The summer transfer window shuts in just a few weeks and Arsenal has already confirmed the addition of 4 first-team players. Looking at Arsenal’s recent history in the summer transfer window, this is a fairly unfamiliar position for the club. For the last few years, Arsenal has made rushed and well-planned transfers; but most of the activity has happened in the last few weeks of the transfer window.
Mesut Ozil joining last season was a revolutionary transfer for Arsenal. It was the highest Arsenal had ever paid for a player in the club’s history and was a marquee signing that showed Arsene Wenger’s intent for the coming season. Arsenal had broken away from its regular transfer policy of only signing young players and developing their talent over years to prepare them for top-level football in the English Premier League. With Mesut Ozil, Arsenal had signed a player in his prime after he had established himself at another high-profile football club. Although not breaking the transfer record set in last season’s summer transfer window, Arsenal has done something similar with the signing of Alexis Sanchez.
Alexis Sanchez comes to the club for a rumoured £35 million. Considering he comes from Barcelona’s first-team, signing him is without a doubt the most impressive business Wenger has done in this transfer window. Sanchez is a physically small package with so many qualities, that he is probably going to be one of Arsenal’s most versatile players this season. His best attributes are his speed, creativity and strength which are all required from an attacking player in the English Premier League. While Sanchez is most adept on the left wing of a three-man attack, he is capable of playing down the middle as the target man and can also fit on the right flank if required. His time in Udinese proved that he can adapt his playing style to fit multiple roles including the number 10 position, playing in the hole behind the man striker.
Mathieu Debuchy joins Arsenal after spending 18 months in the Premier League at Newcastle United. Debuchy was a steal when Newcastle managed to secure his services in January 2013 from Lille where he established himself as a dependable right back. Newcastle got him for just £3 million. At the age of 29, he is now an Arsenal player and cost the Gunners all of £10 million. Not bad for a player who comes with Premier League experience and managed to keep Bacary Sagna out of the France national first-team; especially since he has come to Arsenal to fill in the shoes of Sagna himself.