Arsenal have gotten Aaron Ramsdale and others thanks to ‘failed’ transfers keeping them on course for the Premier League

Few could have predicted that Mikel Arteta and Edu would be the dream team to bring Premier League glory back to Arsenal, but it certainly looks like it.

The duo have often been complementary midfield stars during their playing career with the Gunners but now appear to be securing legendary status in management.

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Doubts have become believers as Arteta has turned painful defeats into win after win, while Edu has risen from battered high-earning stars like David Luiz and Matteo Guendouzi to become a master of the transfer market.

Things could have turned out very differently, however, with the sporting director seemingly not always getting his first choice just to nail the replacement.

As recently as January, Arsenal were in pole position to sign Mykhailo Mudryk from Shakhtar Donetsk, with the Ukrainian constantly flirting with the club via social media posts.

It looked like a match made in heaven with only the transfer fee to be arranged, but spending-heavy Chelsea owner Todd Boehly pounced on quickly pushing the prize beyond measure.

Arsenal soon pulled out, allowing the Blues to spend a staggering £88.5million on a player who has yet to score or assist and is far from the quality expected of one of football’s most expensive players of all time.

Meanwhile, Leandro Trossard, signed from Brighton for £27m instead, has one goal and five assists and could end up being the player to help Arsenal beat Manchester City to the title.

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It wasn’t the only crossroads of paths in January between the two London rivals, with Arsenal taking advantage of Chelsea’s inflated midfield to sign Jorginho for just £12m.

The Italy international was set to become a free agent, making him very affordable, but much like Trossard, he quickly proved his worth, becoming a regular starter and even being deflected for a famous comeback win over Aston Villa.

But once again this deal was only possible because Arsenal missed other targets, with Douglas Luiz and Moises Caicedo significantly higher up the bucket list for midfield improvements.

Aston Villa held firm to Luiz despite multiple deadline day bids last summer, while Brighton rejected a record £75m bid for Caicedo in January. That wasn’t a problem for Arsenal, with Jorginho filling in impressively.

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Earlier in the year, Arsenal began pursuing Fiorentina striker Dusan Vlahovic, who Arteta appeared to have eyed as a long-term striker replacement for Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Alexandre Lacazette.

Despite their clear progress in January 2022, the Serbia international wasn’t interested, instead joining Juventus in a £66m deal and has struggled to repeat his form from Tuscany since.

As they secured the exits for Aubameyang and Lacazette, it was clear Arteta and Edu had something up their sleeves and were waiting to secure a £50m deal for Gabriel Jesus six months later. It could be argued that the lack of that firepower has cost the club a Champions League spot.

Much like Vlahovic, Man City clearly didn’t take the Gunners seriously, which has proved detrimental as Jesus came to a flier this season.

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He wasn’t the only major signing from City last summer, however, as Oleksandr Zinchenko signed what now looks like a bargain £35million.

The Gunners were chasing Ajax’s Lisandro Martinez but Manchester United beat them in a £60m deal – not that Arsenal cared.

City had also beaten Arsenal to bring in young Spaniard Sergio Gomez from Anderlecht as an equal replacement for left-back but the decision has looked confusing so far, with Arsenal laughing as Zinchenko emerged as one of the Premier League’s best players.

With defence, midfield and attack all covered, there was even a story in goal where Arsenal proved once again that you can’t mess around in the transfer market.

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Arteta and Edu opted to pull away from goalkeeper Bernd Leno, eyeing the Premier League starters to go straight in and Brentford’s David Raya seemed the obvious choice.

After all, it’s a man who preceded David de Gea in Spain’s World Cup squad.

The bees stood firm and Arsenal quickly made the move to newly relegated Sheffield United, securing a £30million deal for Aaron Ramsdale in 2021.

Some gooners groaned, but the deal now looks like money well spent as far more expensive goalies struggle to match its consistency.

And if Arsenal finish the season as champions, they could point to the performance of their No1s at Anfield.

His late saves kept Liverpool at bay and even won analyst Roy Keane’s praise, which isn’t easy.