Unlike Arsenal, Tottenham are active in the January transfer window, with Conor Gallagher set to sign for the Lilywhites.
It’s unsurprising that Thomas Frank has looked to the market, given that Spurs are 14th in the Premier League table, 22 points behind league leaders Arsenal.
What is surprising, however, is that Chelsea academy product Gallagher is on his way to N17, less than two years after emotionally bidding farewell to his boyhood club.
At first glance, the transfer has no impact on Arsenal whatsoever, but when delving deeper into the finances, it really does.
Fill in the blank: Mikel Arteta should push Arsenal to sign a ___________ in January…
Conor Gallagher signing takes Tottenham’s spending above Arsenal’s since Mikel Arteta was hired
Arsenal spent a lot of money in the summer, having the highest net spend in the Premier League due to a lack of sales.
It might’ve been a big spend in 2025, but when glancing at how the spending table looks since Mikel Arteta’s first full season, it seems a lot less.
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Once Tottenham’s €40m deal for Gallagher goes through, it will take their spending above Arsenal’s from the 2020/21 summer transfer window to now, as per Transfermarkt data.
Including the pending Gallagher transfer, Spurs have spent €1.09bn since the 2020/21 campaign, while Arsenal have forked out €1.08bn in that time.
If the football wasn’t enough to show that Arsenal are lightyears ahead of their North London rivals, then the spending does.
Arteta deserves so much credit for what he’s done in comparison, making Arsenal serious contenders for the Premier League title, while Tottenham continue to fight to be the weakest club in the big six.
Arsenal will love that Tottenham are signing Gallagher
It’s not only that Gallagher’s transfer will take Tottenham’s spending above Arsenal’s that gives the Gunners something to smirk about.
Gallagher’s return to the Premier League is good news for Arsenal, as the midfielder has a terrible record against the North Londoners.
The midfielder has faced Arsenal nine times in his career, winning once and collecting four yellow cards.
It wasn’t long ago at all that Gallagher last came in contact with Arteta’s side, being a part of the Atletico Madrid squad that lost 4-0 at the Emirates in October.
Tottenham’s midfield options might have been improved by signing Gallagher, but history suggests that their chances of beating Arsenal haven’t.
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