For years, Arsenal fans have grown used to the same story. Mikel Arteta’s team plays brilliant football, flirts with greatness, and yet falls just short when it comes to lifting the biggest prizes. The Emirates has seen progress, but not the kind of ruthless edge required to turn contenders into champions.
Part of that came down to recruitment. Under Edu Gaspar, Arsenal made smart signings—functional players who fit Arteta’s system. Declan Rice, Kai Havertz, Gabriel Jesus: all valuable pieces. But none of them screamed “game-changer.” Arsenal always felt like one or two superstars short of truly breaking City’s dominance.
Enter Andrea Berta.
The Italian sporting director arrived this summer with a very different philosophy. Where Edu was cautious and systematic, Berta has gone straight for statement moves. Viktor Gyökeres, one of Europe’s deadliest strikers. Eberechi Eze, a dazzling midfielder with the flair to change a game in an instant. Martín Zubimendi, a Champions League-ready anchor in midfield. These are not squad fillers. These are players who arrive with the weight of expectation—and the ability to carry it.
Arsenal announce their appointment of Andrea Berta as their new sporting director 📝🔴 pic.twitter.com/OULM09wek9
— Daily Mail Sport (@MailSport) March 30, 2025
Suddenly, Arsenal feels different.
And this is where the dynamic gets interesting. Arteta reportedly leaned towards Benjamin Sesko as his striker of choice, valuing his potential and willingness to rotate. Berta pushed hard for Gyökeres, a proven goal machine ready to deliver now. Guess who won? The fact that Arsenal landed Gyökeres says everything about the new balance of power at the Emirates.
It raises a real question: what happens if Arteta falls short again? He has been backed like never before, but now the recruitment reflects Berta’s ambition as much as his. If Arsenal do not win either the Premier League or the Champions League this season, the spotlight will burn brighter on the manager. Berta cannot directly sack him, but his influence with the Kroenkes is undeniable. If anyone were to call for change, it would be the man who built Simeone’s Atlético into serial contenders.
And that’s why you could argue Andrea Berta is Arsenal’s best signing this summer. Gyökeres might score 20 goals, Eze might dazzle under the lights, but Berta has shifted the entire mentality of the club. Arsenal are no longer buying players just to fit Arteta’s puzzle; they’re signing stars to win trophies.
For the first time in two decades, Arsenal feel armed for a real assault on both England and Europe. If the squad delivers, Arteta will be hailed a genius. If not, Andrea Berta might be the man pulling the trigger on a new chapter.
Either way, this season at Arsenal isn’t just about the players on the pitch—it’s about the duel behind the scenes. Arteta vs. Berta. The tactician vs. the dealmaker. And perhaps, the man in the boardroom is the true signing of the season.
