The need for clubs to better themselves each season often pushes them to spend a lot of time and energy during the transfer window. During this time, clubs compete to get the most promising players in their teams and set themselves up for success. And their efforts do not go unnoticed. Based on player profiles alone, many punters use this window to determine the teams with the highest winning chances. This public perception often shows in the odds set by the bookies. Most UK betting sites start offering good odds on the teams with the most outstanding transfers as backed by punters. And many punters sign up on the sites that have capitalized the most on these changes. So, which teams caught the eye of punters and bookies, and where does Arsenal fall in all this?
Arsenal Transfer Expenditure
Each year, teams work hard to beat each other during the transfer window. And this year, Arsenal was so invested in the process that it made several headlines with its expenditure. But where did it rank? Consider the top five expenditures below:
- Chelsea: The highest spender was Chelsea, with a net spend of £204.7m, following expenditure of £424.8m backed with a revenue of £220.1m.
- Arsenal: This team came in second with a net spend of £124.7m with an expenditure of £203.5m and a revenue of £78.8m.
- Manchester United: After an expenditure of £167.4m and earnings of £42.9m, Man Utd came in third with a net spend of £124.5m.
- Bournemouth: Interestingly, this team spent £109.9m, received £0 in revenue, and had a net spend of £109.9m, which resulted in concerns from its fans.
- Tottenham: The balance showed in this team whose £213.4m expenditure and £110m earnings resulted in a net spend of £103.4m.
Arsenal was out to get the best players, and its expenditure was one for the books. But was it worth it? Let’s consider who the team brought in and who left the team.
Departures
Each season, fans and players must bid goodbyes to players who either make or break the team. Who was on the 2023/2024 list?
- Folarin Balogun left for Monaco,
- Granit Xhaka left for B. Leverkusen,
- Matt Turner joined Nottingham Forest,
- Rob Holding joined Crystal Palace,
- Auston Trusty left for Sheffield United,
- Pablo Mari joined Monza,
- Kieran Tierney left for Real Sociedad on a loan,
- Nuno Tavares joined Nottingham Forest on a loan,
- Marquinhos, a right winger, joined FC Nantes on loan,
- Nicolas Pepe joined Trabzonspor on a free transfer,
- Ainsley Maitland-Niles left for Olympique Lyon on a free transfer,
- Albert Sambi Lokonga joined Luton on loan,
- Arthur Okonkwo, a goalkeeper, joined Wrexham on loan, and
- Runar Alex Runarsson joined Cardiff on loan.
A total of 14 departures resulted in a revenue of £78.8m.
Arrivals
The new season allowed the management to shake things up by bringing in players who would positively change the formation as follows:
- Declan Rice joined the team from West Ham,
- Kai Havertz from Chelsea,
- Jurrien Timber from Ajax,
- David Raya on loan from Brentford on loan,
- Folarin Balogun ended his loan with Stade Reims,
- Nicolas Pepe ended his loan with OGC Nice,
- Nuno Tavares ended his loan with Marseille,
- Albert Sambi Lokonga’s loan with Luton ends in 2024,
- Pablo Mari returned from loan with Monza,
- Cedric Soares returned from loan with Fulham,
- Arthur Okonkwo ends his loan with Wrexham in 2024, and
- Runar Alex Runarsson ended his loan with Alanyaspor.
These changes resulted in an overall spend of £203.5m. They seem to have paid off, as Arsenal ranked third in the EPL by the first week of October 2023 with five wins and two draws. The fans and management expect the team to improve its performance, with Rice, Havertz, and Timber boosting the overall team form.
