Money well spent by big-spending Premier League clubs

As the dust settles after the close of the summer transfer window, Richard Jolly analyses how the top six clubs have done business

Spanish striker Roberto Soldado has spurred on Tottenham. AFP

Arsenal

Have they spent well? Yes and no. Mesut Ozil is a world-class player, the first superstar Arsene Wenger has signed for years. Yet they failed to get Luis Suarez, Gonzalo Higuain or any other major striker.

Strong areas now The same as they always were passing midfielders, creators and wingers. Ozil joins Jack Wilshere, Aaron Ramsey, Santi Cazorla and co.

Weak areas now Apart from Olivier Giroud, the injured Lukas Podolski and the untried newcomer Yaya Sanogo, they lack out-and-out forwards.

Best signing Mesut Ozil - though Mathieu Flamini on a free transfer could be a useful acquisition.

Have they spent well? They have spent strangely, spending £50 million (Dh285.8m) on wingers, an area where they already had enviable strength. They missed out on Wayne Rooney and did not sign a defender.

Strong areas now Oscar, Eden Hazard, Juan Mata, Willian, Andre Schurrle, Kevin de Bruyne … Chelsea had a creative trio last year. Now they have six flair players.

Weak areas now The midfielder Marco van Ginkel, 20, has come in but no defender has arrived and they remain over-reliant on the veterans John Terry and Frank Lampard.

Best signing Samuel Eto'o - A bargain at £5m. Still one of the best strikers in the world.

Have they spent well? Yes. Brendan Rodgers has made eight signings, bolstering every department of the team, without spending huge money and while keeping Luis Suarez.

Strong areas now The defence, with Mamadou Sakho, Tiago Ilori and Kolo Toure all added; so far, Liverpool look a lot more solid. Victor Moses should bring pace and incision on the flanks, as well.

Weak areas now Missed out on the elite signing they wanted. Rodgers hoped to bring in another match-winner in the attacking third.

Best signing Simon Mignolet. The £9m goalkeeper has begun with three successive clean sheets, including some vital saves.

Have they spent well? Yes. Learnt the lessons of last season, bought early and were prepared to pay the price for high-class players who the manager wanted. In Jesus Navas, they added width, which they lacked last year.

Strong areas now Most of them. Manuel Pellegrini has two players for every position. His striking quartet may be the strongest in the Premier League.

Weak areas now Not many, although they could do with more competition for Joe Hart's place in goal.

Best signing Alvaro Negredo. The £20m forward has scored twice and looked ominously sharp in his three cameos to date.

Have they spent well? They have not spent much. They had a huge budget and high aims. David Moyes wanted two central midfielders and a game-changer. He failed on both fronts, with Ander Herrera's move collapsing embarrassingly on Monday night.

Strong areas now Unchanged Robin van Persie's goals; Wayne Rooney, who they have kept; the winning mentality of the old guard.

Weak areas now Now the midfield is not as strong as Moyes had hoped. They have too few genuine blue-chip players.

Best signing Marouane Fellaini. The only major signing but the £27.5m Belgian was terrific with Everton and knows Moyes well.

Have they spent well? Very. Reinvested the Gareth Bale money in seven players, some of enviable class. And made a profit.

Strong areas now Attack, now that Roberto Soldado has joined. The centre of midfield, where Paulinho and Etienne Capoue have begun well and Christian Eriksen is an excellent player. Potentially, the flanks with the record buy Erik Lamela's arrival.

Weak areas now None, really. The question is if any of the arrivals can be as devastatingly effective as Bale was in turning draws into wins.

Best signing Roberto Soldado. The £26m forward is the striker Spurs have needed for years.

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