Every Mikel Arteta signing at Arsenal so far – ranked

And we’re off!

While the rumour mill has already been whirring away for several weeks, the transfer window is now officially open and Arsenal will expect to be extremely busy over the coming months as they look to strengthen their squad and finally bridge the gap to the top four.

Many fans will trust in Mikel Arteta’s market judgement following the successful integration of our recruits last summer, and a similar outcome will be required this time around if the Gunners are to build on a fifth-place finish as well as compete on the European stage.

Arteta has not been afraid to explore different recruitment avenues in the past, with his 13 signings to date featuring a mixture of loan deals, free agents and the odd costly swoop which have delighted and disappointed in equal measure.

Every Arsenal signing of the Mikel Arteta era so far- ranked from worst to best

And so, as we try to get into the transfer-window spirit, here is a worst-to-best ranking of each player signed during the Spaniard’s short managerial career.

13. Willian (Free)

He joined off the back of a decent season at Chelsea and was said to boast invaluable experience at the highest level that would help our young core, but instead, Willian endured a dreadful stint in north London and is arguably the worst signing Arteta has made since his appointment.

The absence of a transfer fee saw the Brazilian agree to a lucrative three-year contract and he made an immediate impact on his competitive debut for the club, playing an integral role in all three goals as we claimed an opening-day victory away to Fulham.

However, that was as good as it got for Willian, and he registered a paltry tally of eight goal contributions in 37 games during his solitary campaign at the Emirates before a separation by mutual consent saw him make a premature return to his homeland, where he now plies his trade for Corinthians.

The less said the better.

12. Rúnar Alex Rúnarsson (£1.8m)

Coming in at a very close second for worst addition is Icelandic shot-stopper Rúnar Alex Rúnarsson, who arrived as a virtual unknown from French side Dijon in September 2020.

Reportedly courted due to a recommendation from Arsenal goalkeeping coach Inaki Cana, Rúnarsson was considered to be a cheap replacement for the recently departed Emi Martinez but featured in just six matches across all competitions and always remained a peripheral figure.

Despite assurances from Edu that he has the “strong attributes that we look for”, the 27-year-old lacked authority in the box and often seemed nervous in goal, with his anxiety resulting in a terrible blunder against Man City in his only Carabao Cup appearance.

His limited impact is softened by a modest transfer fee, but he will never establish himself in the capital and we will always be left to wonder why he was brought to the club.

11. Albert Sambi Lokonga (£16m)

Although he was an unfamiliar name to many, Lokonga nevertheless generated a degree of excitement upon arrival after a breakthrough season with Anderlecht, and former boss Vincent Kompany even touted him as the ‘new Yaya Toure’.

Alas, reality has not been quite as rosy. The Jupiler League prodigy did manage to get regular game-time in his first months at Arsenal and has shown signs of his potential in midfield, but he was reduced to a bit-part role for the second half of the campaign and failed to seize a starting berth even after Thomas Partey limped off at Selhurst Park in April.

It may not have worked out as he wanted, but Lokonga is still very young and has plenty of time to develop into a formidable midfield prospect. The Europa League should allow him to showcase his talent next season.

Continued on the next slide…