How Arsenal are planning to save millions in the transfer market

Robin Bairner

• 9 Dec 2021 06:14 CST
• 3 min read

Arsenal went on a summer spree that saw them only outspent by Manchester United in the transfer market, but supporters of the Gunners have been warned not to get used to such a situation.

With January looming, the Emirates side want to strengthen their ranks, notably in attack, but while they may once again be tempted to splash out, the aim is for big fees to become an exception rather than a rule.

Indeed, academy manager Per Mertesacker is plotting a strategy that will allow more of Arsenal’s young talents a pathway into the first team.

The former centre-back admits that there is no such thing as a sure-fire hit when it comes to young players breaking into the senior squad, but he wants players to get their chance. And he aims to maximise their chances of success.

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Smith Rowe and Saka the poster boys

Mertesacker pointed to the success of Emile Smith Rowe and Bukayo Saka as examples the club can take advantage of.

“Emile and Bukayo got their chances and performed really well. We won against Chelsea and then a couple of games. So, these are the moments you have to take advantage of,” he said at the Arsenal Supporters' Trust Christmas Event.

“But which player is then able to and has prepared himself for that moment to come? To play well enough for the manager to say, ‘listen, he’s ready and he can make the step up, he’s part of the first team, we don’t need to buy a player for 30 or 40 million’, which is not sustainable.

“Edu and Mikel have done a lot last summer, but that’s not sustainable for us as a football club.

“We’re not going to do that on a consistent basis so we need to make sure that the flow of top players from the academy is constantly there. So they don’t need to look to the market. We made a big effort, but that’s not sustainable for us in the future.”

Folarin Balogun set for loan

Arsenal, meanwhile, are readying themselves to offload promising attacker Folarin Balogun on loan in January.

“He still plays 23s football and probably most likely will go on loan in January because you need extra exposure to get to that next level so he needs to make that transition,” Mertesacker explained.