Arsenal finally splashing cash with Shkodran Mustafi, Lucas Perez

LONDON, England – “We are working on the deals,” Arsenal Arsene Wenger announced on Friday when specifically asked about the transfers of German defender Shkodran Mustafi and Spanish forward Lucas Perez. “We are not close enough to announce to you today, but they will sign for us.”

Wenger added, “Will we sign anybody before the end of the transfer window? I’m 99 percent confident.”

Wait, Arsenal is finally spending money in the transfer window? Yes, the Gunners have seemingly committed nearly $70 million (£52 million) to fill two gaping holes in the squad: a central defender and a second forward.

After watching Arsenal claim only one point from the first two rounds of the Premier League season, fan uproar hit heights that resulted in the manager barraged by insults from the club’s supporters, chants in the stands and hostile questions from the press. Wenger’s response following a 0-0 draw at Leicester City was to dismiss the disgruntled fans as being “highly influenced” by the media.

Less than a week later, Wenger’s actions spoke louder than his words. Mustafi and Perez not only quiet the supporters calling for the manager’s head, they bring that same angry pack back on Wenger’s side. Fans begged the boss to buy, and, finally, he bought. And this time, the Frenchman is actually buying players that fit the needs of the clubs, rather than yet another attacking midfielder.

Mustafi, in particular, will be a good signing.

Frankly, Arsenal could have used the 24-year-old for the first two games of the Premier League season, but when the 2014 FIFA World Cup winner finally settles in, he expects to be Laurent Koscielny’s full-time partner at the back, even when compatriot Per Mertesacker returns from a lengthy injury spell. Without mincing words, the nearly $50 million (reported at £35 million) spent on the German should be well worth it.

Twenty-seven-year-old Lucas Perez is a bit of a head-scratcher for most Arsenal supporters, as the middle and lower end of La Liga simply does not get the same exposure as the middle and lower end of the Premier League.

However, the 27-year-old forward scored 17 goals and had eight assists in 36 appearances during the 2015-16 La Liga campaign. Compare that with Olivier Giroud, who scored 16 goals and had six assists in the Premier League during the previous campaign. Perez, who is more commonly referred to as “Lucas” and even wore his first name on his shirt at Deportivo La Coruna, is exactly what the doctor ordered at the Emirates.

The Spaniard can challenge Giroud for a starting spot and, at the very least, provide a different approach when the Frenchman is off the pace or can’t seem to find the target. Unlike Theo Walcott, Perez is a true forward, so his addition is a positive move to address an issue that possibly cost Arsenal the league title a season ago.

Also, Perez’s pacier approach could work well to create more breaking opportunities alongside Alexis Sanchez, as the Chilean often seems isolated when Giroud is the lumbering central striker unable to offer the correct type of support to make the most of the Chilean’s energy and speed.

Arsenal finally spent the money. Would it have been better if Wenger opened his wallet earlier? Of course, Arsenal would have been better off with both these players in the squad prior to the start of the season, especially against Liverpool in the season opener. However, getting these players in now is better than not getting them in at all.

Upon being told that Arsenal’s spending for the summer window would be at about £100 million ($132 million) if these two signings go through as expected, Wenger smiled and said, “You accuse me now of being a money splasher?”

Wenger had been accused of much, much worse in recent days.

Shahan Ahmed is a soccer columnist for Yahoo Sports. Follow Shahan on Twitter: @ShahanLA and @perfectpass