Much was said about Arsenal's lack of activity back in January, how it cost them a top-four finish last season, and a lot of criticism understandably headed in the club's direction.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang departed along with a few squad options, and several first-team players left for the African Cup of Nations. Not bringing anyone in was a huge risk for a team that had its eyes on Champions League qualification.
Despite strong links to Dusan Vlahovic and Bruno Guimaraes, the reluctance to strengthen saw both players move elsewhere, with Guimaraes joining fellow Premier League side Newcastle United. A few months later, he scored against Arsenal during a defeat that all but crushed their hopes of a top-four finish.
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At the time, it was a tough one to take and very easy to point the finger at the January transfer window. I don't think there's any doubt that it contributed to the end-of-season downfall. Ultimately the squad fell short, while Tottenham reaped the benefits of bolstering their squad halfway through the campaign.
Anyway, that's enough of the negatives. Thankfully for us Arsenal fans, it appears a well-thought-out plan is in place this summer, and the lack of incomings a few months ago could actually be a blessing in disguise. It has freed up space within the squad, eased the pressure off the wage bill and enabled more funds to become available for the present.
The window has only been open for a month, but so much has happened already, and Arsenal have been one of the most active, spending around £89m on four new signings. There remain 51 days left to bring in new faces, and the indications certainly suggest Mikel Arteta isn't done yet.
In fact, he and technical director Edu could look to make amends for missing out on Guimaraes by signing his former teammate, Lucas Paqueta. According to GOAL Brasil, Arsenal are interested in signing the midfielder this summer and have already informed his representatives, via Edu, that they want to formalise an offer.
However, any potential deal is likely to be costly, with Lyon reportedly asking for €80m (£67m). It remains to be seen whether or not Arsenal are willing to match or go anywhere near that figure, so talks with the tough negotiator that is Jean-Michel Aulas could take some time.
After signing attacking midfielder Fabio Vieira from FC Porto earlier in the window, in addition to already having Martin Odegaard, Arteta would most likely use Paqueta in a left-sided NO.8 role where he has played on numerous occasions. Although he is most dangerous going forward, the 24-year-old is strong on the ball, progressive in his play and works incredibly hard to win back possession.
Seeing Newcastle secure the services of Guimaraes in January when our team was calling out for a player like him was frustrating, but maybe waiting for Paqueta was all part of the plan. Time will tell, of course, but he would certainly be the missing piece of the puzzle and worth the wait.
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