Of course we could. Arsenal have spent the most since Arteta went there so clearly mean business, and went from two 8th placed finishes to 5th with points totals going 56, 62, 69.
Everything was going in one direction at Arsenal.
Selling you two players with multiple Premier League titles winning experience who are both utter workhorses and two of the most dedicated players to the cause you’ll find, was either naïve by City or stupid.
Would be interesting to look back on their threads when you sold them then and see how many had Arsenal as contenders.