Arsenal revealed on Saturday the impending exit of football chief Raul Sanllehi after three years of handling the post. The corporate restructuring came off as a shock but one man emerged with a greater say on the Gunners' affairs. Mikel Arteta now enjoys more control over the movements of players at the Emirates.
Sanllehi's exit was thought to be prompted by Arsenal's misfires in recent transfer transactions. The club hierarchy has ordered a probe on the Nicolas Pepe signing that was completed under the watch of Sanllehi. The deal cost Arsenal £72 million but Pepe failed so far to deliver to expectations, thus giving rise to the perception that Arsenal overpaid.
Sanllehi lost his job and to prevent further mistakes in the transfer market, the Gunners tapped Arteta to also take charge of the club's summer and future acquisitions. Metro reported the Spanish boss now has the last word on who to hire and who to sell.
The new setup will see Arteta working in tandem with Arsenal technical director in drawing up plans for signing targets. Their proposal will be presented to managing director Vinai Venkatesham for budget approval but it was made clear that Arteta is the new point man in Arsenal's transfer business.
Already, Arteta has exercised his newfound clout with the completion of Willian's jump from Chelsea. The manager has a clear plan on the Brazilian's role with the Gunners and fought for the approval of the deal. The club board gave the go signal for Willian to start wearing the Arsenal shirt next season.
The same power was in full display in the discipline of erring roster members. Matteo Guendouzi caught the ire of Arteta due to attitude problems and it is believed that the French midfielder will soon be sold to interested parties.
It's the same case for Mesut Ozil, who is Arsenal's most expensive player. Arteta deemed the German playmaker unfit for the first-team post and the player is likely to either see through his contract in the sidelines or look for a new side to join in the season break.
The Arsenal boss is also working on the extension of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang's stay with the club and the board seemed optimistic that Arteta can persuade the Gabon striker, who is the Gunners' top scorer last season, to sign a new deal.
The trust bestowed by Arsenal to Arteta is well-deserved, according to Gunners keeper Emiliano Martinez. The Argentine said the club manager turned out to be a game-changer, adding Arteta has a game plan in running the business at the Emirates.
"He is one of the best modern coaches today. In six months he has won a title, the FA Cup no less, one of the best cups in England and one of the oldest in history," the Evening Standard reported Martinez as saying.
The 27-year-old said Arteta's handling of Arsenal gave the club a clear direction, saying the boss knew exactly where he and the team are headed.
