Go back a month and Arsenal would've been quietly confident of landing three major new signings for just £45m.
Fast forward four weeks and the landscape has changed as Mikel Arteta's frustration grows at the Emirates. The Gunners are having to recruit without being able to offer Champions League football, which naturally weakens their appeal.
Gabriel Jesus is seen as their top target with his days looking to be numbered at Manchester City following Erling Haaland's arrival. They were also looking to join the race for Paulo Dybala, who has just seen his contract at Juventus expire following long-term talks in Turin.
Arsenal though are not conducting any transfer activity without their American owners signing off on any deals. That has seen them be somewhat hesitant in the market which has allowed their rivals to circle for several of their targets - and that has left Arteta less than impressed.
He has seen Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Alexandre Lacazette leave the club in recent months without any financial return. That has left the club light in attack and without any funds to replace them as they look to remain competitive in the top flight.
Jesus was originally available for just over £40m as he considers his future following the arrival of Haaland and Julian Alvarez. Arteta has worked with the Brazilian during his time as assistant at City so knows what he would bring to the Emirates.
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Dybala meanwhile was long involved with contract talks in Italy but eventually could reach an agreement with Juventus. He has been linked with a Premier League move previously but Arsenal opted against pursuing the deal due to his wage demands and Inter Milan are in pole position currently.
Arsenal's reported interest Brazilian teenager Marquinhos in May was backed up with a £3m deal recently. He has impressed at current side Sao Paulo, making 33 senior appearances to date. Which has seen him capped by Brazil at U16 and U17 levels.
Arteta has said on the club's plans: "We are going to have certain resources, not unlimited resources, some resources and with our resources, we have to play and do what we have to do in the best possible way. We don't know what the rest are going to have in terms of resources, which I'm assuming is going to be challenging because now it's not a top three or top four league. Now it is a top eight or 10 teams that are involved. That's why we have to find a way to do again what we did last summer.”
