football.london takes a long look back and rates all 43 signings made by Arsenal during Mikel Arteta's tenure
Mikel Arteta will undertake the defence of the Premier League title in 2026/27
Mikel Arteta has overseen Arsenal's rise to the promised land(Image: KontentHaus/Getty Images)
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Mikel Arteta took charge of Arsenal when the club was a mess from top to bottom.
Given it was his first managerial job, few could have imagined in December 2019 that the Spaniard would transform the Gunners into European powerhouses and Premier League title winners in just over six years. The process has not been smooth by any means, as shown by the plethora of heartbreaks and failures along the way.
There have also been a multitude of signings, each of whom played varying roles throughout Arteta's tenure. Having been a head coach before being promoted to his current position as manager, Arteta has seen his influence on transfers grow after initially navigating a mix of hierarchy calls, short-term fixes and squad clear-outs.
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There are naturally some big misses when looking back on his signings, some of which were corporate punts like Auston Trusty, emergency stopgaps like goalkeeper Neto, or poorly planned gambles like Willian and Raheem Sterling. But others, like David Raya and Martin Odegaard, have been transformational, rebuilding the spine and defining an era in the club's storied history.
With Bruno Guimaraes marking the latest chapter of recruitment, Arteta now boasts one of the most feared squads in world football. Every deal played its part in raising the standards in north London - here is how all 43 transfers of the Arteta era rank, from the misfires to the catalysts.
43. Runar Alex Runarsson - £1.5m in 2020
Runarsson was brought in as an ill-fated emergency signing whose infamous error against Manchester City in the League Cup shattered his confidence early on. He endured multiple loan spells away from London before his contract was terminated by mutual consent.
Runar Alex Runarsson made two errors in Arsenal's 4-1 Carabao Cup defeat to Manchester City
Runar Alex Runarsson made two errors in Arsenal's 4-1 Carabao Cup defeat to Manchester City in 2020(Image: Getty )
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42. Auston Trusty - £2m in 2022
This transfer was driven by the fact both Arsenal and Trusty’s former MLS club, Colorado Rapids, are owned by Stan Kroenke’s Kroenke Sports & Entertainment (KSE). Arsenal used their network to loan him to Birmingham City in the Championship (where he won Player of the Season), and then sold him to Sheffield United for roughly £5m - all without him ever playing a single competitive minute for the Gunners.
41. Neto - Loan in 2024
Neto joined on a deadline-day emergency loan from Bournemouth to provide cover for David Raya between the posts. During his only competitive appearance - a Champions League match against Girona - Neto endured a nightmare moment when he rushed 25 yards out of his penalty box, found himself in no-man's-land, and left an empty net for Arnaut Danjuma to easily score.
40. Tommy Setford - £840,000 in 2024
Setford was signed from Ajax as a bright young goalkeeper to develop within the academy and train with the first team. Having made just one senior appearance, his arrival was a long-term investment and it is still unclear whether he will develop into a regular squad player.
39. Mat Ryan - Loan in 2021
A boyhood Arsenal fan who fulfilled a dream six-month loan spell, putting in solid and reliable performances across three first-team appearances. He did a clean job as a short-term cover option without any fuss.
38. Marquinhos - £3m in 2022
Marquinhos scored on a memorable debut against FC Zurich but quickly found the jump from Brazilian football to the Premier League too steep. A series of uninspiring loans followed as his north London prospects faded.
OXFORD, ENGLAND - JANUARY 09: Marquinhos of Arsenal during the Emirates FA Cup Third Round match between Oxford United and Arsenal at Kassam Stadium on January 09, 2023 in Oxford, England. (Photo by Catherine Ivill/Getty Images)
Marquinhos did not make the grade(Image: Getty )
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37. Matt Turner - £5.5m in 2022
Turner was a popular squad figure who filled in admirably during Europa League and domestic cup ties with solid goalkeeping. His limited distribution skills ultimately capped his stay to a single season before moving to Nottingham Forest.
36. Raheem Sterling - Loan in 2024
Sterling was a late loan gamble by former sporting director Edu Gaspar that promised elite experience, but largely underwhelmed. His single-season spell yielded only sporadic flashes but his consistently poor displays were made even more frustrating by the fact he used to torment Arsenal’s defence.
35. Willian - Free in 2020
Willian was controversially signed from rivals Chelsea during Raul Sanllehi’s time at the helm on a disastrously high-wage free transfer and managed just one goal in 37 appearances during a grim 2020/21 season. To his credit, the Brazilian veteran honourably agreed to tear up his contract to walk away early without demanding a payout.
34. Pablo Mari - £7m in 2020
A stopgap signing who offered calm left-footed defending and scored key cup goals during Arsenal's transitional phase early on. Mari quickly found himself surplus to requirements as Arteta upgraded the squad's athletic profile.
33. Illan Meslier - Free
The French goalkeeper arrives as a free agent and a back-up option eager to rebuild his reputation at the highest level. He's set to be third choice which is probably wise given he couldn't get in Leeds' side.
32. Albert Sambi Lokonga - £17.2m in 2021
Lokonga was signed as a high-potential project who displayed neat passing, but frequently struggled with the positional discipline demanded in Arteta's system. Repeated loan moves followed before he sealed a permanent move to Hamburg last summer.
31. Dani Ceballos - Loan in 2020
Ceballos was re-signed on loan by Arteta in 2020 after playing an impressive role in the FA Cup triumph, showing flashes of flair and high work rate. However, inconsistency during his second season saw his influence fade before returning to Madrid.
Mikel Arteta, Manager of Arsenal gives Dani Ceballos of Arsenal instructions
Dani Ceballos' two loan stints in north London provided mixed results(Image: (Photo by Catherine Ivill/Getty Images))
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30. Kepa Arrizabalaga - £5m in 2025
Kepa fulfilled his role as Arsenal’s back-up goalkeeper in cup competitions brilliantly last season until his howler in the Carabao Cup final cost the Gunners the trophy. The Spaniard has been shaky ever since.
29. Fabio Vieira - £29.9m in 2022
Vieira showed glimpses of creative magic and a lethal left foot, but struggled with the physical intensity of the Premier League. Injuries and tactical preferences ultimately restricted him to a peripheral role and Arsenal are still working to find him a new permanent club after spending several seasons out on loan.
28. Cedric Soares - £1m in 2020
One of Arteta’s first signings, Cedric encapsulates the baffling recruitment of the Sanllehi ‘banter era’. While never quite pushing for a starting berth, the right-back served as a useful and low-fuss squad player during the early rebuild stages.
27. Nuno Tavares - £8m in 2021
Tavares was a chaotic bundle of energy whose explosive runs were often offset by costly tactical discipline errors in transition. After a wild debut campaign, he was sent out on loan several times, having never quite reached his potential in north London.
Nuno Tavares wants to stay at Arsenal this summer, according to his agent (Photo by Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)
Nuno Tavares failed to become a regular starter(Image: Getty )
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26. Christian Norgaard - £10m in 2025
Norgaard did not play as much as he would have liked in his sole season at Arsenal last term before recently being sold to Everton. However, he warrants his spot here on account of his professionalism and much-talked-about leadership behind the scenes as the Gunners clinched the title.
25. Jorginho - £12m in 2023
Jorginho arrived as a seasoned veteran and brought vital big-game composure, leadership and elite tactical control off the bench. His experience proved crucial in guiding a young squad through tense title race run-ins.
24. Jakub Kiwior - £17.3m in 2023
A quiet, dependable squad player who stepped up admirably during injury crises at both left-back and centre-back. Kiwior’s tactical discipline and passing provided solid cover when thrown into high-pressure fixtures, and Arsenal were crucially able to cash in on the Pole this summer.
23. Noni Madueke - £48.5m in 2025
Injected explosive pace and direct 1v1 dribbling to give Arsenal an alternative option to Bukayo Saka out wide last season. While frustrating to watch at times, Madueke’s direct style of play offered a valuable spark off the bench against tiring defensive lines.
Arsenal new signing Noni Madueke with (L) manager Mikel Arteta and (R) Sporting director Andrea Berta at Sobha Realty Training Centre
Madueke was signed last summer(Image: Getty)
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22. Takehiro Tomiyasu - £17m in 2021
An ultimate tactical chameleon who produced lock-down defensive performances across the entire back four whenever called upon. Unfortunately, persistent injury setbacks prevented him from securing an extended run as an undisputed starter and robbed him of potential legendary status.
21. Cristhian Mosquera - £13m in 2025
Mosquera added raw athletic power and speed to reinforce Arsenal's central defensive options last summer. He proved to be one of the bargains of the window following his reliable performances across the back-line at such a young age.
20. Christos Tzolis - £34m
Brought in as an intriguing left-wing option with impressive flair and decision-making, the Greece international adds quality to Arteta’s forward line. Tzolis is certainly one to watch this season and, if his performances this summer are anything to go by, he will rapidly ascend this list.
19. Aaron Ramsdale - £24m in 2021
A beloved character whose arrival injected belief and leadership into Arsenal's back-line. Goalkeeper Ramsdale played a massive role in returning the club to Champions League football before losing his spot to David Raya and departing.
18. Thomas Partey - £45m in 2020
Based solely on his performances on the pitch, the Ghanaian’s sleek turning and vertical passing made him a world-class central midfield anchor for a time. However, his recurring injuries prevented him from stringing together fully uninterrupted campaigns.
17. Viktor Gyokeres - £55m in 2025
Brought brute physical presence, relentless channel-running and a ruthless goal-scorer's instinct to Arsenal's frontline and ended last season’s title-winning campaign as their top scorer. Gyokeres frustrated fans at times last term with his all-round play but he is still writing the Arsenal chapter of his career.
Viktor Gyokeres of Arsenal celebrates scoring his team’s second goal during the pre-season friendly match between Arsenal FC and Borussia Dortmund at Emirates Stadium on August 09, 2026 in London, England.
Gyokeres was Arsenal's top scorer last season(Image: Stuart MacFarlane, Arsenal FC via Getty Images)
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16. Oleksandr Zinchenko - £30m in 2022
A transformative figure whose arrival helped rewrite Arsenal's tactical identity by pioneering the inverted left-back role. While defensive vulnerabilities eventually limited his minutes, Zinchenko’s winning mentality and technical skills were instrumental to the team's evolution.
15. Piero Hincapie - £34.5m in 2025
Hincapie was somewhat of a surprising loan signing late last summer when everyone thought Arsenal had concluded their business. But, to the Ecuadorian’s credit, it is hard to imagine the Gunners winning the league and reaching the Champions League final without his aggressive tackling and defensive steel. His permanent transfer earlier this summer was agreed last year.
14. Martin Zubimendi - £55.8m in 2025
The Spanish midfielder arrived at Arsenal to manage the tempo of games and offer press-resistant passing from deep. But he instead became known for his tactical discipline, goals and ball-winning ability, particularly in the first half of last season, where he was pivotal to winning the league.
13. Eberechi Eze - £67.5m in 2025
Brought flair, unpredictable dribbling and ball-carrying dynamism to unlock low blocks in tight Premier League fixtures. His ability to produce moments of individual magic gave Arsenal an extra dimension in high-stakes matches last season - and who could forget the five goals against Spurs?
Eberechi Eze of Arsenal celebrates after he scores a goal to make it 0-1 during the Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on February 22, 2026 in London, England.
Eze is already a cult hero after scoring five against Spurs(Image: Getty)
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12. Gabriel Jesus - £45m in 2022
Jesus’ arrival from Manchester City fundamentally changed the squad’s mindset into a winning one and added pressing intensity during the early phase of Arsenal's title charge. Though injuries hampered his goal-scoring, his elite link-up play and goals during his first few months in N5 is one of the highest peaks of any player during the Arteta era.
11. Bruno Guimaraes - £75m
After a transfer saga that ran for several months, Arteta has finally got his man. The former Newcastle captain’s true impact remains to be seen, but expectations are sky-high for him to become a key member of Arsenal's engine room.
He arrives as one of the Premier League's best midfielders, hence the price tag. The only downside is at 28, he doesn't fit Arteta's usual youthful recruitment strategy.
A thumbs up from Bruno Guimaraes of Arsenal as he celebrates winning the 2026 FA Community Shield match between Arsenal and Manchester City at Principality Stadium on August 16, 2026 in Cardiff, Wales.
Bruno Guimaraes is Arsenal's latest signing(Image: Getty Images)
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10. Mikel Merino - £33m in 2024
Despite not knowing much about him initially, Merino quickly endeared himself to fans with his tactical intelligence and duel-winning ability. His aerial presence provides much-needed balance during tight domestic and European encounters, and his transformation into a truly phenomenal goal-scorer has earned him cult hero status at the Emirates.
9. Leandro Trossard - £27m in 2023
Perhaps the most reliable bargain of the Arteta era, providing instant impact, decisive goals and tactical versatility across the front line. His cold-blooded finishing and composure in tight spaces made him an invaluable asset before he was moved on this summer.
8. Jurrien Timber - £34m in 2023
After a heartbreaking ACL injury delayed his debut season, the versatile Dutch defender returned to demonstrate his world-class capabilities and physical intensity at right-back. His composure under pressure makes him a dream tactical tool for Arteta’s fluid system and one of the best in his position in the world.
7. Kai Havertz - £65m in 2023
Silenced intense early criticism by evolving into a vital focal point for Arsenal’s attack with his elite off-the-ball movement and work rate. His knack for scoring crucial goals in big games proved Arteta's faith was entirely justified.
Kai Havertz of Arsenal celebrates with the Premier League trophy, with teammates David Raya, Viktor Gyokeres, Riccardo Calafiori, William Saliba and Gabriel
Kai Havertz has repaid Arteta's faith in him(Image: Getty )
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6. Riccardo Calafiori - £33.6m in 2024
If not for his persistent injuries, Calafiori might have been even higher on this list, given the Italian is the definition of total football and pops up everywhere on the pitch with vital contributions. He was signed off the back of a successful Euros campaign, which made him one of the most sought-after full-backs in the world at the time.
5. Ben White - £50m in 2021
Overcame early media skepticism surrounding his price-tag with brilliant tactical intelligence and flawless overlapping timing at right-back. His durability, defensive grit and elite link-up play with Saka make him one of the most important signings of the Arteta era, as well as a fan favourite.
4. Gabriel Magalhaes - £27m in 2020
Signed for a modest fee in 2020, the Brazilian warrior has blossomed into one of Europe's best central defenders and an undeniable set-piece weapon. His formidable partnership with William Saliba provided the bedrock for Arsenal’s resurgence.
Gabriel Magalhaes can use his celebration against Sporting CP to welcome Viktor Gyokeres
Gabriel Magalhaes is one of Arsenal's greatest ever defenders(Image: Carlos Rodrigues/Getty Images)
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3. David Raya - £27m in 2023
A bold tactical move by Arteta that raised eyebrows initially, given Ramsdale was a fan favourite at the time. The biggest credit one can give Raya is that the controversy surrounding his move quickly disappeared and the Spaniard rewarded Arteta’s trust in him by winning three consecutive Premier League golden gloves, helping to transform Arsenal's backline into the stingiest in the country.
2. Martin Odegaard - £30m in 2021
Initially a loan signing, Odegaard quickly showed his quality and leadership skills under Arteta and became one of the league’s best playmakers, arguably fulfilling his potential as a former wonderkid at Real Madrid. As club captain, the Norwegian maestro has been the technical brain and heartbeat of Arteta's side - both defensively and on the ball.
1. Declan Rice - £105m in 2023
Declan Rice poses for a photo with the Premier League trophy during the Premier League match between Crystal Palace and Arsenal at Selhurst Park.
Declan Rice is Arteta's greatest signing(Image: Jacques Feeney/Offside/Offside via Getty Images)
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The chants of ‘We bought him half-price’ only go to show how much of an impact Rice has had during his three seasons at Arsenal. His combination of leadership, tactical intelligence and sheer athletic power makes him the indisputable benchmark of the Arteta era, having been integral to ending Arsenal’s 22-year wait for the Premier League trophy.