Andrea Berta is set to become the new Arsenal sporting director, finally replacing Edu Gasper who departed the club for Marinakis group late in 2024.

Berta, who departed his position as Atlético Madrid earlier in the year, has over the years built an impressive resumé, which made him emerge as the candidate to succeed Edu.

The Italian has been at the Spanish club since joining in 2013, first served at the technical director, before his promotion to sporting director capacity in the summer of 2017, a capacity where served at Genoa, Parma and AC Carpenedolo, where he kicked off his directorate career in 2002.

He beat off competitions from former Arsenal stars Tomas Rosicky and Per Mertesacker, as well as Real Sociedad's Spanish director, Roberto Olabe to land the much contested position.

How Andrea Berta was made in Football management 

Andrea Berta, renowned for his strategic acumen, has orchestrated numerous impactful player acquisitions across his tenures at various clubs, but the highlight has so far been at Atlético Madrid.

Players like Antoine Griezmann, Luis Suarez, Rodri, Marcos Llorente, Kieran Trippier, Rodrigo De Paul, and more recently, Julian Alvarez and Alexander Sorloth.

Aside the names mentioned, several other top stars as well as decent squad players have moved to Atlético since he joined, as he complemented the missing pieces in Diego Simeone's team.

He also has his failures, like the big money signing of players like Joao Felix and Thomas Lemar, who deals which couldn't have gone more wrong as both player failed to live up to expectations. Yet, the intention may count as a boon for Berta.

Before joining Atlético, he was employed at Genoa, where he spent three seasons and helped saw to the arrival of the likes of Leonardo Boucci, Kevin-Prince Boateng, Alberto Gilardino and Miguel Veloso.

With Leonardo Boucci, who albeit never played for the club, the deal represented a very lucrative investment when he eventually moved to Juventus.

Rodrigo Palacio, Hernan Crespo, Rafinha, Francesco Acerbi, and Juraj Kucka, are amongst other top players he signed for Genoa while deals involving strikers Robert Acquafresca and Sergio Floccari represent his failures.

As he is set to commence a new chapter in his so far impressive career in management, we take a look at the chances and the challenges ahead.

The Muddle at Arsenal has no identity

The expectation will start rising immediately he is confirmed for this new role as it is expected that the marque striker signing for the club should arrive this summer.

A lot of top names have been linked with Arsenal, and Berta will be tasked to quench the long-term thirst for a world class center forward at the Emirates.

Alexander Isak, who at the time does not look a real possibility, nonetheless is one of the names on the list. Benjamin Sesko, is one player that the club is keen on signing while the likes of Viktor Gyokeres and a few other names may also be available in the summer.

The arrival of a striker at Arsenal will definitely lift spirits at Arsenal this summer, even though as they are set to lose another title battle to Liverpool, who has a 13 point lead with less than ten games to go.

A striker signing will solve some part of their problems, yet, it is uncertain that it will all be as easy as falling off a log when the next season gets underway, because this is Arsenal, and the trouble is never really over.

Potential troubles for Arsenal that may become more obvious next season

Arsenal's function unit of the pitch has been the defence this season. The midfield has picked up in recent weeks thanks to the form of Declan Rice, while Thomas Partey has also been a very reliable contributor when not deployed in right back.

There have been criticism of captain Martin Ødegaard, with some section of fans and analyst singling the Norwegian out as the weakling in the Mikel Arteta set-up.

The manager appears to trust his captain, but there are some underlying facts and figures that can not be really overlooked. These are figures that suggests that maybe, the club has outgrown the former Real Madrid teenager.

Martin Ødegaard, although remains one of the top playmakers in the Premier League, his consistency has been really questionable.

Aside his impressive run in the 2022/23 season, where he scored 15 goals in 37 Premier League games, he hasn't been consistent with the numbers, most especially in the assist category for an attacking midfielder at a top level team.

So far this season, Ødegaard has contributed five Premier League goals, two goals and three assists, which is the least of any Premier League attacking midfielder to have played up to 20 games for a team in the current top 15.

Another trouble that could ensue is the reliance on Thomas Partey, who albeit has been fit as a fiddle this season, has a poor injury history. In his absence or when not playing as the defensive midfielder, Arsenal has really struggled.

News emerged in January that Arsenal has an understanding to trigger Real Sociedad's Martin Zubimendi over a move to the club in the summer.

Kind of similar profile to Partey, yet, the Spaniard does appear to be limited in progressive play, and like Partey, struggle against a very physically imposing opponent.

Newcastle United for example have walked all over the Gunners in their three meetings this season as the likes of Bruno Guimaraes and Joelinton dominated the Arsenal midfield. The same was the story in their first meeting with Aston Villa.

William Saliba and Gabriel have formed a formidable partnership in the heart of the defence and thankfully they've managed to stay fit for the major part of the season, but things can happen, even when things start good for them. This is Arsenal.

In comparison with what Arsenal have in defence, maybe Declan Rice and Bukayo Saka are the only midfielder and attack respectively, that match the level. There is also youngster Ethan Nwaneri, who is a natural Ødegaard replacement, yet it is unlikely that Arteta relegate his captain for a 17-year-old.

Whatever befalls Arsenal in the near future will be blamed on the management, even for the misfortunes not even anyone could have prepared for. Berta will have to understand and live with this.

Although he has worked at a club like Atlético, who have achieved more than the Gunners since his appointment there, however, the pressure at Arsenal is much more severe. The frustrated fan base in the red side of North London will always have someone to hold responsible for their mishap.

There is no guarantee that the desired success will be achieved. It is more of a challenging task than it looks for Berta, because even though Arsenal has achieved stability under Mikel Arteta, they continue to fall short just as they've done since the season following in their invincible campaign in 2004.

Off the pitch, resolving contract issues will also pose a very big headache to Berta, even so as important players will be entering the final two to three years of their contrac, while there are some less significant players with quite a duration in their running agreement.

Keeping players like Bukayo Saka and William Saliba, the latter who has become a subject of interest from Real Madrid, will be very decisive in measuring success.

Arsenal's failure to win major titles will give these players some thinking to do when the clubs that stand better chances of winning come calling.

In addition, solution also has to be provided to the future of players who have been outgrown by the club. Gabriel Jesus, Jakub Kiwior, Oleksandr Zinchenko and a few other names have to be moved on, while understanding that Takehiro Tomiyasu will remain at the club due to his injury.

Securing the departure of some of these players will create room for incomings, so business can be done to bring in those who can contribute to the club moving forward.

This season, the substitutes have contributed almost nothing to Arsenal's season. Only Riccardo Calafiori has made telling contributions off the bench, a mouthwatering reality for a club of such status.

Arsenal's misfortunes have been more in the form of disasters that have no control over. Injuries, poor officiating and poor timed fixtures, factors which they can not really be tackled directly, but only hope they go their way.

Whilst these are not what Andrea Berta can impact, he will still have to deliver the expected and maybe surprise the fans and beat expectations – then, he can hope other things go well to aid their cause for a league title.

A striker, which Kai Havertz can deputize for, a winger, who can challenge both Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard, midfielder that upgrades on the aging Thomas Partey and the one more of a Mikel Arteta's call to give more opportunity to Ethan Nwaneri on the right side of midfield.

A central defender on the Gabriel and Saliba level. Riccardo Calafiori maybe makeup for Gabriel and Timber for Saliba, but one more may be needed should they choose to let off Takehiro Tomiyasu, which would the best decision.

The facts and figures are there to help the Italian get the wave under control at the club, but it may be a tedious job, much more than the expected arrival of a striker.