Good business? Ranking all of Arsenal’s 2020/21 season transfers

Alex Runarsson

Good business? Ranking all of Arsenal’s 2020/21 season transfers

By Josh Graham

Now the season has ended it is time to rank Mikel Arteta’s business in the transfer market from both the windows last summer and in January. 

Thomas Partey 6/10

It was finally Partey time on deadline day at the end of last summer’s delayed transfer window.

Ghanaian midfielder Thomas Partey arrived from Atletico Madrid for £45million with big expectations after some impressive engine room displays in La Liga.

Much like the team as a whole, there have been glimpses of the real quality Partey can bring to the side but overall he has failed to live up to the hype in his first Premier League campaign.

The 27-year-old has battled with injury and if he can string a run of games together next season is sure to become a fans favourite and help boss games in the middle for Arteta.

Gabriel Magalhaes 6/10

Another man who arrived to much fanfare, centre-back Gabriel rocked up at the Emirates for £23.5m after Gunners chiefs fought off Manchester United to land his signature from Lille.

He generally looked assured in his 23 appearances in the Premier League last season and even contributed two goals up the other end.

Widely regarded to be in Arsenal’s first-choice centre-back pairing, next season will be the real litmus test for the 23-year-old with David Luiz’s experience no longer something Arteta will be able to draw on.

Gunners fans may be hoping he can strike up an exciting partnership with the returning William Saliba rather than the more robust Rob Holding.

Pablo Mari 4/10

Defender Pablo Mari first joined Arsenal on loan in January 2020 from Flamengo before his move became permanent last summer for a fee of £4.5m.

But repeated injury setbacks have hampered his chances to impress at the back in north London.

He has not been found particularly wanting when given the chance to impress but neither has he given any strong reasons why he should be a regular starter for Arteta.

Mari made just ten appearances in the league last season and does not appear to be up to scratch with Arsenal hoping to revamp their side into serious top four contenders. 

Alex Runarsson 2/10

The Icelandic goalkeeper arrived as a back-up to Bernd Leno and was thought to be a snip at less than £2m.

But the young shot-stopper butchered his chances of gaining more first team game time with an absolute howler against Manchester City in the Carabao Cup.

He only made one substitute appearance in the Premier League for Leno against Wolves when the German had his own moment of madness, handling outside the box. 

Mat Ryan 7/10

Aussie keeper Mat Ryan arrived from Brighton on loan in January.

He was most likely a panic recruitment after Runarsson’s high profile blunders sent the jitters through the Gunners’ hierarchy.

But the experienced former Seagulls No.1 showed he still has what it takes to succeed at the club he supported as a boy, impressing in his three Premier League starts, and he could yet extend his stay.

Cedric Soares 5/10

Cedric Soares signed a bumper four-year deal at the Emirates last summer having initially arrived on loan from Southampton.

The Portuguese ace has been reasonably solid and did his best to fill in at left-back when Kieran Tierney was injured.

But if truth be told he has not grabbed the opportunity afforded to him by Hector Bellerin’s indifferent form. 

Willian 1/10

Willian appears to be one of those players who can quite literally up the ante with the flick of a switch.

Coincidentally, the Brazilian was on red hot form at the back end of last season for Chelsea, knowing he wanted a club to offer him a mega three-year deal.

Arsenal were the suckers to cough up such a lucrative offering for the 32-year-old and he has never looked particularly keen on returning to his former heights after immediately losing his starting place in Arteta’s side.

A few assists aside, it has been one to forget for the winger.

Martin Odegaard 8/10

Norwegian wonderkid Martin Odegaard finally appears to have matured into the player he was destined to be.

On loan from Real Madrid since January, Odegaard has added a real touch of class to Arsenal’s attacking play, and it is only injuries and the sensational form of Emile Smith Rowe that have prevented him grabbing more headlines.

If Arteta can convince him to stay it would be a huge coup for the club after he bagged two goals and two assists in 20 appearances in all competitions.

Photo Credit: Getty Images

Popular posts from this blog

What have we learned from Arsenal's pre-season so far?

Image
  Arsenal – what have we learned from pre-season? By Jack Lacey-Hatton It only feels five minutes since Euro 2020, but incredibly we are just one week away from the new Premier League season starting. Arsenal will travel to newly promoted Brentford for a London derby in front of a noisy crowd next Friday night, not the easiest of starts to the new campaign. But what sort of shape are Mikel Arteta’s side in, going into what could be a defining season for the manager? We took a close look at what we have learnt from the pre-season period and what kind of shape the squad are in.   The new signings are ready to go It has been a mixed transfer window so far. Some fans would have expected more both leaving and arriving at the Emirates stadium over the summer. But positives can be taken - Ben White has arrived from Brighton for £50million, and highly-rated full back Nuno Tavares has come in from Benfica. Albert Sambi Lokonga completes the 2021 summer singings so far. Cruc...
Read more

Transfer Profile: Ruben Neves

Image
Transfer Profile: Ruben Neves By Jonny Bray It is hard to believe that Ruben Neves is still only 25-years-old.   It feels as if the Portuguese international has been tipped for big things for nearly a decade now.  With the midfielder out of contract in 2023, it appears his time at Wolverhampton Wanderers could be coming to an end.  Understandably, with a player like Neves on offer for a reduced price, clubs around Europe are queueing up to secure the international's signature.  So, after all this time, should Arsenal move for Ruben Neves now, or is it time for the Gunners to turn their attention to a new target?  What would he bring?  Arsenal do not have enough defensive midfielders.  Martin Ødegaard, Emile Smith Rowe and Bukayo Saka give Mikel Arteta plenty of midfield options going forward, but the Gunners have been found lacking when out of possession this season. Thomas Partey has been in and out of the side due to injuries, a fact that has not hel...
Read more

Where will Arsenal finish this season?

Image
Where will Arsenal finish this season? By Alec McQuarrie Arsenal have made steady improvement over the last few seasons under Mikel Arteta. After finishing 8th in his debut season, the Spaniard oversaw a five-point improvement in his first full campaign.  And last year an eight-point leap followed, which was unfortunately not enough to pip Tottenham to fourth place.  Cruelly, the 69 points accumulated would have been enough to seal Champions League qualification in the previous two seasons.  Looking at the trajectory over the Arteta era, it would be fair to assume a continued improvement this coming season.  After all, with five signings already secured this summer and Alexandre Lacazette the sole first-team player to depart, surely fourth place should be a bare minimum expectation.  Oleksandr Zinchenko offers much-needed cover at left-back and competition for central midfield.  Gabriel Jesus is a proven goalscorer and brings a tireless work-ethic to fulfil...
Read more