27 May 2026 19:00 BST | 7 min read
Mikel Arteta, David Raya, Declan Rice
© IMAGO
Cameron Smith
Cameron Smith | Digital Content Producer
Accredited sports journalist covering football since 2020
Arsenal’s decision to appoint Mikel Arteta in December 2019 was a huge risk and for the first year of his reign, it looked like a grave error.
After guiding the Gunners to the FA Cup during his first season, Arteta’s side endured a torrid slump of form the following campaign, winning just one game from a possible 10 in a horrid run before Christmas in 2020 and it was widely thought that a sacking was required.
However, Arsenal retained faith in Arteta and, slowly but surely, he turned them into title challengers before they finally won the Premier League title in 2025-26. In addition, the Gunners have the chance to win the Champions League for the first time ever when they face Paris Saint-Germain in the final on Saturday night.
Arteta’s coaching has played a pivotal role in Arsenal’s ascent back to the top of English football, but the Gunners’ work in the transfer market also deserves huge credit.
Below, FootballTransfers runs through Arteta’s 10 best signings of all time.
Gabriel Magalhaes - €26m (from Lille, 2020)
Gabriel Magalhaes arrived at Arsenal for a measly fee of €26m and he has established himself as one of the best defenders in world football over the past six years.
The Brazilian certainly wasn’t the finished article following his move from Lille, but he gradually improved under Arteta and since the 2022-23 season, he has been a pillar of consistency for Arsenal.
His threat from set pieces has been a key part of Arsenal’s success in recent years and he has formed a fantastic partnership with William Saliba, who misses out on this list by virtue of being signed just five months before the appointment of Arteta.
Martin Odegaard - €35m (from Real Madrid, 2021)
After two excellent seasons on loan at Vitesse Arnhem and Real Sociedad, Martin Odegaard failed to break into the Real Madrid team and Arsenal pounced by agreeing an initial loan deal in January 2021.
Despite only one goal and two assists in 14 Premier League games, the Gunners had seen enough to pay €35m to sign him permanently, and he has been a magnificent signing for the club.
Handed the captain’s armband in 2022, Odegaard has been a creative maestro for Arsenal and he is closing in on 100 goal contributions for the north London giants. For €35m, he has been a bargain and he is now a Premier League winner.
Martin Odegaard
© IMAGO - Martin Odegaard
Ben White - €58.5m (from Brighton, 2021)
Arsenal’s decision to pay €58.5m for Brighton defender Ben White was heavily criticised in 2021, with Manchester United notably signing World Cup winner Raphael Varane for a cheaper fee.
However, White had excelled at Brighton, as well as impressing on loan at Leeds United, and after struggling at centre-back during his debut season at Arsenal, he was reborn after being moved to right-back in 2022-23.
The Englishman soon formed an outstanding connection with Bukayo Saka on the right flank, while he provided defensive solidity next to Saliba. He has since lost his starting XI place to Jurrien Timber, but White goes down as one of Arteta’s best signings without doubt.
Gabriel Jesus - €52.2m (from Man City, 2022)
The 2022 summer transfer window was arguably the most important of Arteta’s reign at Arsenal, with the club backing the Spaniard in the market after a fifth-place finish in the Premier League table.
The double signing of Gabriel Jesus and Oleksandr Zinchenko from Manchester City was pivotal, with both players helping the club immediately become title challengers. Arsenal finished second in 2022-23, before repeating that feat a further two times and then finally winning the league in 2025-26.
Jesus and Zinchenko were both hugely influential figures as Arsenal established themselves as contenders for the title, with the former netting 11 Premier League goals in just 26 games during his debut season at the club. He remains at the Emirates Stadium to this day and has undoubtedly been a fantastic signing for the Gunners, despite recent injury woes.
Gabriel Jesus
© IMAGO - Gabriel Jesus
Leandro Trossard - €24m (from Brighton, 2023)
Arsenal were primed to sign Shakhtar Donetsk winger Mykhailo Mudryk during the 2023 winter transfer window, but their proposed deal for the Ukraine international was hijacked by Chelsea and they were forced to land an alternative target instead.
They turned to Brighton & Hove Albion’s Leandro Trossard and over the past three years, their failure to sign Mudryk has been the biggest blessing in disguise possible.
Trossard provided 10 assists in his first 20 Premier League games for Arsenal and he has continued to be a hugely important player for the club ever since, despite their continued pursuit of a new left winger.
Declan Rice - €116.6m (from West Ham, 2023)
Declan Rice cost Arsenal a whopping €116.6m when he joined the club from West Ham United in 2023, but he has arguably been the best signing of the Arteta era at the Emirates Stadium.
Arsenal fought off significant competition for his signature and following a stellar spell at West Ham, there was very little chance that he would flop. However, he has still exceeded expectations in north London, becoming one of the best central midfielders in world football.
His quality in midfield has been pivotal to Arsenal’s success in recent years, while his set piece delivery has been a constant source of goals too. What a signing he’s been and there’s an argument to suggest that his transfer fee now looks like a bargain.
Declan Rice
© IMAGO - Declan Rice
Jurrien Timber - €40m (from Ajax, 2023)
Jurrien Timber arrived at Arsenal in the same summer as Rice, but he suffered an anterior cruciate ligament injury on his Premier League debut and was forced to wait until 2024-25 to make his mark.
Since returning to full fitness, the Dutchman has excelled at right-back, pushing the aforementioned White to the substitutes bench in the process.
Timber is a superb defender, while his ability in possession has added an extra dimension to Arsenal’s play. At €40m, he’s been a truly excellent addition.
David Raya - €31.9m (from Brentford, 2024)
David Raya initially joined Arsenal on loan from Brentford in 2023 and after being named on the substitutes bench for his first three Premier League matches at the club, he soon usurped Aaron Ramsdale as first-choice.
Arsenal then, unsurprisingly, signed him on a permanent deal for just €31.9m and he has been the best goalkeeper in the Premier League ever since, potentially even in the entirety of Europe.
Raya repeatedly made crucial saves en route to the 2025-26 Premier League title and after years of issues in between the sticks, Arsenal now have one of the best around at their disposal.
David Raya
© IMAGO - David Raya
Riccardo Calafiori - €43.7m (from Bologna, 2024)
Riccardo Calafiori was one of the most sought-after players in Europe in the summer of 2024 following a superb season at Bologna and a string of impressive performances for Italy at the Euros.
Chelsea wanted to sign him, but it was Arsenal who secured his signature and despite playing at centre-back for Bologna, he has excelled in a left-back role since his arrival in north London.
Injuries have certainly hampered his career at the Emirates Stadium thus far, however Arsenal are a different team when he plays at left-back and he has a superb connection with Trossard on the left flank.
Viktor Gyokeres - €66.9m (from Sporting CP, 2025)
Viktor Gyokeres was signed to be the final piece of the puzzle at Arsenal and while his debut season may not have been as electric as many fans had hoped, he has still been an excellent signing.
The Sweden star notched 14 goals during his debut Premier League campaign, playing a pivotal role as the club’s preferred centre forward amid injuries to Mikel Merino, Kai Havertz and Jesus.
Gyokeres isn’t always easy on the eye, but he has been the goalscorer that Arsenal were sorely missing and he already has a Premier League winners medal after just one season in north London.
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Cameron Smith
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Cameron Smith is a Digital Content Producer for FootballTransfers, having joined the team upon its inception in November 2020.
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