Arsenal are fresh off the back of a blockbuster transfer window as they look to compete with fellow big spenders Liverpool for the Premier League title.

Andrea Berta and Mikel Arteta worked in tandem on some huge deals, with the former making quite an impression since replacing ex-sporting director Edu Gaspar in late March.

Kepa Arrizabalaga

£5m

Martin Zubimendi

£60m

Christian Norgaard

£15m

Noni Madueke

£52m

Cristhian Mosquera

£13m

Viktor Gyokeres

£55m

Eberechi Eze

£67.5m

Piero Hincapie

Loan

The Italian oversaw a transfer spend worth over £250 million on an array of new signings across the pitch, perhaps most notably Viktor Gyokeres and Eberechi Eze, who could both prove to be absolutely vital.

It is early days, but after Arsenal’s limp 1-0 defeat to Liverpool at Anfield last weekend, the Gunners have already attracted criticism for their lack of ingenuity in the final third, especially away from home.

“I feel like Arsenal, a bit like at Old Trafford, if you look at their attacking play, that day and today, just wasn’t good enough,” said pundit Roy Keane after their loss on Merseyside.

“I think it’s great when they have the defensive record that they have and their good at set pieces, you’ve got to give them credit for that. But if you’re dependent on that all the time then you come to Liverpool where they’re defending well, it’s hard to. Do something a little bit different. You’re looking at Arsenal going – do something off the cuff, do something quickly.

“Going forward, they are a bit robotic. With the set pieces, you give them a thumbs up, but they have to find something else.”

Eze and Gyokeres bagged 68 goals and 24 assists in all competitions between them last term, with the pair joining Kepa Arrizabalaga, Piero Hincapie, Cristhian Mosquera, Martin Zubimendi, Christian Norgaard and Noni Madueke as Berta’s first eight major signings as sporting director.

Berta’s deadline day capture of Hincapie was labelled a “masterstroke” as well, with Arteta now boasting two capable back-ups to William Saliba and Gabriel at the heart of his defence.

Amidst the international break, and as Arteta prepares for a crucial next game, controversial former Arsenal striker Emmanuel Adebayor has shared a very interesting story from his time at the Emirates Stadium.

Guardiola phoned Adebayor "every morning" in talks to sign him from Arsenal

The 41-year-old, in an interview with Sky Sports this week, shared the story behind his blockbuster move from north London to Man City — which, of course, resulted in that infamous away end celebration.

Before signing for City, Adebayor was a wanted man across Europe after 62 goals and 18 assists in 142 total appearances under Arsène Wenger, with then-Barcelona boss, a much younger Pep Guardiola, ringing the player “every morning” in a bid to sign him.

“I had Pep Guardiola as my wake-up call,” said Adebayor.

“He was the one waking me up every morning, six in the morning. ‘Hey Manu, please come to Barcelona’, I said I’m not coming,”

“Guardiola, what he has achieved, what he has done, he is one of the greatest managers that ever coached in football, he was calling me every single morning, but I made it clear to him that I’m fine at Arsenal.”

The forward didn’t end up staying at City either, and instead was the target of further loathing from supporters, even joining north London rivals Tottenham after a brief stint on loan there and at Real Madrid.

Adebayor’s last club was quite recently, Togolese side AC Semassi in 2023 to be exact, but didn’t manage a single goal there before finally deciding to hang up his boots for good.