Merino (when healthy) will be a really good addition. I think it was underestimated just how much Martinelli thrived by playing infront of an experienced left 8 (Xhaka); adding an experienced pro should help him.
Calafiori is what we needed: a left back who’s solid defensively and has ball skills and can play across the defense (Tomi’s injury looks worse than initially thought, since Arteta gave no timeline).
Offloading ESR and Eddie for £60m of pure PSR profit and loaning off Fabio was good business, especially since they were out of favor with Arteta.
The Ramsdale saga was a debacle; we could’ve sold him last summer for £50m, had Arteta brought in Raya early. Instead, we sold for less than we bought him for.
Replacing three attaching players with no one, though…. Arteta must be banking on the he fact that we have Mr Miyagi as a trainer to do that hand clap trick every week, because we’re one more injury to an attacking player from being turbo fucked
Overall window grade: C+. With you it’ll rise to a B+ if we somehow (unlikely) add a winger.