AFTV News

Shkodran Mustafi, 29, playing for Arsenal against Manchester City Arsenal’s worst ever transfers By Jonny Bray There was a time when Arsenal’s recruitment team was among the most respected in Europe.   From Wright to Fabregas, some truly magnificent players have signed for the Gunners during the club’s history, however, the club have also had their fair share of shockers.   It feels like those shockers have become increasingly common over the last 15 years, but they are by no means exclusive to recent times.   All that’s really changed is how much these failed transfer have ended up costing the club.   Lists like this have been made before and have often been unfair on players who have signed for the club in the last 15 years.   Marouane Chamakh, for example, is a common inclusion in lists of this ilk despite being a free transfer with a relatively average record of eight league goals in 40 appearances across three years.   He didn’t set the world alight bu...

By Oscar Maung-Haley With the news that William Saliba is set to join Marseille on loan after arriving at the Emirates two years ago for a whopping £27m, we look back on Arsenal’s worst transfer dealings of all time… Shkodran Mustafi Signed for a mammoth £35m from Valencia in 2016, Shkodran Mustafi was one of the first names on our list. During his five years at the Emirates, the German defender underwhelmed, developing a bit of a reputation for gaffes and errors. The transfer fee was an enormous outlay for Arsenal at the time. At £35m, he should have been one of Arsenal’s building blocks for the future, helping them challenge for titles and silverware again. But Mustafi never lived up to his price tag, having his contract terminated in February of this year. He now plays for Schalke who got relegated this season…poor guy cannot catch a break! The entire 2011/12 summer transfer window To be honest, a number of the spots on our list could have gone to players from this summer transfer w...

From standing by Xhaka, to playing Aubameyang down the left, to Signing Mari & Cedric. We take a look at Mikel Arteta's biggest decisions and adjudge whether this is all 'Process or Poppycock'. By James Bayliss For many years, Arsenal fans endured managers who didn’t quite seem willing to make the big decisions most felt were needed at the club. Mikel Arteta though, does look like someone who’s trying to push a real culture change - but is he the man to do it? Arsene Wenger, for all his amazing attributes, didn’t seem the type to put his foot down, yet still often displayed an infuriating stubbornness at times with his on-field approach. Unai Emery was at first a breath of fresh air, switching formations and tactics with every passing game, though eventually his constant chopping and changing began to portray him as a clueless and desperate coach once results declined. But can we trust Mikel to lead a resurgence at the club with Chief Executive Vinai Venkatesham &...

Who do Arsenal need to let go of in the January transfer window to make way for new signings? By Bradley West The New Year is upon us and that can only mean one thing - the January transfer window!  While there were plenty of ups and downs during 2020 for Arsenal fans, who knows what the next 12 months will bring and change could begin in earnest with transfer comings and goings this month.  It’s that time of the year for going out with the old and in with the new, and boss Mikel Arteta confirmed in December that outgoings would be the focus of January with the club having to sell players before they can bring anyone in.  Midfield creativity has long been mooted as the desired area for recruitment but where can wages and space in the squad be freed up to allow those additions?  After Sead Kolasinac joined Schalke on loan for the rest of the season, and with several players in the squad not seeing much action, we’ve selected five players who could be let go this month...