Andrea Berta and the transformation at Emirates
Arsenal's appointment of Andrea Berta as sporting director is seen as the most important boost in the transformation journey of the North London team, at least in terms of transfers.
After more than a decade of struggling to regain the glory of the Arsene Wenger era, Arsenal officials understood that a “brain” with extensive transfer experience and the ability to build large-scale sports projects was indispensable. Berta was the answer to that problem.
Berta was the chief architect of Atletico Madrid's success with landmark deals such as Jan Oblak, Antoine Griezmann, Diego Costa...
The Italian manager not only has a keen eye for talent but also knows how to upgrade his squad with a reasonable budget.
Now, at Arsenal, he is running a much more powerful financial machine (although Atletico are also having a historic summer, signing six new contracts and not expected to stop).
In his first summer as sporting director, Andrea Berta has shown boundless ambition. The Gunners have already completed six signings: Kepa Arrizabalaga (goalkeeper), Martin Zubimendi and Christian Norgaard (midfielders), Noni Madueke (winger), Viktor Gyokeres (forward) and Cristhian Mosquera (centre-back).
The total transfer fee exceeded 240 million euros (including add-ons) – a record in the club's history.
While no single deal has topped the €120m mark like Declan Rice in 2023, the even investment across all three lines shows Berta's long-term vision.
Zubimendi and Gyokeres – players in the top 5 most expensive contracts in Arsenal history – are expected to become the perfect pieces in the tactical framework that Mikel Arteta is building.
Meanwhile, the contract extension with key players like Gabriel Magalhaes or Myles Lewis-Skelly also reflects a methodical personnel strategy, not only for the present but also for the future.
Not stopping there, Arsenal are also pursuing Eberechi Eze (Crystal Palace), or Anthony Gordon (Newcastle). If completed, the total spending in the summer of 2025 could exceed 300 million euros - a clear statement of ambition to win the championship.
If he doesn't win the championship, Arteta should leave.
The problem at Arsenal now is not about player quality or squad depth – it is about results.
In the last 3 seasons, they have finished second in the Premier League and reached the semi-finals of the 2024/25 Champions League.
That is progress, but not enough. At the current scale of investment, any excuse for “near miss” is invalid.
Arteta, who has been at the Emirates since 2019, has been a central figure in Arsenal's post-Wenger rise.
He brought a clear tactical identity, the ability to develop young players and a modern, controlling style of play.
However, after 6 years, if he cannot lead Arsenal to the Premier League title this season, he will be forced to question his ability to lead the team to the final destination.
Last season, American owners repeatedly “scrutinized” the quality of football that Arteta deployed. Berta defended him, even spending a record amount of money to improve the squad.
Pep Guardiola once said: “When you have all the ideal conditions in hand, you only have one thing left to do: win the championship” . Arteta is at that moment.
No one denies his contributions, but no one wants Arsenal to forever be just "England's most impressive runner-up team".
With more than €240 million spent and potentially more, the 2025/26 season is the dividing line between success and failure, between glory and the end of a coaching era.
If Arsenal fail to win the Premier League – or at least a major trophy like the Champions League – next season, Arteta's exit is a given.
Not because he is bad, but because the team needs a breath of fresh air to turn potential into reality. The friendly defeat to Tottenham is a reminder that the process of assembling the squad will not be easy.
Player | Year old | From | Price (million euros) |
Kepa Arrizabalaga | 30 | Chelsea | 6 |
Martin Zubimendi | 26 | Real Sociedad | 70 |
Christian Norgaard | 31 | Brentford | 17 |
Noni Madueke | 23 | Chelsea | 58 |
Viktor Gyokeres | 27 | Sporting Lisbon | 65.5+10 |
Cristhian Mosquera | 21 | Valencia | 15+5 |
Total | 246.5 |
Source: https://vietnamnet.vn/arsenal-chuyen-nhuong-ky-luc-khong-vo-dich-mikel-arteta-bay-ghe-2427596.html
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