Arsenal news: Summer signing reveals transfer regret as Sporting chief speaks out on Gyokeres

Things are beginning to settle down after the conclusion of a busy summer transfer window, which saw eight players arrive in a £250million splurge by the Gunners

After an extremely busy summer, in which sporting director Andrea Berta splashed the cash on new signings, things have begun to quiet down at Arsenal.

With the international break arriving straight after transfer deadline day, there has been a chance to reflect for the Gunners. Over £250million was spent to bring in Viktor Gyokeres, Martin Zubimendi, Noni Madueke, Cristhian Mosquera, Christian Norgaard, Eberechi Eze, Kepa Arrizabalaga and Piero Hincapie, with 12 players heading in the other direction.

Arsenal hope that their work in the transfer market will help Mikel Arteta’s side bridge the gap after three straight second-place finishes in the Premier League. But their limitations were evident once again in the 1-0 defeat by Liverpool on the weekend.

It is the Gunners’ business in the transfer window which dominates the news agenda today, so allow Mirror Football to take you through the best of it.

READ MORE: Ex-Arsenal chief gets influential role as truth behind Daniel Levy’s Tottenham exit ermergesREAD MORE: Arsenal allowed £47m of talent leave for just £260k on transfer deadline day

Mosquera admits regret

Arsenal paid an initial £13m to sign Mosquera from Valencia in July, with the young Spaniard coming to bolster the defence. Having come off the bench against Leeds to make his Premier League debut, he made a significant contribution as an early substitute for the injured William Saliba at Anfield on the weekend and is happy to have earned such a move.

However, the 21-year-old does harbour some regrets over the nature of his move from Valencia to north London. “It’s clear that when you leave what has been your home, you would like everything to be a little different – both the statement and the things that have come out,” he told Cadena SER.

“I’m never going to speak badly of Valencia because I’m a Valencianista, and it’s a club that has given me everything. I would have liked it to have been a little different, but sometimes in football you have to look out for yourself, and there will be parts that you understand and others that you don’t. I’m calm because every time I put on the Valencia shirt, I gave everything.”

Sporting bury Gyokeres hatchet

The £63.7m deal that brought Gyokeres to Arsenal to Sporting Lisbon was much more dramatic than the one for Mosquera. Sporting president Frederico Varandas was at the centre of the saga, which became very bitter as the days ticked by.

Sporting fined Gyokeres for refusing to train with his team-mates after the striker claimed the club had broken promises over a transfer. Having been given time to reflect, Varandas is now happy to move on.

“I sent a message to congratulate Gyokeres,” he told reporters this week. “Gyokeres will always be a legend for this club, and as Sporting president, I will always defend the legends [who have represented the club.].

“Viktor was one of the greatest professionals I had here until the end of last season. He is a legend of Sporting and one of the best players in the club’s history.”

Arsenal agreed cut-price exits

Arsenal were desperate to offload their unwanted fringe players on deadline day – and eventually waved goodbye to six on September 1. But their desperation meant that they didn’t always get the best deal.

Hamburg signed Fabio Vieira and Albert Sambi Lokonga – players signed by Arsenal for £30m and £17m – for a combined total of just £260,000. Vieira has joined the newly-promoted Bundesliga side on a season-long loan and they won’t have to pay a loan fee if he plays regularly, while Sambi Lokonga left for a nominal fee having entered the final year of his contract with Arsenal.

Neither player worked out at Arsenal, spending last season on loan elsewhere, and Arteta will be pleased to see the back of them. But Hamburg believe they have secured bargains due to Arsenal’s position.

Join our new WhatsApp community and receive your daily dose of Mirror Football content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don’t like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you’re curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.