Ranking Arsenal's last five summer transfer windows
Ranking Arsenal's last five summer transfer windows
As we prepare for another summer of rumours, half-truths and actual signings, one thing is for sure - this is a big transfer window for Arsenal.
It feels like something we've said on countless occasions in recent years, however, and more often than not they haven't gone exactly to plan.
Whether it's big-money signings backfiring, scraping around in the bargain bucket or failing to offload high earners, recent transfer windows have been a mixed bag for the Gunners.
Here's how we've graded the last five, including some names you might rather have forgotten…
January 2021 - B
Let's start with the most recent window, which was mostly notable for those who headed out the door.
Mesut Ozil finally departed by mutual consent after an absence which dominated headlines for the first half of the season and proved an off-field distraction amid on-field woes.
His equally ineffective compatriot Shkodran Mustafi also went, as did Sokratis Papastathopoulos - neither of whom were able to make an impression at the heart of the defence during their spells in North London.
Arteta resisted the urge to bring players in to his struggling squad, with youngster Omar Rekik the only addition, but the removal of three inconsistent high-earners from the wage bill made this window a relative success.
Summer 2020 - D
Last summer was the first ‘pandemic' transfer window but it didn't stop Arsenal doing plenty of business.
Unfortunately, most of it hasn't paid off - so far at least.
There was plenty of excitement around £45m man Thomas Partey but he has flattered to deceive in his debut season while replacing Emi Martinez with Alex Runarsson made the goalkeeping department considerably weaker.
Gabriel has been a solid addition to the defence but the less said about Willian on a three-year deal, the better.
Summer 2019 - C
The January window of 2019/20 was fairly uneventful, with just two loan signings, so we've gone back to the previous summer - which saw Arsenal break their transfer record.
If we'd written this article two months ago, Nicolas Pepe would perhaps have been written off as a waste of £72m and while he still has plenty of work to do to live up to the fee, his excellent end of season form hinted at brighter times ahead.
Kieran Tierney was also signed in this window and has gone on to make himself an integral part of Arteta's side while David Luiz, love him or loathe him, proved decent business at £8m.
The jury remains out on £27m William Saliba but next season could be a defining one for both the Frenchman and Gabriel Martinelli, who also joined two summers ago and looks very promising.
Summer 2018 - D
Unai Emery's first window was one of relative upheaval.
Santi Cazorla, Per Mertesacker and Jack Wilshere left at the conclusion of their contracts and the Spaniard set about making his mark on the squad.
Of the four players who arrived for transfer fees - Bernd Leno, Matteo Guendouzi, Papastathopoulos and Lucas Torreira - only the first two could reasonably be judged as a success, and far from emphatic ones.
Stephan Lichsteiner's arrival on a free also felt fairly underwhelming and the moves made in this window arguably help demonstrate why Emery's tenure did not last too long.
January 2018 - B+
The most eventful window in recent memory.
Pierre Emerick-Aubameyang arrived, Henrikh Mkhitaryan was swapped with Alexis Sanchez and both Theo Walcott and Olivier Giroud headed through the exit.
All in all, it has to be considered a success. Aubameyang was off the boil last season but had been a brilliant addition prior to that and the fact Arsenal could tempt him in the first place showed the club's name remained one to be reckoned with.
Mkhitaryan did not have a huge impact but Sanchez's form was only heading one way - perhaps the only mistake was selling Giroud to a rival on both domestic and European fronts.
Pics; Getty Images
