Andrea Berta is the new man at the head of Arsenal. The Italian entered the North London Club after more than a decade of service in Atletico Madrid and succeeded Edu Gaspar as sports director of the Gunners.
Arsenal was surprised by Edus from Edus last November and wanted to take the time to find an ideal replacement. The Brazilian’s assistant, Jason Ayto, took the position temporarily, while the Gunners went to work.
Ayto, a former scout who worked through the ranks in Arsenal, was among those who were seriously considered for the position in full -time position, but the club had Berta after leaving Atleti in January.
Mikel Areta’s preference for the Italian is said to have played a key role in his ultimate attitude, and the couple’s relationship will be decisive for Arsenal in a crucial time in the Spaniard’s project.
Berta has a big job in his hands. Here are four big tasks for the experienced director at the beginning of his Arsenal office.
Liverpool will win the title of Premier League in the middle of a contract chaos. Three protagonists in their title tip have entered their respective shops in the last few months, and Trent Alexander-Arnold was planned for a move to Real Madrid. The future of Virgil van Dijk and Mohamed Salah are in the air.
This is a situation that Arsenal urgently wants to avoid, but there is the potential that a similar debacle in North London can break out.
Bukayo Saka, Gabriel and William Saliba are tied up by 2027. The Gunners have a lot of time to act, but Berta would be wise to bring each of them to the negotiating table early in order to prevent speculation from spreading over their respective future. While Saka will commit his future to Arsenal in the long run, Gabriel was associated with a Saudi adventure and Real Madrid sniffs to Saliba.
Edu had his defects, but he was proactive for the cornerstones of Areta to be registered in the long term. Berta has to follow the example.
Arsenal just didn’t do enough to give yourself the best possible chance of success in the last windows.
A loan for Raheem Sterling was the only attack that they made this season, and their lack of aggression on the market has returned to bite them. A sequence of injuries left Areta without forward options, with Mikel Merino being used as a provisional No. 9 and the midfielder Ethan Nwaneri attacks.
Absence undoubtedly played an important role in the Gunners attack dip this semester, but the Areta team also had problems when all their forward options were available. Arsenal basics remain robust, but their work in the last third has left a lot to wish. Many believe that only a talent boost would relieve most of their problems, and it is difficult to argue against it.
Arsenal requires a greater threat to the transition and a superior dribbler that complements Saka, but her biggest need is a No. 9. Kai Havertz has a value on the height and played well last season, but the Gunners need more game breakers in their front. Alexander Isak is the name on the top of the tongue of every Gooners, and he would be the superstar who would be able to encounter the Gunners from challengers to Champions.
Breaking the bank will require, but the Swede is shown this season that the money that Newcastle wants will be worth it. He is a cut through alternative options such as Benjamin Sesko, Viktor Gyokoker and Hugo Ekitens.
Arsenal seem to be happy to let Thomas Partey and Jorginho walk this summer, with both players probably not extending their contracts that will expire in June.
As a result, Berta has to acquire a few replacements. Arsenal’s interest in Martin Zubimendi proposed the arrival of Berta before the date. The basics have been carried out in recent months to ensure that the Spaniard will occur this summer. Real Madrids reported persecution could force the Gunners to work a little harder for his signature.
Arsenal is still confident of making a deal for the takeover of midfielder Zubimendi over the line, and his profile is a combination between Jorgho and Party. The Spaniard alone is not enough to rejuvenate the Gunners’ machine room. So we have to expect the club to make a further signing.
Areta will want to bring in another multifaceted midfielder who can perform several functions in its framework. Perhaps you will inquire about Bruno Guimaraes as you follow Isak. You don’t replace Granit Xhaka properly despite several attempts.
Some have commented on how much Mikel Arteta has in Arsenal. Berta does not arrive to act as the head of the Spaniard, but to work together in cooperation with the Gunner’s manager.
Ultimately, this is his project and the relationship between Areteta to the former director Edu, who has proven to be the key to removing toxicity that had enveloped the North London Club. A large part of her recruitment throughout the project was versed, with Areteta contributed to the main voice when identifying optimal goals in front of the EDU to win transactions over the line.
Edus exit triggered a hierarchical shift, and there was space for Areteta to demand even greater power. However, Berta seems to be the ideal candidate to keep the Spaniard in check. Now Areteta has earned the right to The Key Voice in North London, but there were some questions in the recruitment front in the last windows.
Berta, who worked harmoniously together with Diego Simeone, was approved by the manager, and the Italian, more than EDU, must be created as a relevant personality that is able to question the judgment of the project manager. Your chemistry will be of crucial importance for the success of the club in the coming years.