Arsenal continued to plead with fans throughout the summer transfer window asking them to remain patient, calm and 'trust the process'. The line being drudged out of the club consistently over the past few weeks has been "judge us at the end of the window".
Arsenal's senior officials have previous for this. Only a few years ago Josh Kroenke infamously told fans to "be excited", before the club went on to consecutive eighth-placed finishes and gave supporters very little to actually "be excited" for.
So let's have a look at the summer business and decide if Kroenke, Edu and the rest of Arsenal's big decision-makers deserved the patience they asked for.
Incomings:
Ramsdale (£24m)
Lokonga (£15m)
White (£50m)
Odegaard (£30m)
Tavares (£8m)
Tomiyasu (£16m)
Outgoings:
Luiz & Mustafi (Released)
Mavropanos (Loan)
Willock (£25m)
Torreira (Loan)
Guendouzi (Loan)
Saliba (Loan)
Willian (Released)
Nelson (Loan)
Runarsson (Loan)
Bellerin (Loan)
Tom Canton - Arsenal Fan Brands Presenter/Writer
Arsenal’s 2021 summer transfer window was a missed opportunity and therefore a failure. Without European football, Arsenal had the chance to focus on improving their starting eleven with the aim of progressing their league position.
The Gunners’ six signings, all of 23 years and younger, were very much brought in with an eye on the long-term rather than the short. Ben White, the most expensive of the group, was arguably the only guaranteed upgrade on the starting XI from the team that finished last season.
Central midfield and right-back were the two key areas in need of improvement. Takehiro Tomiyasu’s arrival is intriguing but has an associated risk. Whereas the decision to keep and not replace Granit Xhaka was poetically summed up in his dismissal in the 5-0 defeat to Manchester City.
With so many players surplus to requirements, it is staggering that only one sale was achieved in the form of Joe Willock. Who, ironically, was a player who split opinion about whether he should have been sold.
Players such as Alexandre Lacazette, Eddie Nketiah, Mohamed Elneny and Sead Kolasinac will see their deals expire at the end of the season. Contradicting the words of former head of football Raul Sanhelli who said the club would aim to stop this situation from arising.
The season was uncertain prior to the window’s opening, it remains as such despite vast investment and very little recouping of funds.
Bailey Keogh - Fan Brands Writer/Presenter
Overall looking back at the window I am disappointed but not surprised. The incomings I don't think are that bad but the outgoings are disappointing. Mikel Arteta promised a squad overhaul and that didn't happen, because we've only sold one player for a fee all summer.
There have been so many loans. Eddie Nketiah and Alexandre Lacazette now only have 12 months left on their contract so it looks like we are going to lose big potential fees there.
I suppose you can only really judge on the incomings in a few year's time, considering the approach they have gone for with youthful additions. Most of them won't hit the ground running, we do have to give them time.
I am willing to reserve judgment on the likes of Sambi Lokonga and Deadline Day arrival Takehiro Tamiyasu, but if you look at the job the club has done on selling players, it has to be deemed a failure.
Chris Davison - Fan Brands Content Editor
Going into deadline day, I was concerned that Arsenal were not going to strengthen at right-back, an area in which we have lacked consistency and quality for a long time now.
However, with Bellerin departing on a season-long loan, it was imperative that the club brought in a replacement. Thankfully, we were not let down as Japanese defender Takehiro Tomiyasu joined the Gunners from the Italian side Bologna.
I must admit, I don't know an awful lot about the player, but everything I have read and watched seems to be very positive, so I'm looking forward to seeing how he gets on.
I'm slightly disappointed that the club were unsuccessful in offloading Sead Kolasinac and Eddie Nketiah, especially with the latter available for free next summer, but it's too late to worry about that now.
I personally would have loved to see us move for another central midfielder, I think it's a position that requires more depth, so it is a little surprising the club didn't try for someone like Houssem Aouar. Maybe that's one to keep an eye on in January.
Overall, I'm pleased. Not over the moon, but it could have been much worse. My expectations were low going into deadline day, so I guess that's why I'm not massively annoyed about the lack of incomings.
That's that, and with big spending comes big pressure. Mikel has no excuse now, it is time to get results or risk facing the music.
