Arsenal eclipse 'best' summer transfer window with next two signings to set new standard
When it comes to Arsenal's summer transfer windows, the general consensus is that last year's was the 'best', certainly in recent memory as Mikel Arteta outlined his three-step plan in response to missing out on Champions League qualification and Edu Gaspar delivered.
«Obviously the physical aspect is very important,» the Spaniard said when speaking to the club's official website. «After five weeks, the players need to get in good shape and the best possible condition to compete at the levels that the Premier League requires. Then mentally, we need to prepare the team with the ideas that we have, with the values that we have, with the ambition that we want to take into the league.
»Third, to get the cohesion of the team right, the understanding of the game, what we are looking for, our game model, our principles, and how we're going to develop that in the next five weeks to get to the Premier League in the best possible stage."
In terms of squad cohesion, getting deals done for Marquinhos, Fabio Vieira, Matt Turner and Gabriel Jesus at the beginning of July was key as aside from the Portuguese playmaker, the Gunners' summer signings all played some part in the first three fixtures of the pre-season schedule.
Then as Oleksandr Zinchenko arrived before the end of July, he was able to feature against Chelsea and Sevilla. As things turned out, all of this was beneficial for Arteta. He had his squad in place before the opener against Crystal Palace on August 5 and the win at Selhurst Park was ultimately the catalyst for a Premier League title challenge.
But fast forward 12 months and there's a strong argument that Arsenal have already eclipsed last summer's 'best' transfer window and that's despite Kai Havertz being the sole
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