Grading and Ranking Arsenal's Summer Signings
This summer, Arsenal finally spent big. Arsene Wenger broke the bank to bring in the trio of Granit Xhaka, Lucas Perez and Shkodran Mustafi—as well as moving for talented young Bolton defender Rob Holding.
The current international break seems like an appropriate point to take stock of Arsenal’s new signings. They have been with the club for a few months, and it’s now almost a third of the way through the Premier League season. The period of initial acclimatisation is over, and now we’re beginning to see what these guys are really made of.
In this piece, each player will be graded on their performance thus far in 2016/17. The grade factors in the degree to which they’ve settled in English football, their impact in the team, and how much value they’re providing against their respective price tags.
Go to the next slide as we assess this quartet of new signings.
4. Lucas Perez
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At the outset of the summer transfer window, it appeared that a new centre-forward would be Arsenal’s priority. Failed bids for Jamie Vardy and Alexandre Lacazette meant Arsenal were left waiting until the end of the window to land a new forward: Spanish striker Lucas Perez.
Although Lucas started the first match after his arrival—a Premier League game against Southampton—he has generally found first-team football difficult to come by. He has not been helped by the surprise success of Alexis Sanchez as a centre-forward.
When he has played, he’s generally fared well. Lucas opened his goalscoring account with a brace against Nottingham Forest in the EFL Cup and impressed in the Champions League tie with Ludogorets by coming off the bench to create two goals for Mesut Ozil. Speaking to IBTimes after that match, Lucas said:
"The coach told me to be quiet because he trusts in me. He says that he has been following me for a long time and that he likes me so I have to be patient. He said that opportunities will come and today he has proved it. He is a good guy and is always there to help us.
When I came to Arsenal I knew where I was coming. I know there are great players here. I have to wait for the opportunity. Everyone wants to play, but the important thing is the team and we have won seven games in a row.”
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Unfortunately, he as injured in his next outing against Reading. In his absence, Olivier Giroud has returned. The Frenchman’s availability means Lucas has effectively dropped another rung down the pecking order. With Danny Welbeck due back in the new year, Lucas needs a break if he’s to make a major impact at Arsenal in 2016/17.
Grade: B-
Lucas is clearly a talented player, but thus far Alexis’ transition into a No. 9 has rendered him redundant.
3. Granit Xhaka
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When Arsenal signed Granit Xhaka to shore up their midfield, one of the concerns was his disciplinary record. He’s lived up to his billing in that respect, collecting a clutch of yellow cards as well as one soft red that earned him a three-match ban.
If his suspension was no great surprise, Xhaka has caused some consternation with his goalscoring exploits. He opened his Gunners account with stunning long-range strike against Hull, and since trebled his tally. In fact, he is one of just two Arsenal players to have scored in this season’s Premier League, Champions League and EFL Cup.
Xhaka has yet to nail down a guaranteed place in the team. With a new central defensive partnership at the back, Arsene Wenger has generally looked to the established partnership of Santi Cazorla and Francis Coquelin whenever possible. However, with Shkodran Mustafi now bedded in alongside Laurent Koscielny, there may be a chance for Xhaka to establish himself in the team.
Grade: B
Given his price tag, Xhaka might have reasonably expected to have started more games this season. However, there are now signs that he is ready to start more regularly. There’s plenty more to come from the combative Swiss international in the remainder of the campaign.
2. Rob Holding
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The probability is that many Arsenal fans had barely heard of Rob Holding when he joined the Gunners. At first glance, signing a young defender who had just been relegated from the Championship with Bolton Wanderers was an odd move for a team which desperately needed experienced cover at the back. However, Wenger spotted potential in Holding and knew what he could bring to the Arsenal squad.
Nevertheless, even the Frenchman must have been a little surprised at the speed of Holding’s adaptation. He was outstanding in preseason, using the summer training camp to jump ahead of Calum Chambers in the pecking order, precipitating the former Southampton man’s loan move to Middlesbrough.
Holding has mainly been limited to outings in the EFL Cup since then, but in every appearance he’s looked remarkably assured.
Speaking about his experiences of top-flight football, Holding told SkySports:
"Obviously it's more difficult, it's a lot faster around your feet, the balls are on the floor all of the time and in the Championship it is more like a 90-minute fight, with balls coming in at all heights.
It's a lot faster, they're thinking faster, and that's the key...the speed and counter attack.
First of all when I came into the changing room and saw Alexis Sanchez, Santi Cazorla, I'm next to Cazorla in the changing room which is absolutely crazy.
But once you get on the pitch you settle into your football, and you can appreciate the talent they have as well.
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Humble words from Holding, but the truth is that fans and team-mates are now all appreciating his talent. The young defender has no cause to be overawed.
Grade: B+
Given the price Arsenal paid for Holding, he looks like a bargain.
1. Shkodran Mustafi
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Since arriving from Valencia, Shkodran Mustafi has become one of the first names on the Arsenal team-sheet. When Arsenal lost Per Mertesacker and Gabriel Paulista to pre-season injuries, they desperately needed a centre-half to partner Laurent Koscielny. Mustafi has filled the gap superbly.
Perhaps it shouldn’t be surprising that he adapted swiftly. Mustafi has lived and played in England before, during a spell with Everton as a youngster. Having also gained experience in Serie A and the Bundesliga, he’s clearly a very adaptable character.
One man unsurprised by his strong start is Gary Neville. Neville was Mustafi’s coach at Valencia last season, and recently told The Metro:
"Mustafi has got an incredible amount of natural ability and talent, good physical capability and I think with age and maturity he will grow into being a fantastic defender.
He’s got all the attributes you would want. I think that ultimately it will help him playing along Koscielny who has got experience there playing at Arsenal. I think he’s got all the makings of it. Defenders will mature with age and I think he will get better and better.
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There is still room for improvement. Mustafi likes to play the ball out of defence, but that does lead to taking some unnecessary risks. With both Koscielny and Mustafi sometimes more cavalier than conservative, Arsenal are vulnerable from time to time. Nevertheless, he has been an upgrade on Mertesacker and Gabriel and seems set to be a key component of the Arsenal team for years to come.
Grade: A-
Mustafi has been guilty of the occasional error but deserves enormous credit for fitting so seamlessly into the Arsenal XI.
