Mikel Arteta has been praised for Arsenal's shrewd transfer activity this summer following Sunday's 3-0 Community Shield victory over Manchester City at the Millennium Stadium. The reigning Premier League champions defeated a new-look City side managed by Enzo Maresca, who looked a shadow of their former selves.
Arteta handed first competitive starts to his two headline recruits, Bruno Guimaraes and Christos Tzolis, and both made positive impressions against the FA Cup holders. The former Newcastle captain slotted in seamlessly alongside Myles Lewis-Skelly in midfield, while winger Tzolis registered two assists in a lively display that almost certainly secured his place in the starting XI for Friday's game against Coventry City.
Arsenal's patient approach in the transfer market
Eyebrows were raised over the summer at Arsenal's patient approach in the market, with many expecting the club to spend lavishly after finishing seven points ahead of their closest challengers last season. Instead, Arsenal refused to match Aston Villa's £117 million valuation of Morgan Rogers and appear reluctant to enter a bidding war with Liverpool for PSG's Bradley Barcola.
The ultimately failed pursuit of Real Madrid superstar Vinicius Junior did signal Arsenal's ambition, but for now Arteta's former teammate, Kieran Gibbs, is satisfied with how his old club have conducted their business.
He told ESPNFC: 'Some really, really good business from them so far in the window and it's not always easy when you're the reigning champions. You're more attractive for players but your standards have gone up.'
Gibbs praises Guimaraes and Tzolis
'What you're buying has to not only keep the standard but improve it. With these two signings we're clearly seeing at the moment that it's definitely working out. Guimaraes has added aggression and a progressive passer. Then you have Tzolis who is just effective and an efficiency monster, I love how he always looks to hurt the opposition. It's two great additions and I think they're going to keep going into the market.'
Tzolis has effectively taken the place of Leandro Trossard, who, after making a huge impact in three-and-a-half years in north London, was granted a move to Besiktas. While the Belgium international will be missed, the £34 million recruit from Club Brugge looks to be a natural replacement.
Arteta impressed with Tzolis
'I think he's coming to the team really organically; he's fitting, he's a really intelligent boy and he has a massive quality which is when he's in the last 20-30 metres,' said Arteta. 'He's so composed to pick people out around the box or to finish actions, and he's shown that again two or three times and he was decisive.'
'You put him in more and more situations so the volume is higher with the level of quality he has, the numbers will be higher. He's so eager to learn, to improve, to practise, and it's not a coincidence; he's a really consistent player in everything that he does. I'm really impressed with him.'
