A CLEAR ED
Arsenal’s outstanding recruitment is thanks to 180-PAGE dossiers on transfer targets that analyse five key attributes
The process appears to be working with 11 hits out of 26 signings for Arteta
ARSENAL write up dossiers 180 PAGES long as part of their detailed transfer policy.
Sporting director Edu Gaspar and manager Mikel Arteta are at the forefront of the club's strategy for finding new recruits.
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And their meticulous approach involves compiling forensic-level packages about possible incoming players - with particular emphasis on five key attributes.
Edu told : "You can’t sign [a player] for the sake of signing.
"It has to be a process that takes weeks and weeks.
"On my desk, I have reports of over 180 pages on one player.
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"It’s really detailed stuff - physical, technical, mental profile, whether he has Premier League experience, whether he’ll be able to adapt - everything.
"We analyse our deficiencies, where we can improve, where we can invest and then we go in search of that new name.
"We’ve been discussing what I’m going to do now since January. It’s not my decision or Mikel’s, it’s a group decision."
Edu's method appears to be justified, too, with plenty of recent successes in the transfer window and Arsenal challenging at the top of the Premier League table once again, finishing second for the last two seasons including missing out to Manchester City on the final day in 2023-24.
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In fact, there is an argument that there have been no major, glaring failures for the last two seasons.
In reality, though, under the Arteta regime - starting in December 2019 - 12 of the 26 arrivals in North London are certain hits.
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Couple that with 11 misses and that leaves three men on whom the jury is still out over.
And the majority of those that did not work out were back in the early days of Arteta's reign.
Willian arguably was the worst of the lot - but thankfully for the Gunners' accountants, he arrived as a free agent.
As did Cedric Soares, while Mat Ryan was a loanee.
Pablo Mari was a £10million flop, as were Runar Alex Runarsson (£1m), Nuno Tavares (£7m) and Albert Sambi Lokonga (£17m).
Thomas Partey proved an expensive miss, with Arsenal shelling out £45m to Atletico Madrid in 2020, as injuries and poor form have overshadowed his Emirates time - which could end this summer.
SunSport's verdict on Arsenal stars
Mikel Arteta is looking to get Arsenal ready to beat Man City to the title after another near miss, but he may need to be brutal with his squad in order to do so. Here's SunSport's verdict on who should stay and who should go.
David Raya – STAY: Initial doubts arose when he replaced Aaron Ramsdale, but he has since proven himself to be a world-class keeper with all the attributes needed for Arteta’s way of playing.
Aaron Ramsdale – GO: Unfortunate to be cast aside for Raya, but is now looking for a move to become a regular No.1 elsewhere, especially with his aspirations of one day starting in goal for England.
Karl Hein - STAY: Unlikely to take Ramsdale’s spot as No.2 should the Englishman depart - but the club cannot afford to lose two keepers in one window.
William Saliba - STAY: Saliba is of the best young defenders in the world right now, Arteta should be building his team around him. A vital part of the side’s spine that conceded just 29 Prem goals this term.
Ben White - STAY: Another solid member of Arteta’s impressive back four. Has the flexibility to play on the right or as a central defender, but has made right-back his own this term.
Gabriel - STAY: Was on the outskirts at the start of the campaign but forced his way back in and has forged an almighty partnership with Saliba in the middle of the defence. One of Arteta's most important signings.
Jurrien Timber - STAY: Yet to see the best of the Dutchman after an injury-hit season, but Arteta views him as a game-changing full-back.
Jakub Kiwior - STAY: The Polish international has struggled to break up the duo of Saliba and Gabriel but has impressed when called upon, especially in a stint at left-back.
Cedric - GO: Leaving the club with his contract expiring. Never really convinced Arteta he could be relied upon and spent most of the season warming the bench.
Takehiro Tomiyasu - STAY: Another flexible and reliable figure that Arteta adores. Can play centre-back or right-back and is a real presence at set-pieces.
Oleksandr Zinchenko - GO: With Timber in line to be Arteta’s first choice at left-back, it is hard to see the Ukrainian starting many games for Arsenal next season. A good signing at £35m but has shown himself to be limited defensively.
Thomas Partey - GO: Injury prone and has looked leggy when finally back from his thigh issues that kept him out from October until March. Contract is up next summer.
Martin Odegaard - STAY: Captain fantastic. A real leader amongst men at such a young age. The 25-year-old is on course to lift the Prem at Arsenal sooner rather than later.
Emile Smith Rowe - STAY: Sidelined for most of the term and struggled to make an impact when called upon, but Arteta still sees something in him. A decent squad option but you get the feeling he is running out of time to prove to the club he is a player worth sticking with.
Jorginho - STAY: Arteta’s experienced general who, more often than not, has Arsenal playing better with him in the team.
Fabio Vieira - GO: Perhaps harsh to judge him based on just 16 appearances in all competitions this season but still looks out of place in English football. A loan move could help.
Mohamed Elneny - GO: Another player departing with his contract expiring. The right call by both parties. A good servant from the Arsene Wenger days.
Kai Havertz - STAY: Seems a bargain now at £65m from Chelsea following his barnstorming end to the season. Arteta bought him as a midfielder, yet now leads the line as a first-choice No.9.
Declan Rice - STAY: Arsenal’s most important and influential signing in years. Enough said.
Bukayo Saka - STAY: An undroppable superstar for club and country right now. Will undoubtedly get even better in seasons to come.
Gabriel Jesus - STAY: Fighting for a starting spot but right now but would be foolish to let him go given how much he can impact games and his winning mentality inside the group.
Gabriel Martinelli - STAY: A dip in form this term but Arteta has huge faith in him. The added competition with Leandro Trossard will only make him better.
Eddie Nketiah - GO: Career is at a crossroads right now and he needs to leave to turn that around. His six-figure wages could put Premier League suitors off.
Leandro Trossard - STAY: Can bring his qualities as a starter or from the bench – a brilliant option to have when you are going for a title.
Reiss Nelson - GO: Arteta has often spoken of Nelson’s potential and likes having him around the squad, but his impact has withered over the past 12 months.
Gabriel Magalhaes (£27m) is the only real hit from the early Arteta days, forming a superb partnership with William Saliba in the heart of defence.
In the summer of 2021, Ben White (£50m) and Martin Odegaard (£30m) have proven fantastic bits of business.
Takehiro Tomiyasu is a £19.5m hit while £30m goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale did not do a lot wrong before being usurped by impressive loanee David Raya last summer.
Auston Trusty and Matt Turner were blatant misses, while fans can probably cut Marquinhos and £34m midfielder Fabio Vieira more slack.
The most recent arrivals have largely slotted in well under Arteta with Gabriel Jesus (£45m), Leandro Trossard (£26m), Jakub Kiwior (£22m) and Jorginho (£12m) all playing a specific role within the squad.
Oleksandr Zinchenko cost £32m but the signing of Jurrien Timber in 2023 shows the Ukrainian has not quite worked out at left-back - although the jury is still out on the Dutchman following his long-term injury lay-off.
Tactics Exposed: Why Kai Havertz is Arsenal’s most important player
By Dean Scoggins
KAI HAVERTZ endured a difficult start to life at the Emirates after his big-money move from Chelsea.
But has now well and truly found his feet.
The German, 24, has found his scoring boots in recent weeks, including his double against his old club.
But Havertz has been providing much more than goals in recent months.
In fact he has become Mikel Arteta’s most important player as Arsenal go for the title.
That’s after the Spanish boss made a genius tactical switch.
Read more on how Mikel Arteta is using Kai Havertz.
Or to watch the .
That leaves the two other 2023 marquee big-money signings - and both have gone down a treat with Arteta, Edu and the Arsenal fans.
Chelsea snapped Arsenal's hand off for the £65m offered for Kai Havertz.
After a slow start, he has won over the Gooners - and their tongue-in-cheek chant is getting better and better with each passing game.
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That leaves the biggest signing - and quite likely the biggest success - of all, £105m arrival Declan Rice.
The England star turned down Manchester City and then turned Arsenal's midfield around, immediately capturing the hearts of the fanbase.
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