Up to the time Arsene Wenger was retiring, Mesut Özil was Arsenal’s best record signings. Arsenal pride themselves for not splashing big money for their record signings .However this narrative seem to be changing since the Arsene Wenger era.
The North London club has made some prolific record signings over the years, we take a look at these players and the impact.
Mesut Özil
The German playmaker is one of the record signings for Arsenal Football Club. The Gunners signed Mesut Özil for a record fee of £42.3m from Real Madrid in 2013. During his initial seasons at Arsenal, Özil played a pivotal role in the team’s attacking play.
His precise passing, exquisite ball control, and ability to find gaps in the opposition’s defense made him an integral part of the Arsenal attack. He formed a potent partnership with striker Olivier Giroud and played a key role in helping Arsenal win two consecutive FA Cup titles in 2014 and 2015, ending the club’s nine-year trophy drought. Özil was highly regarded for his exceptional playmaking abilities, vision, and creativity on the field.
Thomas Partey
Partey joined the gunners on a deadline day of the transfer window in 2020 from Atletico Madrid. The midfield maestro endured a spell of two seasons in North London with injuries but has been a crucial part in their title charge in 2022/24 EPL season. Partey has shown glimpses of his quality and potential impact on the team.
He possesses excellent ball-winning abilities, a good passing range, and the ability to drive forward with the ball at his feet. Partey’s physicality and defensive awareness make him a valuable asset in midfield, where he often plays as a central midfielder or as a holding midfielder. Partey has proven his price tag by showing his is one of the best defensive midfielders in the game.A fee of £45m puts him up there with some of Arsenal’s record signings.
Nicolas Pepe
The Ivorian was the most expensive transfer in the history of Arsenal before Declan Rice. His record fee of £72m from Lille made him one the record signings not just at the Emirates but in the premier league as well. This high fee saw him get a lot of critics up to the time Arsenal loaned him back France.
Pierre-Emerick Aubamayeng
Aubamayeng joined from Borussia Dortmund at a record fee of £57.4m.Though his stay at Arsenal did not end well falling victim of the club’s captain curse. The Gabonese won the golden boot in his second season at the emirates and led the Gunners to FA cup triumph.
However, despite individual success and crucial contributions in big games, Aubameyang’s time at Arsenal also saw periods of inconsistency. There were moments when he struggled to find the back of the net or had off-field issues that affected his performance. In the 2020-2021 season, he experienced a dip in form, scoring fewer goals than his previous seasons. He remains one of record signings during the Wenger era.
Kai Havertz
Kai Havertz became the first summer signing for Arsenal heading into the 2023/24 EPL season. The German joined from Chelsea in a £65m deal and now ranks third among Arsenal record signings.
Declan Rice
Declan Rice will become of the record signings in British transfer history once his move to Arsenal is completed. The Westham man has had a marvelous season with the Hammer leading them to win the Conference league.at only 24 years old and joining yet another young team, Rice has bright future.
This list of prolific Arsenal record signings is based on my assessment as fan and not any other source. You can also read
