The signing of Mason Mount by Arsenal sends a strong message to Stan Kroenke, and the announcement of the transfer comes as no surprise given Edu Gaspar's track record of Premier League signings.
Arsenal has gained notoriety in recent years for their prowess in the transfer market. After years of unsuccessful transactions, sporting director Edu Gaspar has just painstakingly hand-selected a handful of stunning acquisitions.
That's why it comes as little surprise that the Gunners are at the top of English football in Mikel Arteta's third full season as manager. Although it makes sense that the north Londoners are ahead of schedule, Arteta's team has a very strong core.
Prior to the signing of Gabriel Jesus, Oleksandr Zinchenko, Gabriel Jesus, Leandro Trossard, and Jorginho in 2021, Ben White and Aaron Ramsdale were the first players. All seven of these players contribute significantly to Arteta's team this year and share a trait.
For one reason or another, the transfers came from Premier League competitors. White and Trossard's performances for Brighton made it impossible for them to turn down a contract, whilst Zinchenko and Jesus demanded a combined £77 million with regular playing time.
The recent years have seen great success with the approach of investing in Premier League-experienced players. Many players who came from Europe failed to adjust to the English game, requiring the club to suffer a loss or loan them out in the hopes that the person would succeed.
For this reason, recent rumors tying Mason Mount to a move to the Emirates Stadium are not shocking. In light of the uncertainty surrounding his future in west London, the 24-year-old is reportedly the subject of a potential approach from Arsenal in the summer.
According to rumors, Mount's availability has already been discussed informally by Arsenal. Due to the England international's Chelsea contract expiring in a year, Manchester United and Liverpool have expressed interest.
Priority one for the summer transfer window is a new midfielder, and football.london has learned that Mount's best buddy and West Ham player Declan Rice is a target. The Chelsea midfielder might be more affordable, though, given Mount's contract predicament.
If signed, Mount would check off a lot of boxes. The playmaker, as has been the case throughout his career, is capable of taking over Granit Xhaka's position as Arsenal's number eight, occupying a spot on the wing, and challenging Martin Odegaard for the advanced playmaker position.
Based on the club's history of acquiring Premier League regulars, if Arsenal were able to sign Mount, the fan base would warmly welcome the move.
