#3 Arsenal's yearly transfer saga
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Transfer windows are generally greeted with a healthy dose of apprehension by Arsenal fans. With Arsene Wenger steadfastly refusing to accept the financial rigours of the transfer market, which causes players’ prices to be greatly inflated nowadays, fans were once again looking to catch the manager’s ear for quality reinforcements, especially in the defensive third of the pitch.
Everyone was taken by surprise when the Arsenal manager decided to splash the cash on Granit Xhaka, the young Swiss international from Borussia Moenchengladbach.
Arsenal reportedly spent around £35 million to lure Xhaka to London; a significant acquisition for Wenger, who has been roundly criticised for his refusal to spend big. Xhaka is an able defensive midfielder, who can blossom into a leader in the Arsenal midfield - something Arsenal have sorely missed over the years.
After luring Xhaka, Wenger failed with bids for Jamie Vardy and Riyad Mahrez of Leicester, and a cheeky snub by Roma meant Kostas Manolas would not be heading to London either.
Just when the fans were getting frustrated at Wenger’s refusal to spend big, brought out the cheque book and signed German international Shkodran Mustafi from Valencia for £35 million and Lucas Perez from Deportivo for £17 million. Mustafi will add much-needed steel to the backline while Perez adds creativity and guile at the helm of attack, both much needed by Arsenal if they are to mount a serious title challenge this year.
