26 May 2016 01:13:59
With the signing of Xhaka Arsenal have broken the £30m mark on a signing for just the third time in their history. What I hadn't realised however was that their next most expensive signing was Reyes for £17.4m.

Comparatively; we have signed 16 players that have cost more than their 4th most expensive signing with 8 of those coming in the past 3 years.

I have no real issue with the club spending money on players as we seem to make a hell of a lot of it - but given the success of the two clubs since the turn of the millennium and the amount spent; it doesn't half make you wonder where Arsenal might be were it not for their reluctance to spend and where we might be if all of our big money signings had worked out.

1.) 26 May 2016
26 May 2016 03:22:52
Interesting post and great stats redseven. thanks! I was also encouraged to read earlier today that Maureen's most expensive signing to date is Diego Costa at £32m. There are also some media presented stats that show him as being the biggest spending manager over the last 10 years but we mustn't forget he has also pretty much been in constant employment at large European clubs during that time whilst others have either come from less wealthy clubs (Pellegrini), coached at international level (Van Gaal) or taken time out (Guardiola) . The only credible manager with a lower spend is Wenger but most football fans also appreciate that he has a particular talent for producing Champions League worthy squads with a very average budget. similarly, SAF was able to integrate promising youth players into partially expensive squads!

Whilst I'm only just coming round to the idea of Maureen being our new manager (and I do still have some doubts) I am hoping that during the lengthy consultation period (we all know it's not just been 2 days) the likes of SAF and SBC have been able to demonstrate exactly what our glorious club expects and deserves. Likewise, I remain positive to the fact that Maureen has realised the magnitude of the opportunity he is about to undertake and does so with a less abrasive, more discernible and thoroughly gracious manner. I just hope that he wants this to work as much as we do. because if so, this could. this really could be a match made in heaven #believe

From this moment forward I will no longer refer to him as Maureen. you will simply be know as Mo. #ibelieveinmo.

2.) 26 May 2016
26 May 2016 07:38:02
And that's why redseven, wenger is a genius. Most arsenal fans do not know how lucky they have been to be managed by that guy. If it was another manager that had that job, keeping them in champions league places without money and the debt of a new stadium on their shoulders couple by the fact he manages most aspects of arsenal, then they would have struggled.

He will be missed when he retires at the end of next season.

3.) 26 May 2016
26 May 2016 08:10:53
Redseven agreed. BTW, i tst-tyres@outlook.com only early in the silly season, but I think arsenal have just made one of the best signings of the summer in Xhaka. Excellent player with drive and a very good shot.

4.) 26 May 2016
26 May 2016 09:16:21
Bit of free advertising thrown in for us there Schmid? ;) Think you got away with it!

5.) 26 May 2016
26 May 2016 10:29:31
Agreed schmid. A fantastic CM. I had the privilege to live in Basel. Meet and watch many of these guys play. Xhaka, rakitic, sommer, schar, Shaqiri. Some fantastic talent from a very small city.

6.) 26 May 2016
26 May 2016 10:30:54
Lol, I use tst Schmid, they're very good.