Cedric takes on important role; Rice premium £33.5m

So, another transfer window closes, with all the excitement in the early part.

In the last week, the majority of Arsenal fans were concerned about the lack of defensive cover, given Jurrien Timber’s injury and the exits of Mari, Trusty, Tierney, Tavares and Holding. It was assumed that Cedric Soares would go, but he now takes on an important role, being able to play on the left and right of the defence.

Mikel Arteta stresses the multi-functional role of players, and Soares provides good back up to Ben White, Takihero Tomiyasu and Jakub Kiwior who can perform at least two defensive roles, along with Partey and Rice from midfield, if necessary.

One uncertainty remains – over Nicolas Pepe who has a year left on his contract after a year on loan at Nice. There are one or two Arsenal fans thinking a back-up is needed for Bukayo Saka, but Pepe has been training away from the squad and hasn’t featured at all so far. There was some interest from Saudi Arabia, but that appears to have cooled. And there are reports that Arsenal want to terminate his contract.

Declan Rice: Football Benchmark says transfer premium is £33.5m

There’ an interesting statistic from Football Benchmark over Declan Rice’s fee (for a guaranteed £100m plus £5m in potential add-ons). They say it represents a premium of £33.5m. Football Benchmark’s objective valuations are calculated using comparable deals, player performance, position, age and existing contract. They don’t take into account competition for a player’s signing or their commercial importance. Rice is second on the over-payment list after Moises Caicedo at £34m.

ARSENAL MEN INS

David Raya -Brentford, loan

Kai Havertz -Chelsea, £65m

Declan Rice -West Ham, £105m

Jurrien Timber -Ajax, £38m

ARSENAL MEN OUTS

Folarin Balogun -Monaco, £34.3m

Kieran Tierney -Real Sociedad, loan

Matt Turner -Nottingham Forest, £10m

Granit Xhaka -Bayer Leverkusen, £21.4m

Pablo Mari -Monza, £6m

Auston Trusty -Sheffield United, £5m

Nikolaj Moller -St Gallen, undisclosed

Mazeed Ogungbo -Barrow, undisclosed

Matt Smith -Wigan, free

Ainsley Maitland-Niles -Lyon, free

Mauro Bandeira -Colchester, loan

Hubert Graczyk -Slough Town, loan

Billy Vigar -Eastbourne, loan

Mika Biereth -Motherwell, loan

Zach Awe -Southampton, free

Charlie Patino -Swansea, loan

Marquinhos -Nantes, loan

Ben Cottrell -NS Mura, undisclosed

Tom Smith -Colchester, free

Joel Ideho -Released

George Lewis -Released

Kaleel Green -Released

Alexandar Kovacevic -Released

Tino Quamina -Released

Mathaeus Roberts -Released

Alex Runarsson -Cardiff, loan

Tyreece John-Jules -Derby, loan

Brooke Norton-Cuffy -Millwall, loan

Nuno Tavares -Nottingham Forest, loan

Nathan Butler-Oyedeji -Cheltenham, loan

Arthur Okonkwo -Wrexham, loan

Omar Rekik -Wigan, loan

Albert Sambi Lokonga -Luton, loan

Rob Holding -Crystal Palace, £4m

ARSENAL WOMEN INS

Alessia Russo – Manchester United

Laia Cordina – Barcelona

Amanda Illestedt – PSG

Cloe Lacasse – Benfica

LOANS

Freya Godfrey – Charlton Athletic

Kaylan Marcese – Bristol City

Michelle Agyemang – Watford

Laila Harbert – Watford

Katie Reid – Watford

OUTS

Rafaelle Souza – Orlando Pride

Fran Stenson – Sheffield United

Anne Patten – Aston Villa

Mana Iwabuchi – retired