Arsenal, a crew as soon as recognized for penny-pinching and refusing to spend too extravagantly underneath the administration of Arsène Wenger, have since turn into way more liberal of their spending lately.
Nevertheless, whereas the likes of Manchester United and Chelsea have seen their monumental spending sprees quantity to nothing, the Gunners have been reworked from a crew preventing to complete eighth to 1 of their third Premier League title race in as a few years.
Furthermore, the North Londoners are nonetheless not fairly as glad to splash the money as a few of their nearest rivals, as this summer season they spent underneath £100m, which was a dramatic discount of their spending in comparison with final summer season.
In 2023, Arsenal went all out to safe the companies of a number of top-class gamers, together with Jurrien Timber, however earlier than they settled on the Ajax star, they have been reportedly eager on one other defender who would go on to affix Tottenham Hotspur.
Arsenal’s 2023 summer season switch window
Final summer season, Arsenal spent over £200m on transfers for the primary time of their historical past, £105m of which went in the direction of the seize of West Ham United captain Declan Rice.
The Englishman is way and away the Gunners’ document switch, however that strain hasn’t impacted him, as within the 12 months and a bit since his arrival, the 25-year-old has proven simply why he was value each penny, making 63 appearances throughout all competitions, scoring eight targets, offering 12 assists and making it into the PFA Group of the 12 months.
The second most costly addition final summer season, Kai Havertz, value about £65m, and whereas he struggled early on, he has additionally turn into an integral a part of Arteta’s crew.
For instance, whereas he is scored simply six targets and offered no assists in 33 midfield appearances, the German has been extremely efficient up high, scoring 13 targets and offering eight assists in 29 video games, equating to a objective involvement each 1.38 video games.
Lastly, Timber joined Arteta’s North London title chasers from Ajax for round £38m following a superb marketing campaign with the Amsterdam membership by which he made 47 appearances, scored two targets and offered two assists.
Nevertheless, following a powerful preseason, the Utrecht-born defender suffered an ACL harm within the season’s opening sport in opposition to Nottingham Forest and would not return to the crew till the ultimate match of the marketing campaign in opposition to Everton.
Luckily, whereas he is suffered a couple of minor knocks this 12 months, the “elite” worldwide, as dubbed by analyst Ben Mattinson, has remained comparatively match and, in his ten appearances to this point, has proven the supporters how efficient he could be throughout the backline.
Nevertheless, earlier than the membership settled on signing Timber in 2023, they have been supposedly eager on one other Dutch defender, somebody who went on to play for Spurs.
Arsenal’s curiosity in Micky van de Ven
Sure, it’d shock some, however in early 2023, Arsenal have been supposedly eager on then-Wolfsburg defender Micky van de Ven.
In actual fact, in keeping with a report from German journalist Christian Falk in March of final 12 months, the Gunners have been certainly one of many golf equipment scouting the Dutchman, alongside Liverpool, Manchester Metropolis, Barcelona, Inter Milan, Juventus, AC Milan and Roma.
Nevertheless, as everyone knows, the Wormer-born “freak”, as podcaster Michael Caley dubbed him for his outlandish tempo, went on to affix the opposite crew in North London for round £43m: Spurs.
Since then, the 23-year-old has established himself as arguably essentially the most essential defender on the membership.
His sensational velocity, which noticed him break the Premier League dash document final season, has allowed Ange Postecoglou to persist together with his aggressive high-line.
|
Van de Ven’s senior profession |
|||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Membership |
FC Volendam |
VfL Wolfsburg |
Tottenham Hotspur |
|
Appearances |
48 |
41 |
39 |
|
Targets |
2 |
1 |
3 |
|
Assists |
2 |
3 |
2 |
|
Objective Involvements per Match |
0.08 |
0.09 |
0.12 |
Nevertheless, the “dominant” centre-back, as dubbed by expertise scout Jacek Kulig, has one vital concern that would hamper his profession in the long run: accidents.
Because the begin of the 21/22 season, the ten-capped worldwide has injured his hamstring on 4 events – together with in opposition to Manchester Metropolis this week – and whereas that might be chalked as much as unhealthy luck, it does appear to be his explosive tempo makes him vulnerable to such points.
In the end, Van de Ven is an undeniably gifted participant and somebody who would most likely have helped make Arsenal even stronger because of his distinctive ability set, however contemplating how effectively Timber has performed for the Gunners and his compatriot’s worrying hamstring downside, Arteta most likely signed the suitable Dutchman in 2023.
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