Since Arsenal's transfer strategy flipped in 2020, tilting toward Mikel Arteta and his plan to assemble one of the best young squads in the world meaning they have have spent over £610million ($771m) on new players. The summer before that, they signed William Saliba as a teenage prodigy for a large sum as well.
It was the 2021 window that really represented the true shift, though. At the time it was the most the club had ever spent in one window but would be overtaken by the summer of 2022 and then 2023 as well. Stan Kroenke's dial moved. Partially a response to the European Super League shambles in April that year but also the failure of older, experienced players.
What sounded this change in direction out more than anything was the type of player being signed. Outside of Martin Odegaard's loan from Real Madrid, it consisted of players with a background at Bournemouth, Sheffield United, Peterborough, Leeds, Brighton, Bologna, Benfica and Anderlecht.
The reward of going so heavily into a young team wasn't immediately clear, the poor start to the 2021/22 season nearly cost Arteta his job. The atmosphere at the Emirates Stadium was as toxic and often mutinous as ever and the fact that these players had come largely from nothing meant there wasn't stacks of evidence to suggest things would get better.
The spending also didn't come with much to brag about in terms of sales. Over the same period just £122million ($155m) came in the other way leaving a large net spend and little but the odd FA Cup run to show for it.
Now Kroenke is reaping the benefits, as are Arteta, Josh Kroenke and Edu Gaspar. Of the 11 players that started in the 6-0 thrashing of Lens in the Champions League group stage game on Wednesday every one but three
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