Arsenal have been heavily criticised in recent years for a lack of big moves in the transfer market.
Perhaps it’s not much of a surprise then, that eight of their top 10 all-time most expensive signings have been completed in the last five seasons.
Let’s take a look:
Andrey Arshavin – Zenit, £15m
Signed after an impressive tournament at UEFA Euro 2008, the forward agreed a then club-record fee of £15m and expressed his delight at joining such a prestigious club.
His first six months were impressive, netting six and creating eight assists in 12 Premier League appearances. It soon became apparent that although a useful player, Arshavin struggled to consistently produce his quality, especially in the matches that mattered most.
No-one will ever forget his fantastic four-goal haul which stunned Anfield in the 4-4 draw of 2009, but it didn’t get much better than that for the Russian. He struggled for form, fitness and his frustrations became increasingly evident before he re-joined Zenit St. Petersburg on a free transfer in July 2013.
Santi Cazorla – Malaga, £15m
The fan favourite himself, Santi Cazorla, didn’t need much time to acclimatise. The creative Spaniard, now 32, played every Premier League fixture during his first campaign in England and performances have justified why he’s one of the club’s best creators in recent years.
Previously the creator-in-chief, he was either shifted out wide or played in a deeper role to accommodate the arrival of Mesut Özil and has been a joy to watch. Unfortunately though, a number of troublesome injuries have seen him play progressively fewer matches every season.
Last term, he was sidelined from mid-October and is not expected to return until later this year from ankle surgery. He’s missed 78 competitive matches, spanning 430 days of football across the past four seasons.
Danny Welbeck – Manchester United, £16m
Just like Chambers, we’re yet to see Welbeck fulfil his full potential with the Gunners but if the last few months are anything to go by, the future is promising.
Five goals and four assists, considering he’d been out up until January with a serious knee injury, is impressive.
His overall contribution to the team cannot be overstated and he’s also a versatile player that works tirelessly for his team-mates too.
Whether he’ll get an extended opportunity to start as the lone centre-forward next season remains to be seen though.
Calum Chambers – Southampton, £16m
It’s easy to forget that Chambers has made almost 60 competitive appearances for Arsenal to date.
With the acquisition of Shkodran Mustafi last summer, it was important that the young Englishman was guaranteed regular minutes and Arsenal couldn’t make that promise, so he made a season-long loan move to Middlesbrough.
Premier League experience has proven beneficial for the 22-year-old, who alongside Rob Holding, represents an encouraging sign of defensive quality long-term.
Jose Antonio Reyes – Sevilla, £10.5m (rose to £17m)
Reyes, the frustrating but brilliant young Spaniard who arrived at Highbury in 2004. Relatively unknown outside Spain, Wenger had seen enough in the forward’s ability to splash the cash for him – bolstering his attacking options in the process.
Robin van Persie’s arrival the following year seemed to bring the best out of Reyes, though the 2005/06 campaign was the beginning of the end after claims he was homesick, coupled with his frustration at being a second-half substitute during the Champions League final defeat by Barcelona meant he angled for a move away.
He was eventually sold to Atlético Madrid for £8m, but not before scoring 23 goals and creating 24 more in 109 appearances for the Gunners.
Lucas Perez – Deportivo, £17m
For someone relatively unheard of outside Spain, £17m was a fairly hefty price for a club – not least Arsenal – to pay for an experienced forward who needed time to acclimatise to the pace of England’s top flight.
So somewhat unsurprisingly, Lucas has shown flashes of individual brilliance but also flattered to deceive at times too. His fantastic volley against Bournemouth helped seal a point when we should’ve had all three, he scored a Champions League hat-trick on his first and only start in the competition and notched a few goals across Cup fixtures too.
However, he was sidelined for a significant portion of the season and expected more of a starring role. That was unrealistic when you’ve got the likes of Alexis and an in-form Giroud ahead of you, while his appearances off the substitutes bench (Bournemouth excluded) didn’t warrant much more than a squad role.
Granit Xhaka – Borussia Monchengladbach, £30m
Critics were quick and naive to brand the Switzerland international a flop following his lucrative move from Bundesliga side Gladbach last summer.
Unsurprisingly then, Xhaka’s impressive displays have largely gone unnoticed by many and it’s partly due to his perceived disciplinary record in England.
12 bookings and two red cards across all competitions last season meant that the talented midfielder was an easy target but he only picked up five yellows in over 30 Premier League games.
However, he has made the deep-lying midfield role his own and regularly creates key passes for team-mates. If you watch him play, you’ll be able to quickly see how his arrival has improved the team going forward.
Shkodran Mustafi – Valencia, £35m
Some believe Arsenal have overpaid on this occasion, but Mustafi’s presence at the back has helped improve the team’s defensive quality.
His absence was particularly felt during crucial matches and successive defeats against Everton and Manchester City in December, signalling the start of a downward spiral.
Tenacious, brave and eager to learn, it’s been a long first campaign back in England’s top flight for the former Everton youngster though he’ll be stronger for it.
Alexis Sánchez – Barcelona, £35m
Arsenal’s best player since the Invincibles era, the tireless Chilean forward has more than justified a £35m outlay for his services after the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.
Last season, he netted 30 goals and created 19 assists across all competitions during a forgettable term for the Gunners.
With no Champions League football and a rather weak challenge for Premier League success, it’s no surprise that the majority of Europe’s top clubs are monitoring his situation.
Mesut Özil – Real Madrid, £42.5m
The creative German has dazzled supporters and also frustrated many with his performances since a club-record move from La Liga giants Real on deadline day in 2013.
With 32 goals and 57 assists in 161 appearances to date, it’s fair to say that he has helped improve the club in the final third though his statistics would look more impressive with prolific forwards in attendance.
Unfortunately he doesn’t have that luxury, hence why when out of possession, he’s unable to stamp his authority on many big matches and is accused of disappearing.