Mikel Arteta has reacted to Arsenal's failure to sign a top-class forward during the summer transfer window by insisting he is happy with the squad he has at the Emirates Stadium, ahead of their early-season blockbuster clash against Chelsea on Sunday.
English Premier League champions Arsenal missed out on targets Morgan Rogers, Vinicius Junior and Julian Alvarez, while only bringing in Greek winger Christos Tzolis from Club Brugge. Meanwhile, Leandro Trossard, Gabriel Jesus and Gabriel Martinelli all left the North London club, reducing the Gunners' options up front.
But Arsenal manager Arteta said this past Friday: "I love the players that we have, that is for sure.
"It is what it is, this is what we have and we already have some very, very good players. Let's trust them and let's make sure we are right behind them, and I will do everything we can to help the incredible talent that we have."
Following May's agonising defeat by Paris Saint-Germain in the Uefa Champions League final, Arteta said he wanted Arsenal to be "very ambitious, very fast and very smart" during the transfer window. And he believes they have lived up to those hopes, with Bruno Guimaraes and Ezri Konsa among the new arrivals at the Emirates.
Piero Hincapie has also returned on a permanent deal after joining on loan last season.
"100% ticked," Arteta added. "The outcome after can be different to what you expect, but the intention was certainly there, which is what I value most."
Martinelli's departure for Saudi side Al Hilal in a reported £60 million (about R1.3 billion) deal ended the Brazilian's seven-year spell at Arsenal that saw him make nearly 300 appearances for the club.
"He goes with our gratitude," said Arteta. "It's been a pleasure to work with him, to be part of this journey with him."
Meanwhile, Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso hopes everyone at Stamford Bridge can now "move forward" following the protracted sale of Enzo Fernandez to Manchester City.
The Argentina midfielder left Stamford Bridge to join City in a British record-equalling £125m (R2.7bn) deal ahead of the window closing on Tuesday.
Chelsea had hoped to offset Fernandez's exit by bringing in midfielder Lamine Camara from Monaco, but that move collapsed when the Ligue 1 side backed out, having not signed a deal sheet before the window closed.
Alonso, though, insists his focus is on the future, starting with their trip across London to the Gunners, when Chelsea will be bidding to maintain their 100% start to the new campaign.
"We take all the decisions together," Alonso said on Friday. "We are responsible for them with our work together, the big ones, small ones.
"We knew ultimately the last goal is to have the best for the team, for the squad, for daily work here. We want to build a good spirit and a good team, and we have always taken the decisions thinking that we wanted to reach that."
Alonso added: "In football many things happen, and you need to be prepared for everything.
"With Enzo, we have had conversations, but always with respect as well.
"What he has done for the club, it has been great, and we are thankful, but now it is time to move forward. We have a lot of big personalities, players with a lot of quality in all the different positions and now we are ready to go." | AFP