How Arsenal Can Outsmart the Transfer Market

When Raul Sanllehi proclaimed Arsenal’s need to “outsmart the market” in an interview on the official club website in May 2019, it seemed like just another facile catchphrase. Much like Ivan Gazidis’ infamous “catalyst for change” campaign. However, Sanllehi did in fact live by this promise, delivering a summer with bargains such as David Luiz and Gabriel Martinelli. As well as signing long-term defensive bastions in William Saliba and Kieran Tierney, alongside the mercurial Nicolas Pepe. All whilst hampered by the financial constraints of three successive Europa League campaigns. In light of the drastic financial ramifications of COVID-19 upon the football industry, Arsenal will have to outsmart the market once again.

LOOKING TO BRAZIL

Brazil is one such place in which Arsenal can exploit the plethora of talent available. Ever since the appointment of Edu Gaspar as Technical Director, South America has been a key facet of Arsenal’s transfer strategy. For many years, it has been an untapped market for Arsenal. Whilst Gilberto Silva and Edu himself were great players for the club, the likes of Denilson and Andre Santos were not so successful in North London.

Now, with highly-rated Head of Recruitment Francis Cagigao, Edu and Brazilian super-agent Kia Joorabchian in the frame, the tides appear to be changing. Arsenal appear to have a coherent strategy to capitalise upon the Brazilian market. James McNicholas of The Athletic confirmed this, stating that Arsenal are “planning to return to South America for summer transfer signings as they feel they have a slight advantage in that market.”

WHO IS FRANCIS CAGIGAO?

Whilst Edu Gaspar and Kia Joorabchian are the public faces of this Brazilian revolution at Arsenal, it is Francis Cagigao who deserves much of the credit. Sure, Edu and Joorabchian are key facilitators in this, with Edu developing great relations from his post as General Manager of the Brazilian national team and Joorabchian being a significant powerbroker in Brazilian football. However, it is Cagigao who is the most important piece of them all.

Cagigao’s association with Arsenal is a long-standing one. Born in Paddington to Galician parents, he enjoyed a stint in the Arsenal academy, where he won an FA Youth Cup in 1988 alongside Kevin Campbell and Steve Morrow. Unfortunately, he was unable to make a senior appearance for the Gunners, with his career cut short by injuries. This is where his scouting career began.

According to The Athletic, Cagigao returned to Arsenal in order to gain experience working with the U-15s. During this time, then assistant coach Pat Rice introduced him to Arsene Wenger, who pitched “their vision for a true international scouting network… to be one of the most sophisticated in world football.”

Cagigao’s infancy as a scout was spent in Spain and Portugal. It is in Spain where most of his success stories can be found. Cesc Fabregas is arguably his flagship signing, having joined from Barcelona as a sixteen-year-old. James McNicholas of The Athletic writes that Fabregas’ “talent was immediately obvious but Cagigao did his homework on other aspects of his game: his character, his background, his lifestyle.” Evidently, as Fabregas was signed with little hesitation, Cagigao was impressed with what he found.

OUTSMARTING AN UNCERTAIN MARKET

A more recent signing which largely mirrors that of Fabregas is Gabriel Martinelli. Signed from Serie D side Ituano in the summer of 2019, little was expected of the unknown Brazilian. However, he certainly caught the eye of Cagigao, who urged Raul Sanllehi to secure an exclusivity option after his 18th birthday to finalise the transfer. Ever since, he has scored 10 goals in 26 games and become a beacon of hope for the future of Arsenal. Furthermore, as a result of the financial ramifications from the COVID-19 pandemic, his signing is an even more pertinent one. He provides a blueprint of what Arsenal must seek out and exploit in the market.

We all know that this transfer window is very unique. It will impact some clubs more than others, so therefore opportunities will occur for bargain deals. However, Arsenal can look to Brazil in order to capitalise on the great connections and relationships with agents they possess, as suggested by David Ornstein of The Athletic. Whilst many of the possible options would arise from the Brasileirão (first division), Martinelli’s success indicates Brazil’s wealth of talent throughout the divisions.

HOW THIS CAN BE APPLIED

As we all know, Arsenal’s porous defence has plagued the side for years. Last summer, as advised by Cagigao, William Saliba was signed from Saint-Etienne in a move to future-proof the Arsenal defence. However, with Mustafi and Sokratis disappointing in their Arsenal careers and David Luiz recently turning 33, he requires a long-term partner. One player who Arsenal are scouting, according to Brazilian outlet Zero Hora, is Bruno Fuchs. The Internacional man has made 7 appearances for the Brazilian U-23s side and is regarded as one of Brazil’s top defensive prospects.

Arsenal’s midfield has also been the source of much misery in recent times. Whilst links to Thomas Partey continue, there is still room for improvement in the midfield. In January, Arsenal were persistently linked with then-Atlético Paranaense midfielder Bruno Guimaraes, before being pipped by Lyon. However, the courting of his signature remains pertinent. Perhaps the most intriguing part of the saga was the revelation from Goal Brasil reporter Bruno Andrade, that Arsenal were long-term admirers of him. Supposedly, they had been tracking Guimaraes before he joined Paranaense from Audax in 2017, in the fourth division. The same hotbed of talent that Martinelli was plucked from. Perhaps another signing of a similar ilk to Martinelli’s could be possible to provide depth in Arsenal’s lacklustre midfield.

As these two scenarios would suggest, Arsenal have various pathways to exploit the Brazilian market. Whether it be a Martinelli-like signing or one more akin to that of Pablo Mari.

CONCLUSION

With football approaching a period of uncertainty, in which few sides can outlay ridiculous amounts in one window, Arsenal must be prudent in the transfer market. As Gabriel Martinelli and Matteo Guendouzi have shown, there is an abundance of diamonds in the rough. Arsenal face a long road to the top and have no option but to improve the squad this upcoming window. With Francis Cagigao on board, Raul Sanllehi has his perfect weapon to “outsmart the market.”