Andrea Berta, working hand in hand with Mikel Arteta, has big shoes to fill at Arsenal. Eduardo ‘Edu’ Gaspar had done an excellent job laying the foundation for Arsenal’s recent rise, even though major trophies still elude them.
On November 4 last year, Edu resigned as Arsenal’s sporting director. Speculation suggested he wanted a bigger role in Evangelos Marinakis’ multi-club network, which includes Nottingham Forest, Rio Ave, and Olympiacos.
Berta officially stepped into the role on March 30. Since then, the Arsenal fanbase has placed huge expectations on him—and with good reason. Berta boasts a strong track record, primarily built at Atletico Madrid. He helped them compete with, and beat, La Liga’s giants. Antoine Griezmann, Jan Oblak, Luis Suarez, and Julian Alvarez are just a few of the key signings he made to push Atletico forward both domestically and in Europe. With that pedigree, Arsenal fans expect a lot.
But two and a half months into his tenure, it still feels like the same old Arsenal. Transfer negotiations drag on, and the club continues to be linked with every top prospect—yet deals stall. Arsenal have lacked depth in key positions for years, and fans hoped Berta would act fast to address it.
So far, more players have left than arrived. Tierney and Jorginho have exited permanently, leaving more gaps in the squad.
Pre-season is just a month away, but Arsenal still haven’t signed a proven goal-scorer. They also lack a solid backup for Saka, a competitive left-winger to push Martinelli, a second-choice goalkeeper, and another attacking midfielder to ease Ødegaard’s load.
The only rumored incoming under Berta’s leadership is Martín Zubimendi from Real Sociedad. But that deal remains unconfirmed. It begs the question: is this the same old Arsenal—even under a new sporting director? Or is Andrea Berta quietly working behind the scenes?
Meanwhile, rivals move in the market with ruthless efficiency.