Arsenal's landmark season concludes with the club celebrating a first Premier League title in 22 years, and they have the chance to cap it off with victory over Paris Saint-Germain in Saturday's Champions League final. However, things could have turned out very differently had the Gunners taken a different path in the transfer market last summer.
Alternative Transfer Strategy
Following three consecutive runners-up finishes, Mikel Arteta and new transfer chief Andrea Berta made a bold statement in the summer window. Martin Zubimendi, Viktor Gyokeres, and Ebere Eze were among the big-money arrivals as part of an eye-catching £250 million spree. When a 2-1 defeat to Manchester City on April 19 left the challengers three points adrift with a game in hand, it appeared Arsenal might once again fall agonisingly short. Instead, they stormed through their final five fixtures to finish the season a commanding seven points ahead of City at the summit, vindicating that summer business.
Had the North London outfit taken a different route in the transfer market, however, the story could have been vastly different. We have explored the alternative reality in which other targets found themselves heading to the Emirates Stadium.
Isak Deal Brings Injury Pain
Arsenal made a move for one long-sought Premier League target in the form of Gyokeres, but another was also available in the summer market. The Gunners had been heavily linked with Alexander Isak on numerous occasions and already have several of his former Real Sociedad team-mates on their books, including recent addition Zubimendi. Instead, the striker made the £125 million move from Newcastle to Liverpool for a Premier League record fee following a drawn-out transfer saga. By the time he touched down at Anfield, fellow Sweden international Gyokeres had already got off the mark with his first Premier League goals in North London.
Gyokeres was found wanting at times during the league season but was at least regularly available, whereas Isak's return of three goals in 14 outings tells its own story. What's more, the money saved enabled Arsenal to make a last-minute swoop for Eze and deny rivals Tottenham a major target.
Rodrygo Raid Has Repercussions
Another long-standing target, Rodrygo, looked surplus to requirements at Real Madrid following Xabi Alonso's appointment as manager. Seemingly deterred by a £77 million price tag, however, Arsenal opted for a cheaper option with Premier League experience in the form of Noni Madueke, maintaining the depth they had on the left while adding a player capable of functioning on either flank. Much like Gyokeres, Madueke delivered a campaign of standout moments without necessarily proving decisive when it mattered most. That still puts him ahead of Rodrygo, though, with the Brazilian clocking barely 1,000 minutes across all competitions before sustaining a cruciate ligament injury that will rule him out of the World Cup.
Injuries have repeatedly derailed Arsenal's title bids in recent seasons, with Kai Havertz's absence during the second half of last season being just one such instance, so avoiding another with Rodrygo could feel like a bullet dodged. Moreover, a swoop might well have persuaded Leandro Trossard he was surplus to requirements, depriving Arsenal of the Belgian's vital winner at West Ham during the run-in.
Arteta Under Pressure
"In my opinion, if Arsenal don't win a trophy this year, the management will consider finding another coach," former Arsenal star Robert Pires told Foot Mercato in September. "He's been here for five years and unfortunately, the title has eluded him. What's important for the fans is the league title. Money was spent in the summer transfer window. He made certain demands, which the Arsenal board has met. If Arsenal don't win the league, I think there will definitely be a change on the bench."
At the midpoint of the season, Arteta appeared well-placed to deliver at least one piece of silverware. A couple of domestic cup exits cast some uncertainty over his prospects, but those doubts were firmly put to bed when City's draw at Bournemouth confirmed the title would be returning to the capital. Yet would any of this have been achievable without Arteta's summer recruits? Had the Gunners misjudged their transfer business and left their boss reflecting on another year as a nearly man, there's every likelihood the pressure on him would have intensified considerably.
