Arsenal's eight signings in the summer of 2025 all played their part in the club's Premier League title triumph but none of them are yet to truly live up to their billing in north London
Arsenal squad celebrates Premier League title
Arsenal squad
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It was the record transfer splurge that helped finally end 22 gruelling years of hurt. In sporting director Andrea Berta's first summer at the helm, Arsenal went big.
Their overall expenditure on new players amounted to £282million net, the highest in the Premier League. It was the most the club had ever spent in a single window.
Amongst the fanbase, Mikel Arteta was under pressure to deliver and deliver he did, securing the club's first top-flight title since 2004 when The Invicibles reigned supreme under the meticulous expertise of Arsene Wenger.
Arteta also fired Arsenal to the Champions League final, where they fell narrowly short on penalties to Paris Saint-Germain in Budapest. That painful defeat left the Spaniard and his squad wanting more and now they're on the hunt for more silverware.
To achieve that, he is counted on every member of his stacked squad. In seasons gone by, injuries had crippled Arsenal in pivotal moments. William Saliba's back injury, for instance, had derailed the title charge in March 2023.
Now there is no further scope for excuses. Arsenal have, to an extent, finally realised their potential as champions and now boast arguably the best defence in all of world football.
Berta had a huge influence on their 2025 recruitment drive. Here's how...
Viktor Gyokeres
In the end, Berta's influence proved decisive. Not only did he win over Arteta but following an exhausting and drawn-out saga, he convinced Gyokeres to pick the Gunners over United, managed by his former head coach, Ruben Amorim.
While Gyokeres divided opinion during his debut campaign in north London, he finished up as the club's top goalscorer with 21 in all competitions. But around two months into his second season, he is yet to find the target and has only just received his first Premier League start of the campaign (in the 2-0 triumph over Everton).
Arsenal celebrate the title
Arsenal motored onto Premier League title glory last season
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Arteta simply loves Kai Havertz. The German got the nod in the Champions League final over Gyokeres and remains Arsenal's first-choice No.9. The club had waited a long time to sign a marquee, prolific goalscorer but externally, there are already doubts over Gyokeres' long-term future. The club pushed hard for Julian Alvarez in the summer and if that deal had been executed, they would likely have listened to offers for the Sweden international.
Eberechi Eze and Noni Madueke
Arsenal stretched themselves to their financial limits to sign Eze after he personally called Arteta to see if a deal was possible. He's been much-improved in his past few matches having scored against Lille and Bayern Munich but when Christos Tzolis is back fit, Eze could well return to the bench. He was a plug-and-play signing that was identified as a potential game-changer. He still has so much more to give.
Meanwhile, Madueke arrived at the Emirates from bitter rivals Chelsea after accepting the role as Bukayo Saka's understudy. His versatility and ability to play on the left was also appreciated but he's continued to blow hot and cold despite scoring the winner in the recent 1-0 win at Nottingham Forest. Arteta values him dearly but he's yet to live up to his £52m price-tag.
Martin Zubimendi
IPSWICH, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 15: Martin Zubimendi of Arsenal passes the ball during the Carabao Cup Third Round match between Ipswich Town and Arsenal at Portman Road on September 15, 2026 in Ipswich, England. (Photo by David Price/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)
Martin Zubimendi has had a tough season to date at Arsenal(Image: David Price/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)
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Since then, he's found minutes hard to come by and there's an argument he is now fourth in the midfield pecking order behind Declan Rice, Bruno Guimaraes and Myles Lewis-Skelly. Again, like Gyokeres and Eze, he did not start the Champions League final. Zubimendi was actually injured in the cool-down after the 2-1 win over Leeds (ankle) and then moments after coming on against Everton on Saturday, his nose was bloodied following a whack in the face. It typifies his rotten luck.
Cristhian Mosquera and Christian Norgaard
Arsenal's players celebrate their Premier League title triumph
Christian Norgaard left Arsenal after just one season at the club, joining Everton this summer(Image: Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)
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All in all, the seven of Arsenal's eight 2025 summer signings are yet to live up to their billing. While their key contributions towards last season's Premier League title mean they will never truly be considered failures, the jury is still out on all of them when it comes to them being considered proper success stories.
Fans want improvement, Arteta undoubtedly does too and it's his job to squeeze more out of those individuals. Their fortunes could also dictate how Berta is viewed moving forward and whether he's trusted to continue spending big cash.
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