Arsenal's six forwards signed under Mikel Arteta - ranked

The January transfer window is in full swing which can only mean one thing: Gooners are crying out for attacking reinforcements.

Arsenal's current situation is eerily similar to this time last year both on and off the pitch. Mikel Arteta's side have suffered a dip in form with many questioning just how far this Gunners team can go. Their 2-0 home defeat at home to Newcastle arrived exactly 12 months after Liverpool rocked up to the Emirates and claimed a 2-0 win in the FA Cup following a profligate Arsenal display.

This time around, though, there will be no warm-weather trip to offer respite. Bukayo Saka is injured and the schedule is unrelenting. Performances like those produced against the Magpies point towards stagnation and potential regression. The overwhelming majority believe fresh attacking personnel must arrive this month to allow Arsenal to compete on multiple fronts.

However, signing forwards is a concept seemingly foreign to Arteta and company. The Gunners have acquired 34 players under the Spaniard since his 2019 arrival, but only six have been 'attackers' - centre-forwards or wingers.

And those six haven't exactly thrived to the same degree in north London. There have been a couple of disasters.

Here's a ranking of the six forwards signed by Arsenal under Mikel Arteta's watch.

6. Marquinhos

Ah, that evening in St. Gallen. You might remember it for the passing of Queen Elizabeth II, but I only ever think of Marquinhos' masterclass whenever somebody mentions that memorable 2-1 Europa League triumph over FC Zurich.

Arsenal hit with Gabriel Martinelli the last time they brought in an unknown commodity from Brazil, but I'm not exactly sure what Edu thought he was cooking here.

Marquinhos arrived as a raw 19-year-old winger in 2022 and made six appearances for the club, peaking early in Switzerland. He's since been loaned out at will without success and is likely to never play for the Gunners again.

5. Willian

If Marquinhos' utopia arrived in Switzerland, then Willian's came at Craven Cottage on debut. It was all downhill from there.

We all lapped up the arrival of the former Chelsea star on a Bosman in 2020. 'Astute', 'shrewd' and 'canny' were used incessantly with Arteta getting his hands on a high-quality old head capable of uplifting the Spaniard's project while it was in its infancy.

The reality proved projections over Willian's likely success in north London laughable. His 12 months at Arsenal were torrid, and he'd later claim that he wanted to quit the Gunners after just three months. The Brazilian struggled for motivation in the absence of crowds and described his Arsenal stint as the "most difficult time" of his career.

Trust me, it was difficult watching him too.

4. Raheem Sterling

Reiss Nelson's loan exit to Fulham forced Arsenal into a late scramble during the 2024 summer transfer window. "We never planned to sign him," Edu Gaspar commented as Sterling arrived at London Colney, hardly instilling confidence from the outset.

While Sterling performed at a level and achieved enough during his Manchester City pomp to be classed as an all-time Premier League great, Arsenal were signing a winger on the downside of his career.

His work for a dysfunctional Chelsea team wasn't awful, but he rarely inspired, and the veteran's loan move to north London has so far been pretty pointless.

While Arteta developed a good relationship with Sterling at City, the Englishman is yet to garner the Spaniard's faith upon reuniting. The winger has barely featured in Arsenal colours, with his brightest displays arriving against far inferior EFL sides in the Carabao Cup.

There's no way his Arsenal career will last longer than a season.

3. Gabriel Jesus

Take me back to August 2022, man. Gabriel Jesus was the best footballer in the world.

Okay, perhaps not quite, but it did genuinely feel like Manchester City had handed us a world-beater on a silver platter - one that costs £45m, anyway.

Jesus wooed supporters with his performances in pre-season and the start of 2022/23, appearing a transformative addition for a burgeoning team on the up. Then he went to the World Cup.

That knee injury sustained in Qatar shattered Arsenal's world. Jesus hasn't been the same since.

Sure, there have been glimpses and brief upsurges in form, but the Brazilian has since performed more like a player City were willing to dispose of as opposed to the demonic forward they accidentally handed us.

2. Leandro Trossard

Mykhaylo Mudryk fever prevailed over north London in January 2023. With the Ukrainian constantly flirting with a move to Arsenal and the Gunners keen to strike a deal, it seemed inevitable for Mudryk to end up a Gooner.

But, thankfully, Chelsea got involved.

That forced Arsenal to pivot to a disgruntled Belgian on the south coast. With Trossard's relationship with Roberto De Zerbi on the brink of collapse, the Seagulls rendered him available. £26m was all it took.

Pound-for-pound, there have been few superior signings in Arsenal's modern history. It'd be easy to dismiss Trossard given his indifferent 2024/25 form, but his first 18 months at the club were brilliant.

Without a need to acclimatise, Trossard's impact was immediate but it was down the 2023/24 stretch when the Belgian shone. He attempted his best 2001/02 Freddie Ljungberg impression with nine of his 12 Premier League goals last season arriving during its second half.

A versatile sharp-shooter adept off both feet, Trossard would have cemented himself in Arsenal folklore had the Gunners pipped Manchester City to the league title.

1. Kai Havertz

Oh, the irony. Upon Havertz's arrival, Arteta said the German "would bring a huge amount of extra strength to our midfield."

He was signed as a Granit Xhaka replacement.

However, the technically clumsy Havertz struggled to replicate the Swiss international's mastery of the left-sided midfield role and gradually worked his way further upfield. Towards the end of 2023, he functioned off the shoulder of Gabriel Jesus before eventually making the centre-forward position his own.

Havertz was incredibly productive during the second half of 2023/24 after taking on the role, recording 15 goal contributions in the last 14 Premier League games of the season. He played a critical role in sustaining the club's title charge and had swiftly justified the lofty £65m Arsenal handed Chelsea for his services. His reported salary is a bit absurd, mind.

There has been a dip in 2024/25 with questions over Havertz's long-term viability resurfacing, but there's no denying that the German has considerably exceeded expectations since his arrival two summers ago was confirmed.

However, his success as a centre-forward wasn't initially planned.

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