ARTETA'S GUNNER SPEND SPEND SPEND

Cash keeps flowing as Gunners issue real statement of intent

- JOHN CROSS

MIKEL ARTETA has gone on another remarkable transfer spending spree to get Arsenal back to the top.

They have already splashed out £65million on Kai Havertz from Chelsea, will smash their record with the £105m deal for West Ham's Declan Rice and are set to complete a £40m deal for Ajax defender Jurrien Timber.

It is a £210m message of intent and is unlikely to stop there with Romeo Lavia of Southampton still in their sights to show they mean business in going one better in next season's title race with Manchester City. But Arsenal are also blowing the rest of their Premier League rivals out of the water as they were the biggest spenders in the summer of 2021 with an outlay in excess of £160m and more than £130m 12 months ago.

That underlines the backing from owners Stan and Josh Kroenke who have backed Arteta to the hilt in the last few windows as they believe they have the right manager and set-up for long-term success.

It has sent shockwaves throughout the Premier League as they beat off competition from City to sign Rice because Arteta and sporting director Edu had sold Arsenal's vision to the England midfielder.