Arsenal got their transfer business done early this summer, although they may not be finished just yet. Technical director Edu and manager Mikel Arteta brought in five new signings before the Premier League season got underway.
Marquinhos, Fabio Vieira, Matt Turner, Gabriel Jesus and Oleksandr Zinchenko all arrived at the club prior to the start of the new campaign on Friday, which opened with a 2-0 victory away at Crystal Palace. More signings may yet follow, with the club interested in Leicester City star Youri Tielemans, but if the incoming business is complete, it will have been a good window.
The Gunners are not the only ones to have got their transfer business done early on in the window. North London rivals Tottenham, notoriously late movers, also made big strides this summer, bringing in six new players before the new campaign kicked off.
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Chelsea have been a little slower in the market, signing four in the form of Raheem Sterling, Kalidou Koulibaly, Carney Chukwuemeka and Marc Cucurella. Although two of those only arrived in the week preceding the start of the season as the club found its feet following a change of owner.
Manchester United, however, when it comes to the top four chasers, have been left a little behind. Christian Eriksen came in on a free, while Tyrell Malacia and Lisandro Martinez joined from the Eredivisie.
That is the extent of the Red Devils' business and an opening weekend defeat at home to Brighton & Hove Albion has done little to suggest to the supporters that that transfer business is complete. More signings are required, but they will now take time to bed in and the transfer policy at Old Trafford looks a little wayward.
United have been linked with a move for Juventus man Adrien Rabiot - a player who has often been linked with a move to the Premier League but never materialised. He has hardly set the world alight in Serie A and will cost a fair amount in wages.
Then there's the striker situation. Marko Arnautovic - once of Stoke City and West Ham - was also mooted for a move to Old Trafford. Fans quickly told the United hierarchy what they thought of that and any links died down immediately. Now there are links surfacing with Alvaro Morata - a player who flopped at Chelsea.
It appears to be a scattergun approach from United as they looked to fill gaps in Erik ten Hag's squad. The policy at Arsenal and Spurs is clearly the right one and has worked thus far. And it could well leave United behind, making the top four race a little easier.
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