Mikel Arteta defended Arsenal's transfer dealings after missing out on key targets, acknowledging that fans would always want more signings. He pointed to the strength of his squad, saying they are "better equipped" than last season despite only making a few additions. The team has lost four players, including Gabriel Jesus and Leandro Trossard, but gained two new ones, with Arteta confident in their ability to compete at a high level. Arteta believes that fans often focus too much on what's lacking, rather than appreciating the talents they already have.
Written by the local model on 2026-09-04,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
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Lamine Camara, a 22-year-old midfielder from Monaco, was reportedly set to join Chelsea for a fee of £38.5m (€45million), but Monaco's head coach Filipe Luis has expressed his intention to keep Camara at the club. Meanwhile, French journalist Matt Spiro has described the mooted fee as "crazily low" and believes that Chelsea would be making a "terrific signing" if they secure Camara's transfer.
It was revealed earlier this week that Enzo Fernandez had joined Manchester City for a British-record-equalling £125million, leaving Chelsea in need of a replacement. However, Monaco pulled out of the deal to sign Camara, leaving Chelsea furious and looking for an alternative solution.
Written for “Transfer News and Rumors” on 2026-09-05,
grounded in this article and the 2 other(s) covering the same event.
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Leaning score +0.60 for article 3980 (high confidence, 2 verified quotes) · logged 2026-09-04
The summer business came to an end on Tuesday night after a Deadline Day in which the Gunners made sales but never seriously moved to strengthen further.
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Gunners → come → sales
The Premier League champions went into the summer with plans to make a marquee signing in attack to elevate the squad to the next level.
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champions → go → level
However, Christos Tzolis was the only arrival in forward areas, while Leandro Trossard, Gabriel Martinelli and Gabriel Jesus were all sold.
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Trossard → sell → areas
Arteta accepted that fans would always want more in the transfer market, but also pointed to the strength of options the Premier League champions have at their disposal in a passionate defence of his squad.
“That’s human nature, I think,” he said.
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he → accept → squad
“When you talk to people and you ask the people, normally it’s: ‘Ok, what is on your bucket list?’
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what → talk → list
“People write a lot about the bucket list.
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People → write → list
Sometimes we forget the reverse bucket list, which is the things that you already have in your life that are incredible,
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that → forget → life
but you put so much emphasis on them that nothing seems to be enough.
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nothing → put → them
“It’s not only in football, it happens in life and I think it’s very important to value.
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it → ’ → life
“That’s what I said about the squad and how much I love our players.
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I → ’ → players
That I really value what we have, what we have created together.
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we → value → what
“To have ambition always to be better, especially to evolve the things we already have within the club that for sure has to be there.
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that → have → club
“But listen - do not lose perspective to what we already have which is amazing and we are very lucky to have.”
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we → listen → what
Arteta was also adamant that his squad have gone into the new season better equipped than they were 12 months ago.
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they → go → season
Arsenal’s defence has been bolstered by the arrival of Ezri Konsa, covering for the absence of William Saliba, while Bruno Guimaraes is a top signing in midfield.
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Guimaraes → bolster → midfield
Read More
Asked whether the north Londoners were now a stronger outfit, Arteta replied: “Yes I do.
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I → read → More
“This is what I feel.
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I → feel → what
Now we have to prove it.
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we → have → it
I think we are better equipped.
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we → think → ?
I think we have more players available than what we had at the start of last season.
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we → think → season
“We have increased the quality and we have increased the leadership in the team as well which is very important.”
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which → increase → team
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