The versatile attacker’s performance in Arsenal’s defeat by Newcastle summed up his difficult start, but there is hope
By Ben McAleer for WhoScored
Having gone so close last season, Arsenal needed to get their summer recruitment right. Mikel Arteta’s team were top of the Premier League table for 248 days only to fall behind in the last few weeks and finish five points short of Manchester City. It was a campaign of development, but also one tinged by disappointment about what might have been. As Arsenal went into the summer transfer window, Arteta sought to use that disappointment as a building block to make key additions to the squad.
A return to the Champions League meant having a greater pull in the market and Arsenal used that to their advantage. David Raya joined from Brentford and has gone on to oust Aaron Ramsdale as first choice between the sticks. Upgrade the goalkeeper? Check. Jurrien Timber has registered just 50 minutes of league action owing to a knee injury, but the young Dutch defender was a fine addition from Ajax. Bolster the defence? Check.
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