There's been a lot of talk about our transfers this window for different reasons but largely because of the level of expectation. Fans have big dreams for the coming season but starangely, even rivals have been talking about us more than I expected.
For Spurs fans like @blanchy, I understand the need to talk about Arsenal's business. A Premier league title for Arsenal will be the closest Spurs have come to a major trophy since Sol Campbell touched the medal as part of the Invincibles.
For rivals like Manchester United, Liverpool and not Spurs, it is an opportunity to size up our business to see if there will truly be any improvement. At the end of the day, we all know that Arsenal is in their heads, but that's how it goes.
For what it's worth, Manchester City will still be the team to beat and their treble success will add further fuel to just how huge a mountain it is to touch them. Pep's charges are a dominant force in World football and no one is even a whisker of touching them.
Ironically, if everyone could just play like Spurs, City won't be these monsters but that would mean having to bear watching haram football in other game weeks. Yeah, no one wants to see that.
Anyway, our transfers have been at the forefront of most conversations because of the weight of expectations behind them. I like this weight and every player that joins needs to be under pressure because demands are high.
Incomings and Outgoings
The only confirmed transfer this season is the exit of Maitland-Niles, who departs the Emirates after signing with our academy as a primary school boy. He spent last season out on loan and couldn't do anything to stop the Saints from going down.
Interestingly, it is one of Maitland-Niles teammates that interests Arsenal. We're rumoured to be interested in bringing Belgian Midfielder Romeu Lavia for an undisclosed fee.
I reckon the Saints could be looking to offload some of their prized assets in their bid to navigate the perilous championship. Lavia is one of the bright spots in the Saint's underwhelming season and despite their poor showing, the central midfielder's stocks shone.
Lavia's season is reminiscent of the kind of form that Wjanaldum showed as a Newcastle midfielder when they got relegated and he was scuppered up by Liverpool. He went on to win the Champions League as part of an impressive Midfield Three for Liverpool and Lavia has the potential to achieve that.
Speaking of the Champions League, we are also interested in signing the forward that scored the winning goal for Chelsea in their most recent Champions League triumph over City. havertz knows how to break City's hearts and while being a very profligate forward, it's his other attributes that will shine at Arsenal.
Adding Kai and Lavia to Rice will bring three efficient ball carriers that are comfortable in tight spaces and will be able to knit things together. They will work in tandem with the Mercurial Odegard as Arsenal tries to compete for the title again.
Gundogan and Cencelo are two other names that have been linked to us but I seriously doubt any of them will actually come our way. Both look destined for Barcelona but let's see how things go.
Xhaka is almost certainly going to be heading to Germany, Tierney's future is still uncertain, despite recent reports and shockingly, Thomas Partey has also been rumoured to be courting interest from outside.
I hope we'll finally see the end of Holding's time at Arsenal and we reduce our RCB dependency on Saliba. Regardless of how the window goes, I know we will be stronger because we have a manager that knows what he's doing and can improve the squad. Till we meet again, up the Arsenal.
