Both Arsenal and Tottenham fought for the right to compete in the Champions League next season with the latter winning the race, despite being behind the Gunners in the Premier League for a serious portion of the campaign. The concern from the red and white half of north London was the impact on the club’s transfer plans.
However, both teams have been busy in the early stages. Arsenal have signed three players which is soon to become four when Gabriel Jesus is announced to add to Fabio Vieira, Matt Turner and Marquinhos.
Meanwhile, Tottenham have added Fraser Forster, Yves Bissouma and Ivan Perisic to the group. Everton forward Richarlison is also expected to arrive after the clubs agreed on a £60m move football.london understands.
READ MORE: Gabriel Jesus’ Arsenal decision leaves Spurs and Antonio Conte sweating over Raphinha
Yet, from an Arsenal perspective, had the club managed to qualify for the Champions League and moved for the players that Tottenham have, there would surely be an air of disappointment. Instead, without it, the Gunners have taken a four-time Premier League-winning striker in Gabriel Jesus from Manchester City.
It was a concern that missing out on the elite European competition would have disastrous impacts on Arsenal’s summer window but so far it has barely affected them. Perhaps they would have a slightly better chance of landing prospective target Raphinha, although the Brazilian has seemingly had his heart set on a move to Barcelona regardless.
The chase for Lisandro Martinez is between the Gunners and Manchester United, another team that also failed to qualify for the top four and the Premier League lure is the main attraction for the Argentine over Champions League participation, which he is guaranteed with Ajax next season.
Taking the conversation back to Richarlison, spending around £60 million on the volatile Everton forward is a puzzler when he doesn’t start over Harry Kane or Heung-min Son. There are questions about whether he even starts over Dejan Kulusevski on the right.
With such a dire need in defence, to get the defensively questionable Clement Lenglet on loan, which reports suggest is a deal that is progressing swiftly, seems backwards. Arsenal have been clear that defence, midfield and forward areas need strengthening.
Money is being invested into crucial areas and although negotiations are taking more time in cases such as Martinez, there is a confidence that they will get the positions they are after, thus providing Mikel Arteta with an entire squad of his making for the first time.
Arsenal and Spurs are sure to go head-to-head again next season in the race for Champions League qualification. Jesus and company are sure to play a key role, only Bissouma stands out as a difference-maker at this early stage. Could this prove the pivotal difference during the 2022/23 campaign?
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