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