Following the 2020/21 season, fresh off of Arsenal's second successive eighth-placed finish, the pressure was well and truly on manager Mikel Arteta.
In his first-ever managerial role, the credit he had stored from the FA Cup triumph of 2020 was all but gone and even the most optimistic of fans must have been starting to wonder if Arteta was cut out to lead a club of this stature. What followed in the summer transfer window of 2021 proved he had exactly what it takes.
The Spaniard was under intense scrutiny to ensure he landed all of the targets that the majority of the fanbase wanted and anything less would have been yet another blemish on his record.
So what does he go and do? Sign a goalkeeper that had three relegations on his CV before the age of 24, a defender from Brighton and a failed boy-wonder left out in the cold by Real Madrid.
Mirror Football has analysed how it has all gone two years on.
Aaron Ramsdale
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The backlash that met Arsenal's signing of Aaron Ramsdale was so severe that the club didn't actually release the standard, swanky creative video to announce the transfer.
It is baffling to think, given how immensely popular the goalkeeper now is among the Emirates faithful, that the club basically tried to sneak his arrival in through the back door.
It didn't take long for Ramsdale to dislodge Bernd Leno from the number-one spot and the England international has barely looked back since. While at Arsenal, the 25-year-old has established himself as one of the most promising young 'keepers on the planet.
The former Bournemouth and Sheffield United shot-stopper has helped transform the way Arsenal play out from the back with his composed passing and fearlessness on the ball, his signing has been an undoubted success.
Ben White
Many an eyebrow was raised when Arsenal announced the arrival of Brighton defender Ben White for a fee of £50million, but few are questioning that fee two years on.
One of the most technically assured defenders in the division, White has already justified a large portion of his fee purely by being able to excel in two roles across the Gunners' back-line.
His debut campaign was spent partnering Gabriel Magalhaes at centre-back before William Saliba's return from loan meant White was shifted out to right-back.
The former Leeds loanee has arguably shone brighter there than in his first position, which is a testament to the calibre of defender he is. Reliable as ever, White is adored by Arteta and one of the first names on the team sheet every week.
Another unmitigated success.
Martin Odegaard
Odegaard's first taste of life at Arsenal came in a six-month loan period from January 2021 until the end of that same season.
In many ways, it was the perfect loan stint, as Odegaard showed just enough while in north London to tempt Arteta into buying him permanently but not enough to spark a huge bidding war from every major club on the continent.
Despite still being so young, Odegaard has managed to pack more into his career while being only 24 years of age than many players 15 years his senior do.
It is a testament to his maturity that Arteta has since entrusted him with the role of club captain from the start of last season. Odegaard repaid his manager with his best-scoring campaign to date, playing a vital role in Arsenal's return to the Champions League.
There's a strong argument to be made that Odegaard is the best signing of the Arteta era.
Takehiro Tomiyasu
The Japan international's two years at Arsenal are difficult to analyse.
Purchased as a last-minute deadline day signing, Tomiyasu enjoyed a stellar debut season at right-back and quickly played his way into the hearts of Arsenal fans.
However, his second campaign at the club has fallen well short of expectations.
A large part of that is down to fitness issues, Tomiyasu has failed to really string a consistent run of games together without being obstructed by an injury of some kind.
There is a strong chance the former Bologna man is not fit enough to start next season as he continues his recovery from knee surgery.
A talented player no doubt, but if Tomiyasu has another campaign like the last where more time is spent on the treatment table than the pitch, Arsenal could look to move him on this time next year.
Albert Sambi Lokonga
One of the more underwhelming signings of this window, Lokonga was tipped to be the next Yaya Toure by former boss Vincent Kompany.
Upon his arrival, there were glimpses of his talent as he was thrust straight into the starting line-up, but too many games passed the young Belgian by without him being able to stamp any kind of authority on proceedings.
A mixed debut season was followed by last term's half-season loan spell with Crystal Palace, initially under the guidance of Gunners legend Patrick Vieira before he lost his job at Selhurst Park.
Lokonga failed to spark any kind of form with the Eagles, who actually had a superior win record when he wasn't playing.
Don't be surprised to see the ex-Anderlecht captain move on permanently this summer as Arteta tries to take Arsenal's midfield to the next level.
Nuno Tavares
Certainly, the signing that struggled the most, the former Benfica right-back only spent one full season at the Gunners before being sent out on loan to Marseille.
During his single campaign at the Emirates, Tavares was hooked off before or during half-time on two occasions - bar a goal against Manchester United, the fact that those two embarrassing substitutions are the most memorable aspects of his Arsenal spell are particularly damning.
It must be said that Tavares excelled since making the move to Ligue 1 and will more than likely stay there on a permanent basis.
