Now that the summer transfer window is closed, Arsenal will reflect on the signings they made.
Arsenal signed eight players in the summer market, strengthening Mikel Arteta’s options beyond expectations.
Very few would’ve predicted that Arsenal would permit new sporting director Andrea Berta to spend over £250m, but freedom was granted and the squad looks to be in a far better place.
Whether it’s enough to deliver a long-overdue Premier League title to North London is yet to be seen, particularly as Arsenal’s rivals have also strengthened exponentially.
Hugo Ekitike and Viktor Gyokeres compared
Liverpool beat Arsenal 1-0 on matchday three, with the early signs suggesting that the two clubs will be the strongest competitors for the title.
After winning the Premier League last term, Arne Slot went on to spend an eye-watering £450m to make his squad even better, most recently welcoming Alexander Isak.
Isak will guarantee Liverpool goals, as will their earlier summer signing Hugo Ekitike, who has already scored three goals in four competitive appearances.
Ekitike was available when Arsenal were looking for a striker, but Berta was eager to bring Viktor Gyokeres to the Emirates.
The two have contrasting profiles but are similar in that they can put the ball in the net, with the pair recently discussed on ESPN FC.
Pundit Stuart Robson debated whether Arsenal made the wrong call on signing Gyokeres over Ekitike.
“Ekitike aka baby Thierry Henry, seems like the perfect profile for Arsenal. Did they buy the wrong number nine?”
After comparing the Frenchman to the Arsenal legend, Robson admitted the evidence is not yet clear enough to determine who acquired the better striker.
“Only time will tell. I mean, Ekitike’s different qualities to Gyokeres.
“Gyokeres, I think, is probably a better goal scorer. He’s probably a better box player. Ekitike’s got that little bit of pace. He can run with the ball. He can, and as Jan said a bit earlier, I think he can play in one or two different positions, whereas Gyokeres is an out-and-out centre forward.”
Manchester United’s striker signing, Benjamin Sesko, was also involved in the debate.
“Still to see what Sesko has got. I never really saw it when he was playing in Germany. I mean, he had one or two good games, but of the three at the moment, Ekitike looks the best signing.”
Ekitike has been compared to Thierry Henry
Gyokeres has received criticism so early into his Arsenal career, despite having an identical Premier League scoring tally to Ekitike thus far.
That being said, when it comes to players who possess a sprinkle of Arsenal DNA, the Frenchman is the more ‘Arsenal-like’ profile.
It’s not only Robson who has compared Ekitike to Henry, as Owen Hargreaves did when speaking on TNT Sports’ The Breakdown.
“I think because Thierry started on the left and then graduated to be a centre forward, those comparisons are quite relevant,” Hargreaves said of the two players.
“When you watch them side by side, obviously there’s a lot to live up to with Thierry, but he’s got something, that’s for sure.”
Arsenal have their man, and Liverpool have theirs, with only the future holding the answers to whether either club will rue their decision.
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