Gabby Agbonlahor delivers £1bn verdict on Mikel Arteta as Arsenal pressure grows
Arsenal’s signing of Eberechi Eze has boosted the club’s optimism this season as Mikel Arteta’s side are searching for a fourth Premier League title.
The North London club have finished second in their last three Premier League campaigns but will be hoping to go one better this season.
Having beaten Manchester United 1-0 on the opening weekend of the season, Arteta’s side now welcome new boys Leeds United to the Emirates Stadium this weekend.
The match will likely see new signings Martin Zubimendi and Viktor Gyokeres make their home debuts for the Gunners and incumbent signing Eze may also make an appearance after the club’s sensational hijacking of Tottenham’s transfer.
As Arteta’s squad gets boosted by another signing many in the media believe that Arsenal are now entering crunch time in their hunt for success.
Pressure increases on Mikel Arteta after Eberechi Eze deal completed
Having shelled out over £150million on transfer dealings this summer Arteta will now have to push Manchester City and Liverpool close in the title race.
Speaking on talkSPORT, Gabby Agbonlahor believe’s it’s now or never for Arteta: “If they don’t win one of the big ones… I think it is time to go.”
“The big ones” Agbonlahor refers to are the Champions League and Premier League, with the ex-Aston Villa man also highlighting Arteta’s lack of trophy success despite his transfer spendings.
“One FA Cup he’s won, that was in 2020. That’s all he’s won after spending £1bn,” Agbonlahor continued to say that at the very least this side has to compete closely for the title, finishing within five points of top spot.
Transfer spend rockets but is it enough for Arsenal to win the league?
Football Insider verdict
After being the league’s bridesmaids three years in a row, Arsenal fans will be confident that a summer window that solved their three biggest needs is a enough to end that trend.
Gyokeres comes to Arsenal as one of Europe’s hottest strikers in recent seasons, Zubimendi can help to control the midfield possession, and Eze brings an X-factor this side sorely lacks without Bukayo Saka and Declan Rice in the side.
It could be argued that Arsenal have the league’s best cohorts at each position group heading into this season and Andrea Berta has also added quality in depth for Arteta on the bench.
| Player | From | Fee |
| Martin Zubimendi | Real Sociedad | £60m |
| Viktor Gyokeres | Sporting CP | £57m |
| Noni Madueke | Chelsea | £48.5m |
| Cristhian Mosquera | Valencia | £12.9m |
| Christian Norgaard | Brentford | £10m |
| Kepa Arrizabalaga | Chelsea | £5m |
However, while Arsenal have strengthened so have Manchester City and Liverpool, with both sides also kicking off their Premier League seasons in fine fashion.
Liverpool have added Bundesliga trio Hugo Ekitike, Florian Wirtz and Jeremie Frimpong along with Milos Kerkez, to improve their title-winning side from last season.
Meanwhile, Manchester City have signed Rayan Ait-Nouri, Tijjani Reijnders and Rayan Cherki, plugging the holes in their squad that saw them fall off drastically last season.
All three teams no possess quality in depth that will allow them to compete on multiple fronts this campaign but no doubt all three sides will be aiming to hoist the Premier League trophy in May.