Mikel Arteta’s 10 best transfer signings at Arsenal

Mikel Arteta has made loads of progress since arriving at Arsenal within the winter of 2019. After changing Unai Emery within the Gunners hotseat, the Spaniard endured a tumultuous begin to his reign in N5 earlier than reworking the north Londoners into common title contenders.

A key ingredient to their success underneath the previous Arsenal midfielder has been their proficiency within the switch market. Whereas they’ve had their justifiable share of horror tales, Arteta has supplied loads of hits when strengthening his squad.

Rating elements

On this listing, we’ve got regarded on the Gunners supervisor’s finest signings as Arsenal boss. To rank these signings so as, we’ve got thought-about the next elements:

Switch payment – how a lot they have been purchased for compared to their high quality

Impression – how rapidly they have been capable of develop into integral elements of the staff

Tactical suitability – how they match Arteta’s model of play

Reliability – whether or not they have stayed injury-free or been capable of assist out in numerous positions

10: Jurrien Timber

Signed from Ajax for £38.5m (2023)

Jurrien Timber’s Arsenal profession acquired off to a false begin when he suffered a long-term damage on his debut in August 2023.

The Dutchman confirmed what he may supply the facet in 2024/25, with the full-back changing into one in every of their most dependable defenders amid the fixed unavailability of Takehiro Tomiyasu and Riccardo Calafiori.

Timber’s affect has been so telling that Ben White’s right-back berth is not a foregone conclusion.

9: Jorginho

Signed from Chelsea for £12m (2023)

When Arsenal bolstered their squad as they sought the title within the 2022/23 season, Jorginho’s arrival in north London may have been seen as a ballsy transfer.

Eyebrows will all the time be raised when Arsenal do offers with Chelsea – why ought to a rival assist them out yr after yr? However Jorginho’s signing was completed on a budget, and whereas he’s not on the membership, he supplied the facet with key cowl in central midfield.

The Italian additionally got here up with an important strike throughout their preliminary run-in, with a late winner off Emiliano Martinez towards Aston Villa prolonging the Gunners’ title bid. Had he been purchased a couple of years earlier, he would have been good.

8: Ben White

Signed from Brighton for £50m (2021)

When Arsenal have been crushed at Brentford on Ben White’s debut, you’d be forgiven for questioning if Arteta had purchased a dud.

However since evolving right into a right-back, White has been one in every of Arsenal’s most dependable performers, just for damage to curtail his progress within the 2024/25 marketing campaign.

His link-up play with Bukayo Saka down the Gunners’ proper has been a key aspect of their success, whereas his tempo reveals he’s no slouch on the again. Who cares if he doesn’t like soccer?

7: Mikel Merino

Signed from Actual Sociedad for £31.6m (2024)

Mikel Merino had an fascinating first season at Arsenal, to say the least. Injured in his first coaching session, the Spaniard gives power, backup and unpredictability to the Gunners midfield.

Maybe probably the most spectacular trait he displayed was his versatility, with the midfielder being entrusted with filling the centre-forward function vacated by the injured Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus with appreciable aplomb, netting important winners towards Leicester Metropolis and Chelsea earlier than slotting residence an beautiful strike towards Actual Madrid within the Champions League.

Arteta will hope Merino will be capable of show the abilities he was purchased for on a extra common foundation sooner or later, particularly on condition that Arsenal have since strengthened their frontline.

Both means, Arsenal know they will name on him if an emergency strikes once more.

6: Leandro Trossard

Signed from Brighton for £27m (2023)

One other January signing for the 2022/23 marketing campaign, Leandro Trossard joined so as to add extra chew to the Arsenal assault.

Whereas he has blown cold and warm at instances since his transfer from Brighton, the Belgian has displayed his knack for ending off probabilities, reaching double figures for targets in every of his full seasons on the membership to this point.

Winners towards Porto, Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur rank extremely in his spectacular objective catalogue, so it may very well be argued he has fulfilled his finish of the discount throughout his time in Arsenal colors.

5: Kai Havertz

Signed from Chelsea for £65m (2023)

Regardless of being Arsenal’s high scorer in 2024/25 and scoring loads of essential targets in his first season, the jury should be out on Kai Havertz.

However the reality is that he has been a key a part of Arteta’s plans since arriving, and his versatility in an attacking sense has been important to the Gunners amid the underperformance and damage struggles of Gabriel Jesus.

His arduous work off the ball maybe goes unnoticed, particularly when charged with sticking the ball behind the online as a centre-forward, which can not even be his finest place.

Add a significant trophy to his Arsenal CV, and his £65m switch payment will look a snip.

4: David Raya

Signed from Brentford for £27m (2024)

Twice a Golden Glove winner with the Gunners, David Raya has been an impressed alternative between the sticks for Arsenal.

Changing Aaron Ramsdale to some derision amongst the fanbase following his preliminary mortgage transfer in 2023, Raya is now the most effective goalkeepers within the league, with out query.

He’s a much better tactical match than his No 1 predecessor along with his passing aptitude, whereas he made numerous astounding saves within the 2024/25 season alone to additional cement his standing as one in every of Arsenal’s present stars.

3: Declan Rice

Signed from West Ham for £105m (2023)

Arsenal smashed their switch document to usher in Declan Rice, and their £105m assertion signing nonetheless appears like a formidable piece of enterprise.

Amid all of the accidents that befell the Gunners in 2024/25, Rice remained their one fixed and capped an excellent marketing campaign by being named as Arsenal’s Participant of the Season, even when his free-kick double towards Actual Madrid was worthy of the award alone.

Comfortably one of many first names on the teamsheet, Rice has kicked on since arriving in north London and it’s troublesome to think about Arsenal succeeding with out him.

2: Gabriel

Signed from Lille for £23.14m (2020)

One in all Arteta’s first everlasting signings on the membership, Gabriel has grown into the most effective centre-backs in world soccer.

He has cast a superb partnership with William Saliba on the coronary heart of the Gunners backline, with Arsenal’s defending a shadow of itself with out him in it.

Given his worth, his standing within the staff and his set-piece objective risk, Gabriel has been one hell of successful on the Emirates.

1: Martin Odegaard

Signed from Actual Madrid for £30m (2021)

It’s not usually you’re given the prospect to signal a famous person from Actual Madrid on a budget. However that’s precisely what Mikel Arteta did when turning Martin Odegaard’s mortgage transfer to a everlasting one in 2021.

Now the Arsenal captain, Odegaard is rightly one in every of Arteta’s principal males. One of many world’s finest when on type, the Norwegian is poised to guide Arsenal right into a interval the place they hope they are going to be dominating domestically, if not additionally on the continent.

Arsenal look misplaced with out him when he’s out with damage, demonstrating his essential enter in an attacking sense. His type could fluctuate, however his worth to Arteta is obvious, and the one factor lacking from his Arsenal profession since his cut price swap is lifting a trophy moreover the Group Protect.

Word: All statistics sourced from Transfermarkt.