Ranking Arsenal's Top 10 Summer Signings of the Past 10 Years
This summer, Arsenal ended the transfer window without signing a single outfield player. That disappointed many Gunners fans, who felt there was an opportunity to significantly strengthen the squad.
Nevertheless, it should not be forgotten that over the past decade, Arsene Wenger has undertaken significant rebuilding work. Some outstanding acquisitions have been made, and the squad currently has more depth than it has for several seasons. In this piece, we have sought to establish a ranking for Wenger’s best summer signings of the last 10 years.
It’s worth noting that this list only includes players signed during summer transfer window, so the likes of Theo Walcott, Nacho Monreal and Gabriel Paulista are all excluded from contention.
This ranking takes into account a couple of key factors when weighing up which are Arsenal’s ‘best’ transfers. Impact on the team is crucial, but there’s also the question of whether they offered value to asses.
10. Mikel Arteta
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Although Mikel Arteta may not be an automatic starter for Arsenal any longer, it should not be forgotten what an important role he played upon his arrival during the summer of 2011. That year, the Gunners had lost the heart of their midfield in Samir Nasri and Cesc Fabregas. Arteta was recruited from Everton on transfer deadline day in a last-ditch attempt to build stability to Arsene Wenger’s XI.
He did that and more. Converted to a deep-lying role, Arteta became the heart-beat of the side, breaking up opposition moves and instigating them for his own team. He was eventually named club captain, and remains a hugely important component in the squad.
Let’s not forget, he was also the first Arsenal skipper to lift silverware aloft in a full nine years.
9. Olivier Giroud
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Olivier Giroud is regularly criticised for falling short of the ‘world class’ category of striker that Arenal fans crave. Nevertheless, he has provided enormous value for money in his time in north London.
When he joined the Gunners from French champions Montpellier, the BBC reported the fee as just £12 million. Given the exorbitant sums paid for strikers in subsequent summers, that’s an absolute steal.
8. Petr Cech
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Given time, Petr Cech might yet rise up this ranking. As it stands, he has only played handful of games in Arsenal colours. Nevertheless, his acquisition remains a major coup. Signing a goalkeeper of Cech’s class is always a huge boost—stealing one from a rival is even better.
For the best part of a decade, Arsenal have struggled to find a convincing No. 1. Cech’s arrival seems to have brought that search to an end. If he can help make the Gunners Premier League champions again, his signing will come to be seen as successful as any other Wenger has pulled off in the last 10 years.
7. Per Mertesacker
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Like Olivier Giroud, Per Mertesacker is a player who has faced a lot of criticism in his time in English football. However, that should not be allowed to overshadow what he has contributed to Arsenal football club since his arrival in 2011.
As in the case of Mikel Arteta, Mertesacker was something of an emergency signing in the wake of Arsenal’s 8-2 defeat at Old Trafford. He was no panacea: the gangly German endured a difficult start to life in English football. He stuck at it though, and has gone on to become one of Arsene Wenger’s most reliable lieutenants. He’s the de facto leader on the pitch, and his authoritative personality has brought communication and calm to the Arsenal backline.
Since Mertesacker joined Arsenal, their defensive displays have improved tremendously. That is no mere coincidence.
6. Bacary Sagna
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Bacary Sagna is probably one of the great bargain buys of Arsene Wenger’s Arsenal tenure.
When he was signed from Auxerre, the fee was said to be in the region of £6 million. At the time, many fans felt Arsenal did not require a new right-back due to the emergence of Emmanuel Eboue. However, Sagna immediately showed that he was an upgrade on the erratic Ivorian. He retained the right-back spot consistently for seven years before departing for Manchester City.
5. Aaron Ramsey
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When Arsenal beat Manchester United to the signing of Aaron Ramsey for just £5 million in 2007, they dealt their rivals a major blow. The Welshman has gone on to become one of the most effective box-to-box midfielders in the modern Premier League.
It might not have felt like a major deal at the time, but Arsene Wenger saw Ramsey’s potential and has spent years helping him develop into the player he is today. Although he currently finds himself stationed on the flank, his future is surely at the heart of the Gunners midfield. Within a matter of years, Ramsey will regularly take centre stage at the Emirates Stadium.
4. Laurent Koscielny
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Few English football fans knew of Laurent Koscielny before he arrived at Arsenal. Now, he is widely regarded as one of the finest centre-halves in Europe.
Koscielny was a late bloomer. A couple of seasons before taking to the Champions League like a duck to water with the Gunners, he was playing in the second tier of French football. However, Arsene Wenger saw him in a defender with the pace, tenacity and technical skill to thrive at elite level.
Signed for just £10 million, Koscielny would surely now be worth two or three times that on today’s open market.
3. Mesut Ozil
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Mesut Ozil is arguably the most important signing in Arsenal’s history. The day he joined was the day the Gunners announced themselves as a major force in the transfer market, able to lure the world’s best players to north London.
Despite the seemingly constant criticism aimed in his direction, Ozil has delivered on the pitch too. Since he joined the club, the Gunners have won two FA Cups in consecutive seasons.
Excitingly, there is still the sense that there is more to come from the World Cup winner. With Ozil now fully acclimatised to the Premier League, his influence on proceedings on the pitch should continue to grow.
2. Santi Cazorla
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Santi Cazorla is just a joy to watch.
Arsenal and initially pursued him in the summer of 2011 (h/t Goal.com), only for him to stay in Spain with moneybags Malaga. However, one year later, Malaga’s financial troubles allowed Arsene Wenger to prise him away to England. Since then, it’s been non-stop entertainment from the Spanish magician.
When the deal was done, the BBC claimed the fee was “below £15 million”. That Arsenal were able to snatch the diminutive midfield genius for such a low figure remains truly remarkable.
1. Alexis Sanchez
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Just one season in to his Arsenal career, it’s already time to call Alexis Sanchez the best Arsenal summer recruit of the last decade.
His first campaign in English football was simply outstanding. He finished with 25 goals in all competitions, and was named the club’s Player of the Year.
If he can continue in that vein over the coming season, he will be remembered as one of Arsenal’s best signings—not just of the last decade, but of all time.
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