Arsenal’s Transfer Strategy Under Review
The international break in November typically marks a critical time for Arsenal, as the club begins to outline its transfer strategy for the upcoming windows. In years past, top executives have traveled from London to Los Angeles to strategize with the Kroenke family about potential signings.
This season, the club has refrained from confirming whether such meetings will happen, as recent events have somewhat lessened the need for this type of summit. Notably, the Kroenke family was present in London mid-October when their NFL team, the Los Angeles Rams, faced off against the Jacksonville Jaguars at Wembley, just a day before Arsenal secured a straightforward Premier League victory at Fulham.
As things stand, Arsenal is in a strong position in their quest for their first league title since 2004, sitting atop the Premier League table after eleven matches and maintaining a perfect record in the UEFA Champions League.
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Organizational Changes at Arsenal
A year ago, Arsenal was dealing with the abrupt exit of sporting director Edu, who left to join Nottingham Forest’s ownership structure. His departure surprised many within the organization, prompting urgent discussions about filling his role and ensuring stability in the club’s transfer strategy.
This year has seen further changes at Arsenal, attributed to the ownership group Kroenke Sports Enterprises. Executive vice-chair Tim Lewis departed at the end of September, leading to a reshuffle that promoted Richard Garlick to chief executive officer. Additionally, Kelly Blaha and Otto Maly joined the board as non-executive directors.
This restructuring surprised many observers but was ultimately the result of extensive internal discussions. While Stan Kroenke maintains the final word on major decisions, the shift appears to enhance Josh Kroenke’s visibility and influence within the club.
With Arsenal positioned four points clear at the top of the league, there seems to be less pressure during this planning phase.
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Contract Negotiations Underway
Despite the changes, Arsenal remains active in contract negotiations with several players, notably winger Bukayo Saka and defender Jurriën Timber. Talks with Saka’s camp have been ongoing for months, with expectations of a favorable resolution soon. Saka is currently with the England squad for World Cup qualifiers against Serbia and Albania, and his new contract is likely to make him Arsenal’s highest-paid player, earning over £300,000 a week.
Timber’s existing deal runs until 2028, meaning there is no immediate concern, but Arsenal intends to reward the right back for his impressive performances.
There is currently no indication that discussions regarding manager Mikel Arteta’s contract are forthcoming, although he will have just 18 months remaining as the new year begins.
Potential Departures?
During the summer, Arsenal made significant investments, spending around £250 million to enhance their squad with players like Eberechi Eze and Viktor Gyökeres. Consequently, they are unlikely to compromise that effort by letting too many players go.
Striker Gabriel Jesus is on the verge of returning to full fitness after undergoing knee surgery. However, with Gyökeres brought in to lead the attack and Kai Havertz also recovering from an injury, Jesus’s playing time may be limited. He has expressed a desire to remain at Arsenal until his contract expires in 2027.
Meanwhile, right back Ben White has indicated he wishes to compete for his national team once again, and with Oleksandr Zinchenko currently on loan at Nottingham Forest, decisions regarding his future could be made in January.
Possibility of New Signings
Arsenal has some financial flexibility to make new signings in January, although whether they will pursue further additions to strengthen their title ambitions remains uncertain.
The club reportedly harbors an interest in Rodrygo from Real Madrid, who has found himself out of favor at his current club. While both the player and Arsenal are open to a transfer, the acquisition could affect other attacking players like Leandro Trossard and Gabriel Martinelli.
Although Trossard received a salary increase with his recent contract extension, it did not extend his tenure. As for Martinelli, he will have just a year remaining on his deal by next summer. While Arsenal has not signified a desire to move him on, both players’ contractual statuses could create space for another winger if the opportunity arises.
As always, Arsenal is likely to plan for both the January transfer window and the following summer window simultaneously, with internal discussions set to clarify their approach in the coming days.
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