The transfer window closes today and Arsenal still have a lot of business to complete, so what did Mikel Arteta have to say about any potential signings after Arsenal’s game against Sheffield United?
We all know Arsenal want a midfielder and are trying to ship a host of players out.
Matteo Guendouzi seems to have climbed down off his high horse and is off to Hertha Berlin for the season while we could be getting a young centreback from them in return.
After that, it’s all about Arsenal’s midfield. A deal for Houssem Aouar seems dead now so all attention has switched to Thomas Partey. Lucas Torreira should sign for Atletico Madrid on loan which Arsenal will no doubt hope helps in that pursuit.
If they can’t get Partey, Roma’s Amadou Diawara has long been mooted as another alternative.
Speaking after Arsenal’s 2-1 win over Sheffield United on Sunday, Arteta was asked about the window.
“Well I am confident we know exactly what we want to do, we are all trying our best to finalise the deals that we want, whether that is sending someone on loan or bringing someone in,” Arteta said. “We have a complete connection and cohesion between Edu and myself, the board and the ownership, so let’s see what happens in the next 36 hours.
“What I can guarantee is that we are doing our maximum for that to happen, whether we are going to achieve it or not, I don’t know.
“I cannot discuss the players that we want but we recognise certain positions that we believe we are short in. First of all in numbers and then adding different qualities to complement each other and this is what we are trying to do.
“I think that I always try to be really honest and clear. Believe me that the ownership, the board, myself, are doing everything we can to maximise the resources we have to improve the team and to sustain and keep the players that are in this club to make this club successful. I have 100% backing from them. It’s not just words, it’s reality. Whoever knows me, if it wasn’t like that I wouldn’t say it but I say it because I feel it and it’s true.
“Whatever we can do, whether it’s ourselves or the owner, they are willing to do it to support us, to back us, because I feel that they believe in what we are trying to do.”
