Some Arsenal fans immediately went into panic mode when it was announced that the Saudi Arabian-backed takeover of Newcastle United had been completed. The £305m deal to rescue the club from the hands of jaded businessman Mike Ashley was finally rubber-stamped by the Premier League four years after it was proposed.

Arsenal supporters showed signs of envy as the Northern club become the richest club in the world at the stroke of a pen. That was closely followed by concerns regarding Arsenal’s ability to compete with the growing number of billionaire owners involved in the sport. Was it just another club destined for mid-table mediocrity?

That’s a perfectly understandable fear but just as Arsenal have begun to restructure internally including a comprehensive rebuild, Newcastle United are faced with a similar problem. Regardless of the available funds, Newcastle have to begin the much spoken-about ‘process’. That starts from the roots up, by adopting a philosophy, and defining the identity as well as establishing themselves as a successful and competitive force in football.

The immediate assumption was that the Saudi based consortium would immediately start spending and that in under a month, Newcastle United would be knocking over Liverpool, Chelsea and City, but even the most optimistic Toon fan will know that the ‘process’ could last six seasons, perhaps longer and that recovery can’t begin until the new owners decide on a manager to turn their ambitions into reality.

Arsenal have already made change after change to its management and scouting structure and then had to shuffle the pack again. Two managers from Wenger and the board are only just starting to understand the enormity of the task. According to Sports Betting Dime, Arsenal’s odds of winning the 2022 Premier League is currently listed at +15000. Shows how far they have fallen since the days when they used to be considered a contender for the title.

Three years on from the Frenchman’s departure and the North London club are only now beginning to reveal the direction in which they are heading and what the process means to them. It could take Arteta another two seasons until his team can make an impact on the domestic stage or in Europe.

Amanda Staveley, the face of the consortium, was careful not to make rash promises which would test the patience of fans or would undermine the honeymoon period. Steve Bruce looks unlikely to survive because his profile will not fit the ambition of the owners and I wouldn’t even be surprised to see Rafa Benitez return to St James’ Park.

The Spaniard left when it was clear that the owner and the manager couldn’t agree on the club’s future direction, but Benitez was said to be a big part of the consortium’s takeover plans. No such declaration has been made about Steve Bruce.

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The club also has to work hard to convince the best players in the world to up sticks from their various warm and comfortable locations for the occasionally wet and windy North East. That may take time and depend largely on results.

The money at present means little in the big picture and it will only be an advantage when the entire club is ready to move forward together. At the end of the day, the City of Newcastle and their fans deserve some success for their undying love and loyalty. That’s something every supporter wants regardless of the differences in their badge.

Stay tuned to know more.