Arsenal have succeeded in what they set out to do in the January transfer market in basic terms. Mikel Arteta wanted a wide attacker, a centre-half and a midfielder and his sporting director Edu Gaspar has secured reinforcement in all three positions.
However, Arsenal were interested in two players that didn’t arrive. Mykhailo Mudryk left for Chelsea after three bids from the Gunners were rejected with the final bid almost reaching Shakhtar Donetsk’s €100million (£88.4million) demand but the Blues swooped in with a better structure and got it done.
Arsenal moved quickly to secure Leandro Trossard but waited until the end of the window loomed to move for primary midfield target Moises Caicedo. The Gunners have a summer priority too in the form of Declan Rice and football.london understands the second £70million bid was not deemed to impact the future chase of the England international.
READ MORE: Why Arsenal did not complete Moises Caicedo transfer as Edu relationship with Brighton weakens
Brighton, however, had outlined their refusal to sell, and Arsenal were mistaken in believing the potential acquisition of a replacement could see them open up to selling the Ecuadorian football.london understands. This wasn’t the case, as with a midfielder signed on deadline day Yasin Ayari from AIK, Caicedo remained not for sale.
Rice is the priority for the summer. Edu must get the England international. There will be competition in the form of Chelsea and potentially Manchester United, while Manchester City are never too far behind.
With the possibility that Arsenal could be entering the summer market as Premier League champions, or at a minimum the reputation for being title challengers both now and in the future, securing players should not close to the same challenge they were before.
Raul Sanllehi once talks about 'The Arsenal knock'. Well, the only knocking Arsenal have been doing recently has come too late and too quietly.
Certainly, some doors have opened this winter; definitely more than a year ago. But should Arsenal wish to establish themselves as a title challenger not just this season but in years to come then the priority transfer targets need to be secured.
Very rarely have Manchester City, Liverpool, or Chelsea during their title bids in the past decade-plus not got the players they’ve set out to sign. This helped them during their title tilts and City in particular have developed a formula to sustain their threat over a decade of near dominance over English football.
Rice is the measuring stick. It’s in the public knowledge and it is out early. Should Arsenal not sign the West Ham midfielder or an equivalent target that may materialise before the window opens, the pressure and finger-pointing at the Gunners' sporting director will reach a new peak and fast.
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