'I expect Arsenal to do better than last year' - Vermaelen backs Emery to oversee progress with Gunners

Arsenal are well placed to significantly improve on their mediocre 2018-19 campaign under Unai Emery this season, according to Thomas Vermaelen.

Six new recruits arrived at Emirates Stadium over the summer, with 25 players shipped away from the club either on loan or on permanent transfers.

The Gunners have shown they can compete with Europe's top clubs in the transfer window once again, most notably bringing in highly-rated winger Nicolas Pepe from Lille for a record £72 million ($88m).

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Arsenal also managed to acquire David Luiz, Kieran Tierney, Gabriel Martinelli and Dani Ceballos on loan from Real Madrid, with William Saliba signing a deal with the club before heading back to Saint Etienne on loan.