Arsenal's 10 Greatest January Transfer Window Signings of the Premier League Era
Arsene Wenger is not known for making many signings, but the players he does buy often exceed expectations.
This is particularly true in January, when fewer players are on the market and the boss acquires many fewer players.
Jose Antonio Reyes
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Jose Antonio Reyes was good when he came to Arsenal, but he could have been so much better.
Though he got off to an excellent start by opening his goalscoring account against Chelsea, Reyes was the quintessential foreign player who could not adapt to the English game.
He got homesick for Spain and never completely bedded in. After being sent out on loan to Real Madrid during the 2006-07 season, he has spent all of his career on the Iberian Peninsula.
Kolo Toure
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Kolo Toure was actually a February signing, one of a few I've included in this list.
He signed from ASEC Mimosas, a small Ivorian club, for less than one million pounds in 2001. Wenger and his scouts were more than vindicated over time, as Toure became an essential cog in the Invincibles' defense a few years later.
Before being foolishly let go instead of William Gallas, Toure was the bedrock of Arsenal's defense and an on-pitch leader.
Andrey Arshavin
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No doubt a polarizing choice for this list, it's worth remembering that Andrey Arshavin was once one of Arsenal's brightest lights.
He shredded the competition when he came to England, but he eventually lost his motivation and put more weight on his body than balls in the back of nets.
Arshavin was a lazy player who could, when he wanted, produce truly brilliant moments. But he was offloaded to Zenit St. Petersburg because he was unable or unwilling to produce them often enough.
Emmanuel Eboue
4 of 10
Oh, Eboue.
Emmanuel Eboue was the original Lukas Podolski: A talented player who did not quite fit into the team but was adored by fans for his antics.
His tenure started off fairly well, and he served as a utility player for several years. Eboue mainly played in the absence of Bacary Sagna at right-back, and deputized as a winger when Arsenal needed a more defensive presence.
Eventually, though, his inconsistency was exposed and he was offloaded to Galatasaray.
Abou Diaby
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We all know the story of Abou Diaby and his terrible struggle with numerous injuries after Dan Smith shattered his ankle in 2006.
It's a testament to his immense talent that Arsene Wenger has given Diaby so many chances to prove himself. The Frenchman has barely played during the last two seasons, but he has impressed during the little game time he's gotten.
There was a stretch before the 2010 World Cup when Diaby really excelled and stayed fit for a decent stretch. He still counts as a great budget signing.
Nacho Monreal
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Nacho Monreal's signing on deadline day two years ago was almost wholly unexpected. His arrival coincided with Andre Santos' departure, and it's safe to say that he's been a massive upgrade.
Monreal and Kieran Gibbs seem to never be fit at the same time, so the Spaniard has consistently gotten playing time. While he is not as much of an attacking threat as his competitor, Monreal has performed admirably this season at center-back, where he had never played before.
Nicolas Anelka
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Though he left somewhat acrimoniously and only played for Arsenal for a couple of seasons, Nicolas Anelka was still one of the best and most important signings that Arsenal have made during the Premier League era.
The Gunners nipped Anelka from Paris Saint-Germain's youth system for a paltry few hundred thousand pounds. Given the No. 9 shirt and a prominent role in the team, he flourished at a young age and propelled Arsenal to the Double in 1998.
Just as importantly, Arsenal offloaded him to Real Madrid for £22.3 million, a massive fee at the time. That cash infusion helped to pay for Thierry Henry and a new training ground.
Emmanuel Adebayor
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Arsenal fans despise Emmanuel Adebayor now, but his outstanding form led to his desire to transfer and all the subsequent bad blood.
Adebayor took a little while to settle in after singing in January, 2006, but eventually formed a lethal striking partnership with Robin van Persie back when Arsenal employed a two-striker system.
It took him a while to get good, and Arsenal cashed in on him to the tune of £25 million when he demanded a transfer to Manchester City. He has never been as good since.
Thierry Henry
9 of 10
Arsenal needed some help at striker during the 2011-12 season. Fans clamored for Arsene Wenger to snap up a superstar, but he went and gave the best player in the club's history the best possible sendoff.
As we all know, Thierry Henry marked his return to the club with which he made history by scoring the winner in an FA Cup tie against Leeds. He added another winner against Sunderland to an impressive second stay in North London.
That was all icing on the proverbial cake, of course. The mere sight of Henry in Arsenal's colors again was incredible.
Theo Walcott
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Nine years ago, when Arsenal were still playing at Highbury, Arsene Wenger invested in a young Southampton prospect named Theo Walcott.
It took several years for that raw 16-year-old to turn his stunning straight-line speed into first-rate footballing quality. But, despite tearing his ACL last season and missing almost all of 2014, Walcott is back and ready to build on the immense progress he made in the season before his injury.
Though he will probably never get to play in his preferred striker role on a consistent basis, Walcott is edging his way back into the team and has the potential to be one of Arsenal's most dynamic and important players. His absence last season was a key reason why Arsenal fell short of the title.
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