Arsenal have been criticised for their inability to sell effectively in the past, although they sanctioned some lucrative departures last summer.
The Gunners have often struggled to maximise the fees paid to them by clubs prying their players away from N5.
Mikel Arteta and the Emirates hierarchy have even paid players off just to get rid of them in recent times.
The likes of Alex Iwobi, Emi Martinez, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Joe Willock have been the only notable sales made by Arsenal in the last decade.
That was, until last summer, when the Gunners sold three players for a combined £82 million, all of whom have flattered to deceive at their new clubs.
With that said, here’s how each of them rated in their debut seasons away from North London.
Emile Smith Rowe (Fulham) – 6/10
Arsenal sold Emile Smith Rowe to Fulham last summer for a fee that could rise to £34 million if certain performance-related add-ons are met.
After a bright start at Craven Cottage, Smith Rowe’s form dipped significantly in the second half of the season, and he ended the campaign with six goals and three assists in 40 appearances across all competitions.
Not a bad return for a midfielder playing in a mid-table team, but Marco Silva certainly would’ve expected more from a player who they purchased for a significant fee and arrived in West London with an impressive pedigree.
While his late darting runs into the box remained a threat at his new club, Smith Rowe continues to play somewhat within himself in possession, focusing more on ball retention rather than creating danger.
He’ll need to produce more for Fulham next season if they’re to feel satisfied with their hefty investment.
Eddie Nketiah (Crystal Palace) – 3/10
Eddie Nketiah departed for Crystal Palace last summer, in a deal worth an initial £25 million, that could rise to £30 million with add-ons.
Initially deployed in a front two with Jean-Philippe Mateta by Oliver Glasner, the Austrian manager ditched the system early in the season as it wasn’t working.
Sticking with Mateta and dropping Nketiah, the Hale End graduate went on to finish the season having made just nine Premier League starts for the Eagles.
Scoring three league goals, he ended the campaign with seven strikes and two assists in all competitions.
Essentially moving for £30 million to be a second-choice striker at a mid-table club, it was a disastrous opening campaign in South London for Nketiah, even if he did attain an FA Cup winner’s medal.
Aaron Ramsdale (Southampton) – 2/10
Like Nketiah and Smith Rowe, Arsenal sold Aaron Ramsdale to Southampton in a deal that included performance-related add-ons.
It’s been reported that the initial fee was worth in the region of £18 million, and it would have risen to around £25 million had the Saints remained in the top flight.
Unfortunately for Arsenal, this didn’t happen, as the south coast outfit produced one of the worst Premier League seasons of all time.
While not blessed with a talented backline in front of him, Ramsdale did not impress for Southampton, shipping 66 goals in just 30 league appearances, keeping three clean sheets.
The shot-stopper’s stock has undoubtedly fallen this campaign, and he has a fight on his hands to secure another move to the Premier League after his fourth career relegation.
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