Winners and Losers: 2021 Summer Transfer Window
Winners
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang
During preseason, Mikel Arteta’s affinity for playing Aubameyang on the left flank reared its ugly head again. For a forward who struggled in front of goal for a lot of last season, this was yet another unwelcome development. Fans were left hoping against hope that the manager simply lacked options in that area of the pitch. This probably has been indirectly solved by the signing of Martin Odegaard, which sees Emile Smith Rowe move to the left of the three behind the striker in Arteta’s preferred XI. This leaves Aubameyang locked in to the center forward role, which is good news for him. Additionally, the provision of three creative players in Smith Rowe, Odegaard, and Bukayo Saka behind the Gabonese striker should result in more chances per match for him, which in turn hopefully leads to more goals.
Albert Sambi Lokonga
When Granit Xhaka saw red against Manchester City, it appeared a matter of when and not if Arsenal signed another starting-caliber central midfielder in the dying days of the transfer market. However, they opted to stick with the core four of Xhaka, Thomas Partey, Mohamed Elneny, and Sambi. The young Belgian midfielder, who has already had an immensely impressive start to life in north London, is now poised to hang on to a starting berth along side Partey while Xhaka serves a three-match ban. If Sambi can make the most of this opportunity, he might just pip the Swiss captain to a more permanent spot in the first XI.
Ben White
When the promising English center-back first arrived, a cause for concern among many was White’s seeming preference for playing in a back three. Many wondered if he would be able to play alongside only one other central defender while Arsenal’s full-backs stormed forward. But the signing of Takehiro Tomiyasu might just be aimed at making things more comfortable for the club’s marquee signing from this summer. Tomiyasu, who can play both right-back and center-back, could feasibly end up line up as the former defensively and then shift into more of the latter when Arsenal are on the offensive. In either case, the Japanese defender definitely looks secure enough to provide support to White. This should hide the Englishman’s weaknesses on the defensive side of the game, and protect him as he settles in to the back line.
Kieran Tierney
To be candid, Arteta ran Tierney into the ground last year. Especially in the second half of the year, when Arsenal were entering a do-or-die moment in the season and had failed to sign cover for the Scottish left-back in the January transfer window, the manager’s insistence on playing Tierney in less significant fixtures was borderline reckless. Unfortunately, it was also understandable; Cedric and Xhaka were the two immediate options to play in the position after Tierney. Now, with the arrival of Nuno Tavares, Arsenal have a player who can fill in for one of their most important players and play in a comparable fashion. This in turn will allow Tierney to get important rest or, as we’ve seen already this season, leave the game as a precaution without fear of completely nullifying left-back. This will benefit Tierney and hopefully result in him having more availability in the long run.
The right flank
The signing of Tomiyasu not only helps White. It also will benefit Saka and Nicolas Pepe. A recurring issue with Arsenal’s right side is a seeming disconnect between the full-back and the winger. Early through balls are not played forward or the right-back will take up the same space as the right-winger when attacking. The club’s last acquisition in the transfer window will go some way toward remedying that, as the Japanese defender has demonstrated a propensity for smartly distributing the ball and will likely tuck into a back three or midfield instead of occupying the half-space Saka and Pepe like to inhabit. This means that Saka and Pepe will hopefully get played into threatening positions more often and won’t be interfered with when cutting in on their left foot to shoot or deliver an inswinging cross.
Losers
Gabriel Martinelli
This was supposed to be a breakout season for the young Brazilian. And it still might be. But the return of Smith Rowe to left-wing and probable relegation of Pepe to the bench ahead of him means Martinelli once again finds himself playing a supersub role this season. Hopefully, he will be able to contribute in some fashion and show what he can offer, but barring a couple of injuries Martinelli will not start many matches during the 2021-22 campaign. At 20, Arsenal’s No. 35 needs to start playing on a consistent basis, but the results of this transfer window look to have delayed that to an uncomfortable point.
Folarin Balogun
Arsenal’s striker room was not supposed to be this crowded at the end of the window. But with Alexandre Lacazette choosing to run down his contract and leave for free in 2022 and Eddie Nketiah’s personal term demands resulting in the collapse of a potential move to Crystal Palace, Balogun now may find himself behind three strikers at least until the new year. Based on Arteta’s demonstrated preference for the Chelsea match, Martinelli might make that four center forwards ahead of the promising Englishman in the pecking order. Balogun really should have been loaned out, as it looks like it will be quite difficult for him to find game time this season. Considering Arsenal almost lost him for nothing due to concerns over minutes on the pitch, they should look to send the Hale End product out on a temporary move as soon as possible in January.
Calum Chambers and Cedric Soares
After seven years at the club, Chambers’ time outside the “surplus to requirements” zone looks to finally be coming to an end. After a fruitful stint at right-back to end last season, Chambers has failed to maintain his form and has even probably regressed over the summer. As for Cedric, the Portuguese right-back had somehow seemed to claw back from Arteta dropping him like a hot coal midway through the 2020-21 season, only several months after he had been given a four-year contract at the age of 29. The arrival of Tomiyasu signals the end of both players’ relevance, especially since it seems that Arteta and Ainsley Maitland-Niles, who is now willing to play full-back, have reconciled. Chambers in effect has been directly replaced by Tomiyasu, while it is Cedric’s passing ability and defensive reliability that the Japanese defender makes obsolete.
Edu Gaspar
This summer transfer window had to be almost perfect for Edu to remain in good standing as the club’s technical director. And, well, it wasn’t. While it is difficult to knock him for not bringing in reinforcements in midfield and at center forward, the Arsenal squad falls short in those two departments compared to other rivals for the European places. But the main failure of the summer for Edu was not moving on enough players. Joe Willock, Willian, Matteo Guendouzi, and Dinos Mavropanos are the permanent departures. Hector Bellerin, Lucas Torreira, Runar Alex Runarsson, William Saliba, Miguel Azeez, and Reiss Nelson were all loaned out. However, the club are still stuck with Nketiah and Sead Kolasinac. Lacazette will leave for free in less than a year. Chambers and Cedric might get paid to do nothing this season. Several of the players loaned out will return and Arsenal will have only kicked the can down the road when it comes to permanently offloading them. At the end of the day, Edu failed to move players on who are not at the level, which is just as important as adding quality to a squad. If he loses his job, he cannot complain.
Mikel Arteta
The great irony of Arteta pushing for most of the players Arsenal acquired this summer is that he has essentially manager-proofed his squad. With the additions of Sambi, Tavares, White, Tomiyasu, Odegaard, and Aaron Ramsdale, the club have added to the core of pre-prime, high-ceiling talent that makes up the Arsenal project. With so many young, promising, and malleable players at the club now, whoever is manager doesn’t really matter. All Arsenal need is someone to get the talent to deliver on the pitch. If Arteta can’t do that, his signings this summer have made him obsolete enough that the club will feel compelled to protect their more valuable asset, the players, and bring in someone who can extract the performances those footballers are capable of. And with Arsenal in last place after three games, the pressure really is on the manager now. In improving the squad with such a long-term focus, Arteta may have all but guaranteed that he himself is not long for Arsenal Football Club.
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