Mikel Arteta bolstered Arsenal’s attack with three new signings in the summer transfer window.
Viktor Gyokeres became the long-awaited striker signing, while Eberechi Eze and Noni Madueke arrived to bring competition to the Arsenal squad.
The jury is still out on the three signings, particularly Gyokeres, who is struggling to adapt to Arteta’s style of play.
Regardless of the external noise, the Arsenal manager is satisfied with his striker, as his arrival represents more than just goals, which is the same case with Madueke.
Change our mind – Noni Madueke was Arsenal’s best summer signing by an absolute mile… 👀
Mikel Arteta opens up about the significance of Viktor Gyokeres and Noni Madueke’s transfers to Arsenal
During an interview with TNT Sports, the boss was asked about his summer signings.
Arteta waxed lyrical about Martin Zubimendi, which led him to be asked what the midfielder’s title-winning experience with Spain, alongside Mikel Merino, brings.
Arteta’s response was interesting, as he mentioned Gyokeres and Madueke’s trophy-winning experience following their summer moves to the Emirates.
“It does help, and as well we have players, Noni for example, or Viktor, he won the [Portuguese] championship last year.”
Based on trophies, the most successful player in the current Arsenal squad is….
Madueke won the Europa Conference League with Chelsea last season, while Gyokeres won the double with Sporting CP; experience Arteta deems to be ‘very important’.
“All this helps, we all know that unlocking the first big trophy is something that psychologically is very, very important”, Arteta continued.
“Because one, you have that belief that you can do it, and you’ve done it, and you have a sense of the journey and the key thing is you have to master to actually do it is very important, and now we’re going to do it.”
The boss is fixated on delivering long-overdue major silverware to the Emirates, understanding the importance of adding trophy-hungry players to his squad.
Mikel Arteta’s 2022 transfers clearly taught him a lesson
Unsurprisingly, six of Arsenal’s summer signings arrived having won major silverware since the 2023/24 season started.
It wasn’t only a showing of their quality, but of Arteta’s intent, as he’s clearly been inspired by the signings he made back in 2022.
Oleksandr Zinchenko and Gabriel Jesus raised the bar at Arsenal, arriving having won multiple Premier League titles with Pep Guardiola.
The pair were integrated into Arteta’s project, and lo and behold, the Gunners became title contenders.
Arteta realised then that adding title-winning experience could take his team to a new level, adding a new requirement to Arsenal’s transfer candidates.
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