Mikel Arteta has overseen a huge overhaul of the Arsenal squad since he became the Gunners’ manager in 2019, so here are all of his signings ranked from worst to best.
The Emirates Stadium hierarchy has moved hard in the transfer windows to support Arteta’s project since he replaced Unai Emery. Gunners chief sought a return to north London for the former Arsenal captain in December 2019 as Emery had overseen a two-month winless run.
Arteta took Arsenal to glory in the FA Cup in his debut season at the helm. He also oversaw a Premier League title challenge in 2022/23 which returned the club to the Champions League for the first time since 2016/17. But Arsenal’s owner, Stan Kroenke, has also invested heavily.
Mikel Arteta has overseen 26 signings as the manager of Arsenal
Few clubs across Europe spent more than Arsenal during the 2023/24 season as Arteta took his number of signings so far to 26. The Spaniard lured Declan Rice out of West Ham United, Kai Havertz from Chelsea, Jurrien Timber from AFC Ajax and also David Raya from Brentford.
But not all of Arteta’s signings since taking over at Emirates Stadium have been productive additions. Some of his signings are not even in north London any longer having been moved on already. So, with that in mind, here are all of Arteta’s signings at Arsenal to date, ranked…
Mikel Arteta’s top 12 signings at Arsenal ranked
12) Jorginho
Arteta only signed Jorginho from Chelsea in January 2023 as Arsenal sought to better their depth in midfield. But the Italian’s initial £10m, rising to £12m, switch proved very beneficial as the campaign progressed. He cemented his important presence amid their title challenge.
Jorginho headed for Emirates Stadium after a glittering career at Stamford Bridge. He helped the Blues win the Champions League and the Europa League, whilst also helping the Azzurri to win Euro 2020. UEFA even named Jorginho as its Men’s Player of the Year in August 2021.
Yet expectations were relatively low when Jorginho signed for Arsenal. But he would change opinions with a crucial strike at Aston Villa that Emiliano Martinez inadvertently sent into his own net. Jorginho would also later start in each of Arsenal’s final five fixtures of the season.
11) Takehiro Tomiyasu
Right-back had become a bit of a problem position for Arsenal after Hector Bellerin needed surgery for an ACL injury. So, Arteta signed Takehiro Tomiyasu from Bologna in August 2021 for £15.5m to let the Spaniard go. The Japanese immediately proved to be a superb signing.
Tomiyasu instantly slotted in and brought defensive stability to the full-back position. Arteta also took great delight in his versatility having effectively slotted in as a centre-half to allow Kieran Tierney to attack from left-back. But injuries would ruin Tomiyasu’s debut campaign.
A spate of issues with his calf at the start of 2022 ultimately cost Tomiyasu his starting role. His fitness problems also continued during the 2022/23 campaign and surgery for his knee injury ended his term in March. But Arteta had relished his versatility to play as a left-back.
10) Thomas Partey
Arsenal left it until the final hours of the transfer window to trigger the £45m release clause in Thomas Partey’s contract with Atletico Madrid in October 2020. Arteta hoped the swoop would secure the Gunners the holding midfielder they had sought since Patrick Vieira’s exit.
Partey initially struggled to live up to expectations in north London having developed a big reputation in Spain. The Ghanaian even admitted to Sky Sports in December 2021 that he would only ‘give myself four [out of 10]’. He also said that he allowed himself to lose focus.
But Partey’s honest admission sparked a huge turnaround and his performances reached new heights. The midfielder became one of the most instrumental figures at Arsenal during the first half of the 2022/23 season. His defensive screening was unparalleled in the league.
Arteta established Partey firmly as his anchor and the glue that held Arsenal’s engine room together. He even burst forward to score some crucial goals, including against Tottenham Hotspur. Yet Partey’s form fell off a cliff in April that proved costly as the title slipped away.
9) Kai Havertz
Arteta had big shoes to fill in Arsenal’s engine room in the summer of 2023 as Granit Xhaka left Emirates Stadium after seven years. So, the Spaniard turned to London rivals Chelsea to sign Havertz as a versatile operator to plug the Swiss star’s void on the left of their midfield.
Life in north London was tough at first for Havertz but the German ignored the criticism sent his way. Arteta also kept faith in the Aachen native who won Chelsea the Champions League final in 2021. That faith would pay dividends as Havertz started to give Arsenal clutch goals.
READ MORE: Everything to know about Arsenal ace Kai Havertz from his girlfriend to height
Havertz scored his first Arsenal goal from open play to secure a 1-0 win at Brentford in the 89th minute. He also came up big for Arteta in the Gunners’ 4-3 win at Luton Town and hit home in four straight Premier League matches before the March 2024 international break.
Arsenal have also relished Havertz’s versatility since his transfer from Chelsea for an initial £62.5m, rising to £67.5m after add-ons. Their June 2023 addition assumed the role Xhaka vacated, along with often slotting in as a centre-forward to offer Arteta a towering option.
8) Leandro Trossard
Arsenal spent much of the January 2023 window negotiating a move with Shakhtar Donetsk for Mykhailo Mudryk. The Ukraine talent ultimately joined Chelsea for £88.5m to force their rivals to look elsewhere. But Arteta secured Arsenal a superb signing with Leandro Trossard.
The Gunners paid Brighton & Hove Albion £20m, up to £27m, for the Belgian. He had scored seven goals – including a hat-trick away to Liverpool – and laid on three assists in 16 Premier League games for the Seagulls in 2022/23. Yet the fee would soon prove to be a real bargain.
Trossard ended the campaign having offered Arsenal one goal and 10 assists through his 20 top-flight appearances, starting in 10. Arteta also unleashed the forward on both wings and as a centre-forward. Trossard was also second to just Bukayo Saka (11) for assists at Arsenal.
7) Oleksandr Zinchenko
Emery convinced Arsenal to sign Tierney from Celtic for £25m in August 2019, four months before Arteta took charge. The Scot would also remain the Gunners’ first-choice at left-back until the summer of 2022. Then, Arteta raided Manchester City to sign Oleksandr Zinchenko.
Arsenal backed Arteta’s vision and paid the Citizens £32m for the Ukraine international. The switch proved to be a genius choice for the Gunners and a potential mistake by Manchester City. Zinchenko instantly improved Arteta’s team and transformed how Arsenal would play.
Zinchenko’s arrival allowed Arteta to play with an inverted full-back, rather than relying on Tierney to charge along the wing. The four-time Premier League winner at Manchester City even features throughout the field as his technical excellence lets Zinchenko pull the strings.
6) Aaron Ramsdale
Bernd Leno had been a commendable asset for Arsenal after joining from Bayer Leverkusen. The German’s ability as a shot-stopper rescued numerous points for the Gunners. Yet Arteta saw scope for an upgrade between the posts in August 2021 and he signed Aaron Ramsdale.
Arsenal paid Sheffield United £24m, rising £6m with add-ons, despite the Blades enduring relegation that year. Ramsdale had also endured relegation with AFC Bournemouth in 2020. Yet the would-be England international replaced Leno after just two Premier League games.
Arteta axed Leno after defeats to Chelsea and Manchester City and has never looked back. Ramsdale proved any doubters wrong as the goalkeeper made numerous important saves and his passing skills far eclipsed Leno’s. He has also become a leader in the dressing room.
5) Ben White
Brighton & Hove Albion held Arsenal to ransom as Arteta chased the signing of Ben White in July 2021. The Seagulls held firm until the Gunners agreed to pay £50m after the centre-half made his England debut. Even though he had only played one season in the Premier League.
White would immediately justify Arteta’s decision, however, as he slotted straight into their backline. He built a solid partnership with Gabriel that brought solidity to Arsenal’s defence. He was also confident to play the ball out from the back rather than seeking the safest pass.
READ MORE: Everything to know about Arsenal ace Ben White from his wife to tattoos
Tomiyasu’s injury issues at the start of 2022 and William Saliba’s long-awaited emergence at Arsenal convinced Arteta to move White over to right-back, though. Yet the centre-half took to the position and made it his own. His consistency was superb and rarely put a foot wrong.
4) Gabriel Magalhaes
Everton and Manchester United wanted a deal with LOSC Lille for Gabriel Magalhaes in 2020 but it was Arteta and Arsenal who signed the Brazilian. The centre-back headed for Emirates Stadium in a £27m transfer on a long-term contract. He extended his terms to 2027 in 2022.
Arteta has continually placed great trust in the defender since signing Gabriel. He is amongst the Arsenal manager’s most regular lieutenants. But the Sao Paulo native can let himself and the Gunners down at times. His rash habits can be costly for the north London club at times.
But his sporadic errors only litter Gabriel’s otherwise impressive career at Emirates Stadium to date. He can pose a formidable presence in the heart of Arteta’s defence when at the top of his game. The Brazilian also chipped in with important goals against Fulham and Chelsea.
3) Declan Rice
Arsenal broke the bank to sign Rice in a club-record transfer from London rivals West Ham in July 2023. The Irons held out until the Gunners bid an initial £100m, up to £105m after add-ons, to sell their captain. He had also just won the Europa Conference League at West Ham.
Lifting the Hammers’ first major trophy since 1980 was Rice’s final act as a West Ham player before joining Arsenal. He departed east London after a decade, having also featured in 245 first-team fixtures. The midfielder also adopted West Ham’s captaincy full-time for 2022/23.
READ MORE: Everything to know about Arsenal ace Declan Rice from his girlfriend to height
The leadership skills Rice developed at London Stadium made him an instant hit at Arsenal. Arteta immediately relished his signing’s ability to offer a box-to-box presence. Rice is also amongst Europe’s best holding midfielders through his incredible ability to read the game.
Despite not being a regular goal threat in claret-and-blue, the England anchor also added a creative touch in red-and-white. Rice’s first goals with Arsenal were also vital after scoring a 96th-minute go-ahead goal against Manchester United plus a 97th-minute winner at Luton.
2) Gabriel Jesus
Arteta oversaw a major overhaul of Arsenal’s attack in 2022 after failing to seal qualification for the Champions League. The Gunners already paid £7m to Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang to tear up his contract. While stand-in captain Alexandre Lacazette left at the end of his deal.
Yet despite Arsenal failing to secure a place in UEFA’s elite competition, Gabriel Jesus agreed to leave Manchester City. Arteta returned to the team he left to take charge of the Gunners and signed the striker for £45m. Immediately, Jesus had a transformative effect on Arsenal.
READ MORE: Everything to know about Arsenal ace Gabriel Jesus from his height to girlfriend
Jesus’ dogged approach gave Arsenal new impetus in the attack and he combined perfectly with Saka and Gabriel Martinelli. Even when the striker would struggle to score, his dynamic presence tore defences open for Arteta’s other forwards to exploit, unlike his predecessors.
1) Martin Odegaard
Arteta secured the best signing of his Arsenal tenure in August 2021 after convincing Martin Odegaard to leave Real Madrid. The Norway captain agreed to complete a permanent move for a bargain of just £30m, plus £4m in add-ons, after spending the start of the year on loan.
Odegaard initially joined Arsenal to further his chances of being a success with Real Madrid. But once he knew his future was not at the Santiago Bernabeu, the maestro returned to the Gunners for good. And he has only gone from strength to strength under Arteta’s coaching.
READ MORE: Everything to know about Arsenal star Martin Odegaard from girlfriend to £65k car
The Drammen native brought a creative presence to Emirates Stadium that Arsenal missed. Almost everything that he touched oozed class as Odegaard’s technical abilities were nearly unmatched at the club. But his end product could sometimes lack during the 2021/22 term.
Yet after just 18 months at Arsenal, Arteta named Odegaard as his new captain in July 2022. It was to be a stroke of genius as the midfielder reached exceptional heights with the extra responsibilities. He offered 15 goals and eight assists in 37 Premier League games in 22/23.
All of Mikel Arteta’s signings as manager of Arsenal ranked:
Arsenal Insider has also ranked all of Arteta’s signings since replacing Emery in charge of the Emirates Stadium club in December 2019 with 26 players so far welcomed to north London:
26) Runar Alex Runarsson
25) Auston Trusty
24) Willian
23) Marquinhos
22) Albert Sambi Lokonga
21) Nuno Tavares
20) Mat Ryan
19) Fabio Vieira
18) Matt Turner
17) Jakub Kiwior
16) Pablo Mari
15) Cedric Soares
14) David Raya
13) Jurrien Timber
12) Jorginho
11) Takehiro Tomiyasu
10) Thomas Partey
9) Kai Havertz
8) Leandro Trossard
7) Oleksandr Zinchenko
6) Aaron Ramsdale
5) Ben White
4) Gabriel Magalhaes
3) Declan Rice
2) Gabriel Jesus
1) Martin Odegaard
Receive a digest of our best Arsenal content each week direct to your mailbox
