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The Arsenal fans have finally had their wishes granted, as Arsene Wenger spends big in an attempt to bolster Arsenal’s title chances.
After suffering injuries to both Per Mertesacker and Gabriel, signing a centre half was crucial. In Shkodran Mustafi, Arsenal have an excellent all round defender, who will flourish playing next to Laurent Koscienly. The German was allowed to leave Everton for free in 2012, after not playing a single game for the club. Mustafi joined Italian side Sampdoria, and has impressed ever since, which led to him joining Valencia two years later.
Mustafi was part of the 2014 World Cup winning Germany side, and he also featured in the Euros. £35 million may be a massive fee, but at the age of 24, Mustafi has the potential to develop into a top defender.
Not only has Wenger strengthened his defensive options, but he has also added to his attack.
Albeit, Lucas Perez isn’t the star name many Arsenal fans were hoping for, but he could turn out to be a hidden gem. After scoring 17 goals for Deportivo in La Liga, Perez caught the eye of fellow Premier League club Everton. Despite a deal being close to completion, Arsenal stepped in at the last minute to hijack the signing.
Now you may be wondering, who is Lucas Perez? Well, the best way to describe him as a player would be to compare him to the style of Jamie Vardy. He possesses blistering pace as well as ruthless finishing. On top of this, he is also very versatile so can either play as a number nine or out wide.
Will he be a success? It’s almost impossible to say. However, at just £17 million, it’s hardly a gamble, and if it pays off Wenger will look like a genius.
Although these aren’t the big name players that Arsenal fans have been craving, they will certainly improve Arsenal’s squad. It’s just whether they are good enough to carry the Gunners to Premier League glory. Will Wenger’s spending end his Premier League title drought? Only time will tell.
