David Ornstein: Arsenal could exceed last summer’s transfer spend

David Ornstein has suggested that Arsenal could match or exceed last summer’s transfer outlay, with at least three positions in mind to strengthen.

Speaking to TNT Sports, The Athletic’s David Ornstein gave an update over the weekend on Arsenal’s plans for the summer transfer market. The Gunners spent big last year, but they could be set to do so again once the window reopens.

“They spent £267m in the market last summer, they recouped very little,” Ornstein began. “They know the need to improve at that top end.

“The left-sided attack is a big priority for them, they’ve been looking at it for a few years. I think this may be the summer where they really do go for something, they’ve got the options there.

“They want a #6/#8 midfielder, they want to strengthen at right-back as well, so when you tally up the amount they’ve got to do, you could see that outlay in the market from last summer repeated, or even exceeded.”

As Ornstein mentions, Arsenal have long been in the market for improvements on the left side of attack, but potential deals have almost always ended up falling through.

There were some suggestions that Noni Madueke’s signing was intended to improve the left wing, and Eberechi Eze was also used there at times. But both have ended up more commonly utilised in other areas of the pitch.

That has left Leandro Trossard and Gabriel Martinelli as Arsenal’s foremost options, which has been the case for a number of years now. Arsenal have clearly felt the need to upgrade, but they’ve been unable to so far.

The midfield and right-back signings are likely to coincide with exits, as Christian Norgaard and Ben White are both seemingly on the market. Should they both leave, Arsenal will understandably have to make some additions.

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