The window has closed and its business as usual but now the dust has finally settled, it’s time to look at Arsenal’s dealings in greater detail and you may be surprised at just how complicated they proved to be.
Not only were they complex but the domino effect that was employed proved to be a stroke of pure genius in securing the additions of Mkhitaryan and Aubameyang plus a contract extension for Ozil.
Mesut Ozil’s contract negotiations had stalled and it looked highly likely that he would depart.
Not for more money like Sanchez but because he wanted assurances over the clubs transfer ambitions when the Chilean finally left.
Arsenal were then locked in negotiations with Manchester United with the idea of securing Mkhitaryan in a swap deal which would go some way to appeasing the World Cup winning German.
With the Mkhitaryan deal in place, Arsenal were in a position to approach Dortmund regarding Aubameyang knowing that the prospect of reuniting the duo would be enticing to the Striker.
Back to Ozil, Arsenal were then able to provide the German with the assurances and names of the incoming players and the midfielder agreed in principal to resign. Far fetched? No, the Ozil deal was announced the day after Aubameyang signed on the dotted line and he, in turn, signed because of Mkhitaryan.
This transfer window was probably the most intriguing ever and may even be replicated in future Windows with the sums for players touching the stratosphere.
Rarely has so much rested on a series of deals, if one part had failed, the outcome may well have proved vastly different. Ozil would be elsewhere, Mkhitaryan would be drifting in and out the United team and Aubameyang would have spent half his annual salary in fines awaiting the transfer he craved.
Arsenal fans are delighted with the clubs transfer business but the majority were unaware of how much work went into those protracted negotiations.
