Despite a £76m summer spree, Arteta will be told to carry on spending before window shuts ... to avoid propping up the league at the end of August
MIKEL ARTETA is facing a decisive month in his reign as Arsenal boss with the very real fear of finishing August bottom of the Premier League.
The Gunners lost their season opener at Brentford with a shaky defensive display that will leave many of their fans deeply concerned about what lies ahead.
Arsenal’s fixtures are now unforgiving. First, they entertain Chelsea on Sunday, who are boosted by the arrival of £97.5million striker Romelu Lukaku.
That is followed by a trip to Manchester City on August 28 in the third and final game before the international break.
Unless they get a result against either the European champions or reigning Premier League champions, Arsenal will finish the month without a point.
Arteta cut a lonely and disconsolate figure in the tunnel after the defeat at Brentford and things could get a lot worse before they get better.
It immediately puts him under pressure, but the club are willing to sanction at least two and possibly three more transfers before the window shuts at the end of the month.
Incredibly, they have already spent £76m this summer on Ben White, Albert Sambi Lokonga and Nuno Tavares so the club are backing the manager to the hilt.
They still want a new goalkeeper – Sheffield United’s Aaron Ramsdale (top) has been their No.1 target – to give competition to Bernd Leno.
Unless the Blades drop their £30m price then Arsenal could end up looking for a loan keeper, while midfield creativity and a fresh striker are also in their sights.
The Gunners have held negotiations with Real Madrid over Martin Odegaard (circle, below with Arteta) about a £30m move to the Emirates after the Norway captain spent the second half of last season on loan at the club.
They were admirers of Tammy Abraham but never remotely came close to signing him because they have to ship out one of their strikers PierreEmerick Aubameyang, Alexandre Lacazette or Eddie Nketiah to make room in the squad and on the wage bill.
It was a similar issue for Granit Xhaka, who looked to be on his way but Roma could not reach an agreement, and the Swiss midfielder is staying with a new contract.
Hector Bellerin also told the club last season he wanted a new challenge, yet there have been no suitable takers so far.
Arsenal still expect to do business and that may be helped by offloading Joe Willock to Newcastle in a £25m deal. But technical director Edu may have to be clever in the market and get rid of more players.
Brazilian misfit Willian, 33, is surplus to requirements and Arsenal could look to the loan market and swap deals to try to plug the obvious gaps and imbalances in the squad.
Premier League clubs are finding the market difficult this summer and there will be no quick-fix solutions to dig Arteta out of trouble.
The unwavering support and backing for Arteta will be some comfort for the Arsenal boss but they also expect some results.
They also face a trip to West Brom in the Carabao Cup between Chelsea and City and, if they go out of that competition and end the month bottom, it could be a very rocky few weeks for Arteta.