Every Mikel Arteta signing at Arsenal so far – ranked

6. Thomas Partey (£45m)

Time to move up a gear now as we consider the marquee signings, and first up is our midfield general Thomas Partey.

While the Partey saga rumbled on for most of the summer, a move only materialised in the closing minutes of deadline day in October 2020 and was greeted with much fanfare by those familiar with his commanding displays at the heart of Diego Simeone’s well-drilled Atletico Madrid team.

The Ghanaian seems to be slowly coming to terms with the Premier League and perhaps just needed an opportunity to acclimatise as we saw glimpses of what he can do in the spring when he brought the team to another level with his standout performance. But overall, it is fair to say that he has underwhelmed since joining and persistent fitness concerns continue to prevent him from enjoying a consistent run in the team.

We still suspect there is more to come from Partey, and many hold out hope that one day he will find the net from distance.

5. Aaron Ramsdale (£30m)

https://twitter.com/Arsenal/status/1533881407226920961

The top-five begins with the inclusion of Aaron Ramsdale and, only for a dip in form towards the end of the season, he might have found himself higher up the list.

Arsenal’s interest in a thrice-relegated player and willingness to pay such a substantial fee drew great anger and scepticism from a fanbase that is all too accustomed to poor transfer business.

However, Ramsdale defied expectations with a rapid ascent to the starting XI and he repaid Arteta’s faith with some fantastic moments between the sticks, such as some exhibition passes to start attacks and the ludicrous save to deny Leicester’s James Maddison at the King Power.

Impressive form on the domestic front earned him his first international cap back in November and he has firmly established himself as number one at Arsenal. So perhaps the upcoming break will give him a chance to recharge and get back to his best next year.

4. Takehiro Tomiyasu (£16m)

Similar to Partey, Tomiyasu also arrived at Arsenal on deadline day as a last-minute replacement for the departing Hector Bellerin, and his unwavering commitment on the pitch made him an instant favourite.

The Japanese international immediately nailed down a place in the first team and has used both his composure in possession and defensive nous to help out at both ends of the pitch, while many opponents have tried and failed miserably to compete with his aerial presence.

His impact at the club was quick and significant and he has a certain versatility that makes him an important asset at the back, which means his regular unavailability is all the more frustrating. We all know about his quality and will hope for better medical fortune in the future.

Continued on the next slide…