Mikel Arteta reveals transfer strategy in cagey Press Conference

Arsenal’s scarce summer

The problem with outlining plans for a major squad overhaul ahead of the summer window is that when it seems slow, questions are inevitably asked.

This is certainly the case when it comes to Arsenal, who were allegedly trying to do just that, but have so far managed just three signings, and one permanent departure.

Ben White, Albert Sambi Lokonga and Nuno Tavares are all good signings, but only the former seems likely to feature in Arsenal’s strongest starting XI on a regular basis, with Tavares and Lokonga brought in largely as backup options.

However, there have been International tournaments to contend with, meaning that business across the continent has, for the most part, been slow. It is not a popular excuse, and it will certainly not help those who rightly point out that Arsenal’s first game of the season is in just over 24 hours, with most of the same squad remaining.

Will there be more movement?

With such a predicament, Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta was understandably asked several questions about his transfer policy for the coming weeks during his pre-match press conference.

The Gunners manager suggested that he expects to see more movement (both in and out) on the transfer front, answering:

“When on this first period of the transfer window I think we’ve done a few things that we wanted to do and that are going to help us to get in a much better place. There is still window to go so I’m sure things will happen either way.”

However, he was not willing to be drawn on the number of players he was hoping to be able to bring in, saying instead that:

“I’m willing to work with the players that I have at the moment and get the best out of them. We will see what we can do.”

However, perhaps unlike in previous seasons, Arteta revealed that the ownership group KSE were in fact willing to invest in the side, claiming that:

“We have ownership that they are willing to invest in the team and they want to get the team better and with bigger aims. We are trying to find the balance, because at the same time we need to be careful because we need a financial position that is sustainable and healthy for the club.”

Late work in the window?

One player that Arsenal have been linked with this summer is Martin Odegaard, who impressed whilst on loan at the Emirates stadium during the second half of last campaign. However, reports suggest that Real Madrid have not yet decided on his future, something that Arteta perhaps hinted at during his press conference, saying:

“It’s how deals develop. At the same time something it’s not possible to do on the 12th of August will be possible to do on the last day. Whether you are happy bringing the player in or not I think it is more important.”

And, in good news to Arsenal fans, the Arsenal boss suggested that the Gunners will be busy in the window right up until the deadline, explaining that:

“You can see that the ball starts to roll in a different speed in the last week or so. It’s been a difficult window. Probably a lot of things will happen in the last week or so.”

Will the club be able to strengthen as they would like?

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Premier League table

#	Team	MP	D	P
1	Leeds United	0	0	0
2	Manchester City	0	0	0
3	Manchester United	0	0	0
4	West Ham United	0	0	0
5	Everton FC	0	0	0
6	Southampton FC	0	0	0
7	Chelsea FC	0	0	0
8	Arsenal FC	0	0	0
9	Newcastle United	0	0	0
10	Leicester City	0	0	0
11	Liverpool FC	0	0	0
12	Aston Villa	0	0	0
13	Tottenham Hotspur	0	0	0
14	Wolverhampton Wanderers	0	0	0
15	Crystal Palace	0	0	0
16	Norwich City	0	0	0
17	Watford FC	0	0	0
18	Burnley FC	0	0	0
19	Brighton & Hove Albion	0	0	0
20	Brentford FC	0	0	0