Arsene Wenger presenting Mesut Ozil
Arsenal's deadline day signings over the years include a then club record move for Mesut Ozil(Image: Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)
View 5 Images
Arsenal have been busy this summer, but there could be more to come from the Gunners. Mikel Arteta has added nearly £200m worth of talent to his squad and might not be done just yet.
Bruno Guimaraes, Christos Tzolis, Piero Hincapie and Ezri Konsa have all joined for big money, with Hincapie joining after a year on loan. Links with Julian Alvarez aren't going away, while others continue to be linked during the dying embers of the window.
If there's more late business, it would be the 24th time Arsenal have made a deadline day signing since the transfer window system was introduced in 2002. That's not including those who initially joined the academy rather than the first team.
There's been a real mix, however, when it comes to whether those late arrivals succeeded or failed. We've ranked them from worst to best.
23. Emiliano Viviano (Palermo, loan).
Italian goalkeeper Viviano arrived on a season-long deal from Palermo but didn't manage a single minute. Wojciech Szczesny and Lukasz Fabianski blocked his path and he quickly returned to his home country.
22. Cedric Soares ( Southampton, loan)
Cedric never looked like a great fit and Arsenal wasted little time seeking a better full-back option. Somehow stayed on the books for four years without ever threatening to be a regular.
21. Raheem Sterling (Chelsea, loan)
Sterling joined from Chelsea in a surprise switch but couldn't find his best form. A return of just one goal made this a calculated risk but one which didn't bear fruit.
20. Kim Kallstrom (Spartak Moscow, loan)
Swedish midfielder Kallstrom was injured when he joined and only returned late in the season. Still, he enjoyed his time at the club and scored an emotional penalty in a cup semi-final shoot-out.
Kim Kallstrom at Arsenal
Kim Kallstrom's Arsenal spell was short-lived(Image: AFP via Getty Images)
View 5 Images
Essential 26/27 Sky Sports Bundle
This article contains affiliate links, we will receive a commission on any sales we generate from it. Learn more
Content Image
Content Image
Product Description
19. Andre Santos (Fenerbahce, £6m)
The Brazilian was a figure of fun at times but also earned cult hero status thanks to a goal against West Brom in May 2012. The effort was enough for Arsenal to clinch Champions League football at Tottenham's expense on the final day of the season.
18. Lassana Diarra (Chelsea, £2m)
French midfielder Diarra had the opportunity to make an impression before departing. Arsenal turned a quick profit by sending him to Portsmouth but his success on the south coast may have had some wondering if he should have been given more time.
17. Julio Baptista (Real Madrid, loan)
The Brazilian forward joined via a loan exchange that saw Jose Antonio Reyes move to Madrid. He never really got going in the Premier League action but will be remembered for his part in a 6-3 League Cup victory over Liverpool.
16. Yossi Benayoun (Chelsea, loan)
Israel international Benayoun failed to secure a permanent switch after his loan spell. Enjoyed some encouraging moments, however, netting six goals across all competitions including four in the league.
15. Kieran Tierney (Celtic, £25m)
Scotland defender Tierney was great at times but injuries prevented him from making a greater mark in North London. Spent a year on loan in Spain and has now returned to Celtic.
Kieran Tierney at Arsenal
Injuries limited Kieran Tierney's involvement for Arsenal(Image: Arsenal FC via Getty Images)
View 5 Images
14. Denilson (Sao Paulo, £3.4m)
Another Brazilian on the list, Denilson might have had more of an Arsenal career were it not for the emergence of Jack Wilshere. Made a real impact as a teenager in tough circumstances but eventually saw his time in England come to an end.
13. Takehiro Tomiyasu (Bologna, £16m)
The Japan international laid the framework for what a defender in a Mikel Arteta team looks like. He excelled when available but struggled with injuries and is now back in the Premier League with Crystal Palace after a stint at Ajax.
12. Jorginho (Chelsea, £12m)
Italy midfielder Jorginho helped Arsenal come close to the title in 2023 but the Gunners fell short. He was a big character off the field as well as on it.
11. Thomas Partey (Atletico Madrid, £45m)
The Ghana midfielder was a big-money arrival from Atletico Madrid and had highs and lows on the pitch during his five years in England. Returned to La Liga with Villarreal in 2025 and is now in Saudi Arabia.
10. David Luiz (Chelsea, £8m)
David Luiz at his Arsenal unveiling
David Luiz was one of a number of deadline day arrivals from Chelsea(Image: Arsenal FC via Getty Images)
View 5 Images
Yet another Brazilian, the centre-back played his part in the first trophy win under Arteta in 2020. Had some tough moments but showed his value on the pitch and in the dressing room.
9. Danny Welbeck (Man Utd, £16m)
A difficult departure for some United supporters and a well-received signing in North London. Was never prolific for Arsenal but delivered some big moments and is remembered fondly by a number of fans despite his numbers in front of goal.
8. William Gallas (Chelsea, part-exchange)
The Gunners captain's behaviour at Birmingham in 2008 has overshadowed some of his better moments. However, there was good as well as bad after he arrived from Chelsea as part of the infamous Ashley Cole deal.
7. Andrei Arshavin (Zenit, £15m)
Signed a few months after impressing for Russia at Euro 2008 in what was then a record deal for Arsenal. Faded in his later years amid injury issues but will always have those four goals at Anfield.
6. Nacho Monreal (Malaga, £8.5m)
A bargain for a player who served the club admirably for the better part of a decade. Spain international Monreal became part of the furniture and played more for Arsenal than for any other club.
5. Piero Hincapie (Bayer Leverkusen, loan)
Piero Hincapie at his Arsenal unveiling
Arsenal continued their deadline day business by signing Piero Hincapie in 2025(Image: Arsenal FC via Getty Images)
View 5 Images
The Ecuador star has already done what he was signed for by helping Arsenal win the league, having done the same with Leverkusen. He could have a bigger role to play this term after joining permanently.
"When I spoke to Xabi just before we were going to sign him, I said if you have to describe him in one word, what would you use, and he said, 'He’s a warrior,'" Arteta told TNT Sports last season. "He will play through brick walls for you, and he’s one of the most competitive players that I have had.
4. Per Mertesacker (Werder Bremen, £8m)
A leader on and off the pitch. Mertesacker lifted Arsenal out of the doldrums in the latter half of the Arsene Wenger era and played a huge role after hanging up his boots.
In his role as academy manager, the German helped lay the groundwork for the likes of Ethan Nwaneri and Myles Lewis-Skelly to earn their place in the first team. There aren't many who have that kind of impact.
3. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (Borussia Dortmund, £56m)
Another January deadline-day deal: Aubameyang followed his former Dortmund colleague Henrikh Mkhitaryan through the doors at Arsenal. The Gabonese international arrived in a club record deal and provided some star power.
The striker finished one season as the Premier League's top scorer and another as a cup winner after scoring both goals for Arteta's team in the final. The way things ended for him in North London shouldn't cloud that.
2. Mesut Ozil (Real Madrid, £42.5m)
The excitement around Arsenal when Ozil joined from Real Madrid will live long in the memory. The German creator was a really special player for a number of years, even if he couldn't help deliver a league title.
As with Aubameyang, the then-record signing left under a bit of a cloud. However, when he was good there were few in the league who could come close to him.
1. Mikel Arteta ( Everton, £10m)
As with Mertesacker, Arteta's position is elevated by what came after he retired. What an impact, though.
There were plenty of positives on the field and in the dressing room, with Arteta providing leadership when it was needed most. Since he returned as manager, though, there has been so much more.
Join our WhatsApp community and receive your daily dose of Mirror Football content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.