Arsenal's summer transfer window - graded

Mikel Arteta's Arsenal resemble an updated version of Jurgen Klopp's Liverpool when it comes to the transfer market.

Most of the Gunners' incoming business is sound and most of their recruits improve drastically in their system. That's all you can really ask for in a transfer.

They haven't been as busy this summer, but they have splashed the cash in key areas.

Here's how 90min rates their most recent business.

2023/24 Arsenal arrivals

Kai Havertz - C-

Yeah, yeah, 'jury's out' and all that. But you can't deny that on the face of it, this was a weird deal for Arsenal.

In three years at Chelsea, Kai Havertz failed to live up to the considerable hype from his Bayer Leverkusen days, which is quite a feat considering he scored a goal to win the Champions League.

The plan to move Havertz away from the centre forward role was understandable considering his poor finishing and lack of conviction when striking a ball. It's questionable whether he will succeed in a deep midfield role, however.

Jurrien Timber - B

Sometimes you don't know what you've truly got until it's got, which is ironic in the case of Jurrien Timber and Arsenal considering he played only 50 minutes of Premier League action before succumbing to an ACL injury.

Without the Dutchman, Arteta has been forced to fit other defenders into the unique role he had devised for his summer signing.

In the long run, Timber should prove to be a fine signing and not just because Arsenal miss him while he's out.

Declan Rice - A

It's been obvious for a while that Declan Rice was a bonafide superstar in waiting, he just needed a bigger stage to burst onto.

He's proven an instant hit with the Emirates faithful and an iconic goal/moment is already in the bag. Rice is bound to be an Arsenal favourite for years to come.

David Raya - A

Listen, very few teams in the history of football have a history of making this 'we're going to make two goalkeepers compete for the shirt', but credit to Arsenal for thinking they're above that longstanding trend.

David Raya is no worse a goalkeeper than Aaron Ramsdale, and their ability to convince Brentford to make the deal an initial loan was superb business.

2023/24 Arsenal departures

Pablo Mari - A

Pablo Mari was never realistically going to play for Arsenal again. £6m for deadwood is great business considering clubs on the continent have far scarcer resources compared to Premier League sides.

Granit Xhaka - B-

If this transfer had happened a year ago, it would have gone down as an unquestionable A+.

That tells us how important Granit Xhaka was last season, becoming the engine of a team that pushed Manchester City to the brink. The fee is acceptable but his exit in general is less palatable.

Besides, Arsenal replaced him with Havertz.

Auston Trusty - A+

£5m? For a 25-year-old with no top-flight experience? A player that wouldn't have stood a chance of making the first team?

It doesn't get much better.

Matt Turner - A

If Arsenal were as good at seeing out seasons as they were at selling American players way down their pecking order, they would have held off Man City last term.

The extra layer to this deal is Matt Turner might not even be number one at Nottingham Forest for much longer, with Steve Cooper bringing in Odysseas Vlachodimos late in the transfer window.

Kieran Tierney - D

Kieran Tierney may have been after more opportunities, but Arsenal should have either sold him or told the left-back that he would have played more this season considering their newfound shortages at the back and increased need for competition.

The Gunners are another defensive injury away from tumbling into a crisis. Well, at least they don't have to blame Rob Holding for any longer.

Folarin Balogun - A-

In such a strange market, Arsenal fans may feel disappointed to have sold a young striker who scored 22 goals last season for under £30m.

But Folarin Balogun was always going to be third-choice at best in N5. He's now proven a worthy scorer but only after one season of senior football. By nearly all accounts, this was a good deal.

Rob Holding - B

Was it good to finally move on from Rob Holding? Yes, for sure.

Should Arsenal have been able to haggle for a fee more than an initial £1m? You'd have thought so.

Albert Sambi Lokonga - B

Arsenal will be hoping that Albert Sambi Lokonga's loan to Luton will prove more fruitful than last season's to Crystal Palace, where he showed very few signs of being able to compete at a Premier League level.

Nuno Tavares - B

Nuno Tavares is one of the most chaotic players in the Premier League. Arsenal should be thankful they found another suitor for him at the transfer deadline.

LISTEN NOW TO 90MIN'S TALKING TRANSFERS PODCAST

On this edition of Talking Transfers, part of the 90min podcast network, Scott Saunders is joined by Graeme Bailey to discuss Al Ittihad's attempts to sign Mohamed Salah, Jadon Sancho's Man Utd future, the players that could still leave the Premier League and more! If you can't see this embed, click here to listen to the podcast!