Arsenal have been described as ‘Banter FC’ by Jamie O’Hara as they prepare to welcome new signings Martin Odegaard and Aaron Ramsdale to the club.
The Gunners are close to agreeing a deal to sign goalkeeper Ramsdale from Sheffield United, having already reached an agreement with Real Madrid for Odegaard worth £30m.
O’Hara is underwhelmed by both deals, however, and says the duo’s arrival at the Emirates means Arsenal will have spent more than £100m this summer ‘on a B team’.
As well as signing Ramsdale and Odegaard, Mikel Arteta sanctioned a £50m move for England defender Ben White last month, while the Gunners also secured deals for £15m midfielder Albert Sambi Lonkonga and £7m defender Nuno Tavares.
‘They are Banter FC right now,’ O’Hara told talkSPORT. ‘They are Banter FC!
‘If they sign Odegaard and Ramsdale, they will have spent £135m this summer on a B team. Is their team any better than it was last season?’
Ramsdale, who has already been relegated from the Premier League twice, was left out of Sheffield United’s 4-0 Championship defeat to West Brom on Wednesday night ahead of his move to Arsenal.
Following the match, Blades boss Slavisa Jokanovic said: ‘The deal is not complete but it’s agreed between the clubs. I believe the agreement is close to being done.
‘It’s not really what I want but it’s difficult to stop this kind of situation. It’s a huge deal for the club.’
Arsenal finished eighth in the Premier League last season and made a poor start to the 2021-22 campaign, losing 2-0 to top-flight new boys Brentford last Friday.
Following the defeat, Gunners boss Arteta said: ‘I’m disappointed. We started the season against a good opponent. I don’t think we deserved anything different.
‘They scored from a long throw-in and we didn’t have enough presence in the box. The first goal gave them some hope. We wanted to play better in the second half but we need many more shots on target, then we conceded on a set-piece.
‘A lot of young boys were doing everything they can. For some of them it was the first experience in the league – that says a lot. What I can control and help, I’ll put all my enthusiasm and work into that.’
Arsenal will be looking to respond on Sunday when London rivals and Champions League holders Chelsea travel to the Emirates.
The Gunners hope to register Norway international Odegaard in time for him to be involved against Chelsea, who are set to hand club-record signing Romelu Lukaku his second Blues debut.
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