[ad_pod ]
This article is part of Football FanCast’s Pundit View series, which provides opinion and analysis on recent quotes from journalists, pundits, players and managers…
Speaking on talkSPORT, Arsenal legend Martin Keown has delivered his verdict on the Gunners’ transfer business this summer.
What did he say?
After a disappointing end to the campaign last season, Arsenal’s work in the transfer market has certainly raised the sense of optimism surrounding the club.
The north London side broke their transfer record to sign Lille winger Nicolas Pepe, whilst deadline day deals for Kieran Tierney and David Luiz added to their defensive options.
[ad_pod ]
Having also seen the Gunners sell Alex Iwobi for big-money, Keown delivered his assessment of Arsenal’s overall business this summer.
He said: “The price Everton paid is staggering, but it’s good business from Arsenal. They needed to generate some cash, so they’ve got that money in to recoup and they spent money on deadline day defensively.
“Pepe is rapid and if you look at our two front players, they are as good as anything in the Premier League. Aubameyang is really quite a special player. He is the closest thing I’ve seen to Thierry Henry since he left and that’s high praise for him. But I’m still concerned about the midfield and the security they give the back-four. Will David Luiz get the protection he’s going to need?” A fine summer’s work
When Unai Emery’s side slipped to a humbling 4-1 defeat to Chelsea in the Europa League final, very few could have imagined the kind of turnaround in mood the Gunners would experience by the start of the new season. The north London club have addressed many of the key issues that plagued them during Emery’s first campaign in charge, and made a mockery of the reported £45m budget most thought they had.
Pepe’s pace and directness offers Arsenal the chance to play a tantalising front three involving the Ivorian, Alexandre Lacazette and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang. Further back, Tierney and Luiz should help to solidify a defence that conceded 51 goals in the Premier League last season. So from the position they started in a couple of months ago, there is no doubting the Gunners have had a fine summer.
[ad_pod ]