Mikel Arteta admits he is shocked by this summer’s transfer fees – as he opens up on Ethan Nwaneri’s future at Arsenal
Mikel Arteta said he has been left surprised by the eye-watering transfer fees players have attracted in this window as Arsenal hunt for a marquee attacker.
The likes of Morgan Rogers, who was pursued by the Gunners, have moved on for fees in excess of £100million. The north London club, meanwhile, have been reluctant to pay over the odds for stars.
Bruno Guimaraes was brought in for £75m after a protracted saga, for example. But Arsenal are still assessing the market for forward options, with Galatasaray’s Victor Osimhen and Julian Alvarez linked to the club.
Ahead of Arsenal’s Community Shield match against Manchester City on Sunday, Arteta said: ‘Yes, it has (transfer fees surprised me). I wouldn’t bet on that (such high prices) to be fair. But that’s the market.
‘There are clubs that are happy to invest or they believe that the valuations of those players are that.
‘And that’s fair. At the end the value of the player is what somebody can pay for you and they’ve done it.’
Mikel Arteta says he has been left surprised by the fees Premier League clubs are spending
Arteta also hinted that Ethan Nwaneri could be heading for the exit door.
The 19-year-old sat on the Marseille bench in the second half of last season, and has recently been tracked by multiple clubs, including Galatasaray.
He said: ‘It’s unquestionable the talent, the desire, the love and the passion he has for the game. It’s something that I’ve always loved about Ethan. I think he’s had some great games and he’s shown everybody that he has the ability to be here.
‘I want him to be at the club but something that, in the medium-long term, is best for the player as well. Ethan needs to play football and if he stays here it’s because we can guarantee that he can have those minutes.
‘Otherwise it’s just something that is not good for anybody I think.’
Meanwhile, Arteta told Arsenal fans not to worry about his contract having entered its final 12 months, saying he’s ‘extremely happy’ at the club.
The Spaniard is well set for a new lucrative deal after he ended the Gunners’ 22-year wait for a Premier League title.
‘They (the fans) don’t have to worry about any of that, because I want to be here,’ he said.
He left the door open to Ethan Nwaneri leaving Arsenal if he isn’t going to get regular minutes
‘I am extremely happy. I feel very grateful to work with the people that I work with and when we have the possibility, we will resolve that. And that’s it.
‘There is always another priority, I think! And that’s the way we have been treating it, I think because everybody feels comfortable that the time on the contract is not going to be an issue. I think because my will, certainly, is to be here and I am very happy here.
‘My feeling from the club is the same one. That is why everyone is doing things in a really organic way.’