Arsenal reinstate elite status with $1.35bn Mikel Arteta transfer boast over Man City

Arsenal smashed their club-record transfer fee over the weekend with the £105million ($137.2million) signing of West Ham and England midfielder Declan Rice.

The all-round midfielder became the club's third summer addition after Jurrien Timber and Kai Havertz both arrived earlier in the window. All in all, the summer window has ticked all the necessary boxes on Mikel Arteta and Edu Gaspar's list ahead of the highly-anticipated 2023/24 season.

The triple arrival has strengthened Arteta's side and placed them in a favourable position ahead of them competing in the Premier League and Champions League. In fact, after upgrading their midfield and defence, Arsenal's squad is now the most-valuable in world football.

According to Transfermarkt, the Gunners' team is valued at a whopping €1.21billion (£1.03billionn/$1.35billionn), £200million more than Manchester City's. The superb rise has effectively come from the double arrival from Rice and Timber.

Before Havertz, Rice and Timber arrived, Arsenal's squad was set at €976million ($1.09billion/£837.8million). If there was any doubt that their signings had improved Arteta's option, these doubts should vanish.

The increase in squad value only demonstrates the sensational work done in the transfer market by Edu and Arteta. Since the duo started working together, the club have dragged themselves back amongst Europe's elite in terms of the quality of players.

But the 'process' can't stop here. Arsenal haven't won a trophy since 2020 and in order to fully establish themselves as one of the best football teams. Having players like Bukayo Saka, Martin Odegaard and William Saliba certainly set them on their way, but only time will tell.

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