I think he took the best approach vs Arsenal, expectations wise. His team is clearly out of rhythm or lacking style or combinations. It's a fresh team in a tough place. Counter strategy with Haaland is never a bad choice.
Few seasons ago Pep schooled Arteta a kipper.
The squad just didn't have the renovation it needed to play that suffocating possession anymore against the competition upgrades.
If you think about it Pep wanted Wirtz (City group thought was too inflated fee), Zubimendi (didn't want to move last year), Rice (again thought fee was too inflated), Moises Caicedo (you guessed it, deemed fee too inflated) so there is an overall theme that he didn't get the first options to he wanted to transition form the decline of Bernie, Kevin, etc.
Then you have Arsenal, Chelsea and Pool massively increasing their transfer budgets so City don't have free reign for all the talents that they previously had.
So yeah, alot of money on Nico, Reindeer and Cheeki, but not the ilk of player Pep truly wanted or needed- the pauper.
Another 300m spend in 2026 it is
