It’s time for Arsenal to deliver – and one uncomfortable question holds the key

Sign up to Miguel Delaney’s Reading the Game newsletter sent straight to your inbox for free Sign up to Miguel’s Delaney’s free weekly newsletter Sign up to Miguel’s Delaney’s free weekly newsletter SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Had they managed to equal that for the past eight years in a row, including last season – so adding another point to their tally and being consistently as good as the best, brief peak they’ve ever had – they would still have claimed only two more Premier League titles: Covid-restricted 20/21 by four points and 22/23 by a single one. Since the start of 2020/21 – so Arteta’s first full season as boss, following five football months plus the Covid gap in charge – Arsenal have reportedly spent around £650m on new signings. open image in gallery Mikel Arteta speaks to his players during a pre-season friendly between Arsenal and Manchester United in Inglewood, California They’ve recouped somewhere around £152m in the same timeframe – four full campaigns and this ongoing summer transfer window – including loan fees, judging by the same source in terms of valuations. Consider: if Man City have an average season for themselves in points terms, that’s 91 – a new Arsenal best, remember – just to match them.