Arsenal entertheir most important summer transfer window yet this year but everything has changed. Last summer, whilst they had Champions League football back as an attractive quality following many years out of Europe’s elite competition, the subsequent campaign has again transformed the look of the Gunners.
Where before a title race in the 2022/23 campaign came as a surprise to many, several critics claimed this was something of a ‘one-off’ and that the Gunners would return to type this season. How wrong they were.
Arsenal are again challenging for the league and, with two games to go, remain in with a chance of winning it. However, even if they don’t pull off the unlikely task their establishment as one of England’s competitors for the top honours has had a major impact on their reputation.
They also reached the quarter-finals of the Champions League for the first time in 14 years. Mikel Arteta has stated, with similar words from members of his squad, that the aim is to go again every season trying to win the biggest trophies – a message to any prospective signings they might look to make.
Names are constantly thrown around with the likes of Alexander Isak, Frenkie de Jong and Joshua Kimmich being spoken of — elite players with the latter pair already at two of Europe’s top sides. Before, Arsenal relied upon their own historic name to entice some of the world’s stars when their stock at the top level was no longer matching their name.
«We are a reference in the football world,” were the words of former Gunners Head of Football Raul Sanllehi. “So when Arsenal knocks on the door of players it’s a different knock than other clubs.”
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