Few transfer window's from any club have caught the attention quite like Arsenal's summer window of 2021, in which Mikel Arteta's side were the Premier League's biggest spenders and yet question marks remain over whether the Gunners actually improved their starting eleven.
Back to back eighth-placed finishes, the most recent of which came without any FA Cup glory to paper over the cracks, has led to increased scrutiny from fans and media alike as Arsenal prepare to embark on their first season without any form of European football for two and a half decades.
As a result, this summer's transfer window was crucial in terms of halting the rot, stemming the blood and ensuring Arsenal fell no further behind their 'big six' rivals, otherwise they could lose that title altogether.
Yet, the Arsenal hierarchy seem to have opted for a different, almost riskier approach, investing in six young talented players who will no doubt take time to bed in and flourish in red and white.
The risk stems from the fact that Arteta, along with technical director Edu, have opted for a long-term strategy when Arsenal's glaring issues are very much short-term, the north London outfit crying out for some ready-made additions to strengthen a decline that seems to hasten with every passing match-week.
This summer saw Arsenal's biggest ever transfer window outlay, parting ways with a total £145m for six new recruits.
Arsenal started as they meant to go in terms of summer signings, the first of which came in the form of former Benfica left-back and £8m man Nuno Tavares.
At just 21 years of age, much of Tavares' game time this season is likely come in domestic cup competitions barring any injury to Kieran Tierney - who Tavares has been signed to deputise for.
His signing was quickly followed by Albert Sambi Lokonga's arrival, the 21-year-old Belgian midfielder earning rave reviews from his time with boyhood club Anderlecht.
Lokonga was a shining light for much of Arsenal's pre-season, impressing in his displays against Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur during the MIND series summer tournament.
Ben White's arrival marked the third signing of the summer for Arsenal, in a move that sparked headlines for its fee above all else - the England international costing £50m, making him one of the most expensive defenders in Premier League history.
White has already made his competitive debut for the Gunners during their opening day defeat at newly promoted Brentford, the 23-year-old hardly covering himself in glory when tasked with dealing with Ivan Toney.
The 2-0 humbling at the hands of the Bees prompted panic among both fans and staff alike, as Arsenal sprung into life and resigned last season's loan star Martin Odegaard on a permanent basis along with Sheffield United goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale.
While Odegaard's return for £30m was heralded as a superb piece of business for a 22-year-old playmaker, the decision to part ways with £24m for Ramsdale was not as unanimously popular.
Ramsdale is seemingly being groomed to take over Bernd Leno as Arsenal's number one, the former Blades shot-stopper offering the Gunners something Leno doesn't in terms of how comfortable he is with the ball at his feet and beating the press.
Deadline day eventually came and Bologna defender Takehiro Tomiyasu proved to be Arsenal's final incoming, the Japanese international offering Arteta the chance to play with an inverted right-back, with the onus on Tierney to get forward on the other flank.
Tomiyasu is thought to have cost the Gunners somewhere between the £16m - £20m mark.
Bringing in new talent is one thing, but the negative undertone to Arsenal's window has been their failure to shift fringe players with faltering careers off the books.
Despite desperate attempts to offload him, Sead Kolasinac remains an Arsenal player, remarkably starting the Gunners last two fixtures.
Hector Bellerin and Alex Runarrson left on loan to Real Betis and OH Leuven respectively, but neither deal contained so much as an option to buy, let alone obligation.
Midfielders Matteo Guendouzi and Lucas Torreira both also departed on loan, though neither appear to have much of a future in North London and could make their respective deals permanent next summer.
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Joe Willock was the only departure that earned Arsenal any form of compensation, the 22-year-old joining Newcastle in a deal worth up to £25m.
He was very nearly followed out of the door by fellow Hale End academy graduate Ainsley Maitland-Niles, who made his desire to leave the club public via Instagram.
"All I wanna do is go where I will play and where I'm wanted" read the 23-year-old's post, yet his deadline day loan move to Everton was blocked by Arteta, who has reportedly since told the England international he will be part of his plans this season.
Transfer window rating - 6/10
Overall, it is very much a window of two halves for Arsenal, who failed to offload a number of players who clearly aren't up to the required level the Gunners want to be if they are to return to their former glories.
The bright side is they have recruited wisely, amassing a collection of exciting young prospects who have barrels of time on their side - even if Mikel Arteta doesn't.
