves higher in Italy, transitions over to Spain.
“Most people that you speak to who are involved in deal making in European football, they’ve dealt with Andrea Berta.
“He’s said to be a very subtle, understated, discreet guy who doesn’t make many public pronouncements, which is quite interesting because Edu, at the Brazilian FA before he came to Arsenal, he would pick the squad, he would announce it, he would hold press conferences, he would do interviews, he would interact with the media.
“It worked differently when you come to the Premier League where everything is a little bit more under the radar. That is more Andrea Berta’s way.
“I’m sure he’ll work fastidiously, extremely hard to try and deliver what Arsenal want this summer, which is an immediate and crucial priority in the transfer market.”
Andrea Berta’s forgotten task at Arsenal
Of course, it’s not just the arrival of a striker that Berta will be tasked with this summer – Arsenal also want Martin Zubimendi and others.
And perhaps it’s also being understated just how many departures the Italian needs to master as well.
Although he might start against Real Madrid next week, Jakub Kiwior wants to leave Arsenal.
And the defensive departures may not stop there with Kieran Tierney already confirmed to be Celtic-bound, as well as the rumours that will continue about Oleksandr Zinchenko starting a new challenge away from Arsenal.
All in all, it’s understandable why Arsenal might have considered the task slightly beyond Ayto given his experience in the role – a summer the Gunners have to get right.
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