When it comes to summer transfer windows, Arsenal have been the team to follow over the last two years.
After being backed to the tune of around £150million last summer, Mikel Arteta is getting the support from Emirates chiefs once again. Gabriel Jesus, Oleksandr Zinchenko and Fabio Vieira have all arrived in big-money moves, with their spending now topping £100m.
And there could yet be more to come, with the Gunners boss still believed to be in the market for another attacking player having missed out on Raphinha.
But for now, the Arsenal hierarchy, including technical director Edu, will focus on chopping some deadwood from their squad, something which Arteta has proven he is more than willing to do.
"It's not easy, but it's part of our job.," Edu recently admitted in an interview with Sky Sports. "We try to create an opportunity for the player. For me, the most important thing is to make the player understand why he is here or why he needs to go.
“And then we have to create some possibility with the player's agent and find the best possible solution."
Departures will be consigned to squad players unlikely to have a massive impact, with the likes of Nicolas Pepe, Pablo Mari and Ainsley Maitland-Niles prime candidates. Cedric Soares is another that has found himself out of the team from time to time, but the Portuguese is almost certain to stay.
Signed from Southampton after a positive loan spell, the full-back has always gone under the radar. Consistent, if unspectacular. But it’s his work behind the scenes which is equally valuable.
In a young squad, Cedric, 30, is one of the more senior members and he has taken that responsibility seriously, assuming a leadership role with the Gunners dressing room. The Athletic report that the versatile defender has taken on a ‘big brother’ role amongst the Portuguese speakers and in particular, 22-year-old Fabio Vieira.
It is suggested that when the former Porto playmaker was due to complete his first interview in English, it was his more senior compatriot that offered a reassuring hand. "[Helping the younger players] needs to be natural. It is not something you need to force,” he said in an interview with ESPN.
“Obviously you are not the same with everyone. Everyone needs different things. You are closer to one, you can maybe tell him a more honest opinion. With another, you can push him so you need to challenge them sometimes.”
That selfless attitude will have come as no surprise to his manager either, with Arteta making a pointed message about the former Saints defender in the final weeks of last season. Having spent much of the first half of the campaign, he went on to become a regular and Arteta made reference to his dignified approach, unlike some of his ex-teammates in the recent past.
“It’s not a coincidence. When you have the professionalism, dedication, habits and, obviously, the experience and qualities Cedric has - and you never give up - then at the end good things happen,” Arteta said in April.
“He’s been patient, he’s been keeping quiet, he’s been working hard and accepting the situation. And when he’s had the chance, he’s done well “That’s why the national manager has decided to bring him back, which I’m really happy with.
"The player has to take all the credit - and I think his teammates have to learn a lot about that option. Because when you don’t play, and think you are right, you can take a completely different route.”
