Arsenal face another important summer transfer window which they'll hope will unfold more smoothly than some of their past failed dealings that left them with egg on their face
13:26, 27 Jun 2025
Mikel Arteta watching his Arsenal team in May 2025
Mikel Arteta is under pressure to deliver success to Arsenal(Image: AFP via Getty Images)
There's crucial business ahead for Mikel Arteta during the summer transfer window as he aims to guide Arsenal to their first Premier League title since 2004.
It's been a hat-trick of second-place finishes for the north London side, who watched Liverpool saunter to a record-equalling 21st top-flight title this past season. To counter another season without clinching the ultimate prize in English football, the Gunners are reportedly prioritising the signing of a striker.
RB Leipzig's Benjamin Sesko and Sporting CP's Viktor Gyokeres have long been rumoured for a move to the Emirates, but the club has yet to seal a deal. With the signings of Martin Zubimendi, Kepa Arrizabalaga, and Christian Norgaard almost secured, Arteta is reportedly pursuing Valencia star Cristhian Mosquera to bolster his defensive ranks.
Wingers are also said to be on Arteta's transfer radar with Real Madrid's Rodrygo and West Ham's Mohammed Kudus reportedly attracting interest. However, the Gunners have famously missed out on some of the sport's biggest names, and here we explore a few of their unsuccessful transfers over the years.
Luis Suarez
Luis Suarez clapping the Liverpool fans
Luis Suarez rejected a move to Arsenal in 2013 after a heart-to-heart with Steven Gerrard(Image: Matthew Ashton/AMA/AMA/Corbis via Getty Images)
Perhaps the most unforgettable transfer saga of Arsene Wenger's tenure, Luis Suarez's future was a tale for the ages. After netting 30 goals in the 2012/13 season as Liverpool finished seventh, the Uruguayan confessed his desire to depart Anfield in search for Champions League football.
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Eager to sign the striker, who had a reported £40m release clause in his contract, Arsenal attempted to trigger it by adding a nominal £1 to the figure. However, their club-record bid was rejected by Liverpool, as it transpired that the clause only necessitated a discussion about a potential transfer.
Suarez's motivations for leaving Liverpool shifted following a heartfelt conversation with then-captain Steven Gerrard. In a previous interview with streamer Davoo Xeneiz, the Inter Miami striker revealed: "In 2013 I wanted to join Arsenal, because Arsenal played every year in the Champions League.
"They were willing to pay a lot for me, but in England, it wouldn't have looked good to swap Liverpool for Arsenal. One day Gerrard came to me and said, 'Listen to me, I could have gone to Madrid or another team, but the best decision is for you to stay and not go to Arsenal, it won't do you any good.
"'Stay and next year you will get offers from bigger clubs like Barcelona, Madrid and Bayern. And then you can decide. But don't join Arsenal. Stay for another season.'" Ultimately, it worked in Suarez's favour, as he scored 31 goals in his final season on Merseyside before securing a £65m move to Barcelona in 2014.
Eden Hazard
Eden Hazard of Chelsea celebrates after scoring a goal to make it 3-0 during the UEFA Europa League Final between Chelsea and Arsenal at Baku Olimpiya Stadionu on May 29, 2019 in Baku
Eden Hazard ranks as one of the greatest players to ever represent Chelsea(Image: Getty Images)
It was during his time at Lille that Eden Hazard made a name for himself as one of the world's top young talents and the undisputed best player in Ligue 1. After clinching the league title in the 2010/11 season and being named Ligue 1 Player of the Year two years in a row, the Belgian sensation caught the attention of some of football's biggest clubs.
Among those was Arsenal, with Hazard expressing his admiration for them while still at Lille. "It's always more fun when [the football is] beautiful," he said. "In addition, at Arsenal, there is a coach and French players. And Thomas Vermaelen."
However, it was Chelsea who ultimately secured Hazard's signature, leaving Arsenal to grapple with the disappointment of missing out on the football prodigy and also losing Robin van Persie to bitter rivals Manchester United in the same summer.
Mykhailo Mudryk
LONDON, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 10: Mykhaylo Mudryk of Chelsea in action during the Premier League match between Chelsea FC and Arsenal FC at Stamford Bridge on November 10, 2024 in London, England. (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)
The Ukrainian star is facing a ban of up to four years after a banned substance was discovered in a random urine test(Image: Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)
In what could be considered Arsenal's most recent transfer misstep, albeit one that's worked in their favour, they were pipped to the post by Chelsea in the signing of Mykhailo Mudryk in 2023. The Ukrainian winger was making waves across Europe with Shakhtar Donetsk, with the Gunners leading the race as Arteta sought to bolster his attacking options.
Despite Arsenal seemingly on the verge of signing Mudryk, Chelsea swooped in and matched their London rivals' total bid of £88.5m, including add-ons, in what would have been another club-record transfer for the Gunners. Following the missed opportunity to sign Mudryk, Arteta brought in Leandro Trossard from Brighton in a move that has proven to be incredibly astute.
However, Mudryk has failed to live up to expectations since joining Stamford Bridge, scoring a mere 10 goals in 73 matches and is currently facing a potential four-year ban after receiving an FA charge for Anti-Doping Rule Violations.
Thomas Lemar
Andrea Berta posing with Thomas Lemar after signing for Atletico Madrid
Thomas Lemar signed for Atletico Madrid for £62million just a year after his move to Arsenal broke down(Image: JAVIER SORIANO/AFP via Getty Images)
The Frenchman was on the brink of becoming England's priciest player ever if his £92m transfer to the Gunners had materialised. Following a remarkable 2016/17 season where Lemar played a pivotal role in Monaco edging out Paris Saint-Germain for the Ligue 1 title, the winger was highly sought after.
Arsenal were leading the chase to sign the star after agreeing on the hefty fee with the French club, and were ready to bid farewell to Alexis Sanchez who was nearing a move to Manchester City on the final day of the summer transfer window in 2017.
However, the deal fell through after Lemar wasn't given sufficient notice by Monaco about how close the transfer was and had already travelled to France for international duty. The move collapsed, resulting in Sanchez staying at the Emirates while Lemar remained at Monaco for another year before securing a £62m move to Atletico Madrid the following summer.
Yaya Toure
Brothers Yaya and Kolo Toure of Manchester City
Yaya Toure would've joined older brother Kolo if work permit issues didn't stop him joining Arsenal(Image: Corbis via Getty Images)
The Manchester City legend might not have become such a cherished figure at the Etihad Stadium if it weren't for the work permit issues that thwarted his move to Arsenal in 2003. With his older brother Kolo already at Highbury, Toure seemed poised to join his sibling under Wenger's management after having a trial with the Premier League heavyweights.
The Frenchman had been eager to recruit Toure, who was then at Belgian outfit Beveren, after an impressive performance in a pre-season friendly against Barnet. However, difficulties with obtaining a work permit led to the deal falling through.
That same year, Toure made the move to Ukraine, but eventually secured a return to English football in 2010 with City, following in the footsteps of his brother Kolo, who had joined the club 12 months prior.
In an interview years after Toure's failed transfer, Wenger revealed: "We needed to wait for his passport in Belgium. We have made mistakes but he is not a mistake, it's just the fact that he preferred to go to Metalurh Donetsk. He could go there without any passport."
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