Sky Sports pundit Gary Neville has praised Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta for managing to improve the Gunners without having the resources to spend on bringing in new players.

Chelsea have spent a sizeable sum on new signings over the past few months and Neville says that Arteta would dearly love to have the same financial backing in order to improve his squad:

“I think Mikel Arteta is punching above his weight. He is going above and beyond the players he has. The shape and the organisation, things we have criticised Arsenal for in the past, is good.”

“They are not finishing in the top four like Arsene Wenger used to get criticised for but they look like a team which is more cohesive. It has continued from the end of last season and he is doing a great job. I just think Mikel Arteta would love that £150 million that Frank Lampard has got this summer.”

There is no doubt that Arteta has performed above expectations so far, having won the FA Cup by beating Lampard’s Chelsea and capturing the Community Shield by overcoming Champions Liverpool, but, as Neville points out, he needs to strengthen his team if Arsenal are to compete at the top end of the table.

The Spaniard has two top targets in Lyon’s Houssem Aouar and Atletico Madrid’s Thomas Partey who would greatly improve his options in midfield but the Gunners really need to offload fringe players if there are to be any more new additions before the transfer window closes.