Andrea Berta has just passed his first Arsenal transfer test, now he has £45m deficit to close

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Arsenal have acted swiftly in replacing the outgoing Thomas Partey.

Partey’s Arsenal departure was confirmed by Fabrizio Romano as the Ghanaian failed to agree terms on an extension to his time at the Emirates Stadium.

It would have left Mikel Arteta short in the centre of the park but Arsenal have agreed terms with Christian Norgaard and are expecting to complete the signing in the coming days.

Andrea Berta will be seen to have passed his first real test at Arsenal by moving quickly to bring in Partey’s replacement but he now has the task of closing a gap that has plagued the Gunners for many years.

READ MORE: Video of Mikel Arteta ‘seething’ with rage at Christian Norgaard just two months ago as Arsenal agree terms

Arsenal’s record sale is way below the Premier League top six

The Gunners have notoriously struggled to sell players in the past and often end up accepting fees that are deemed below the player’s true market value.

Arsene Wenger had to sell the likes of Robin Van Persie and Cesc Fabregas during his reign in order to help pay off the new stadium.

However, in recent years, under no such financial pressures, the club has still struggled to recoup major sales and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain remains their highest sale in a £35m switch to Liverpool.

Arsenal have a deficit of £45m compared to the next lowest record sale from the Premier League’s top six clubs – that of Manchester United’s £80m deal with Real Madrid for Cristiano Ronaldo.

Berta is looking to sell players this summer as well as strengthen the squad in attacking areas, this must be an area of improvement.

Gabriel Martinelli could become Arsenal’s record sale

Bayern Munich are interested in Gabriel Martinelli and although the club are happy to keep the Brazilian winger this summer, should a suitable offer be made the temptation may be there to sell.

Martinelli must break Arsenal’s record sale if he is to depart the club and Berta should be looking to receive as close to Manchester United’s £80m for Ronaldo as possible.

Oleksandr Zinchenko and Fabio Vieira are also players that the Gunners are looking to sell this summer and fees reflecting their true value need to be commanded.

That means getting the incoming business sorted early and then the pressure is not on Arsenal as the selling club but other teams as the purchasing clubs.