Granit Xhaka has been a divisive determine at Arsenal in his seven seasons in north London, the place he has develop into a vital cog in midfield two and a half years after being stripped of the captaincy following a verbal altercation with followers.

Xhaka signed for Arsenal in the summertime of 2016 for round £35m with a lot fanfare, as a dominant central midfielder so as to add metal and a robust passing vary to exchange his future boss Mikel Arteta, who retired that summer season.

The 30-year-old began nicely, however quickly the reckless playing cards and careless errors that often plague his sport started to creep in, with Xhaka usually the perpetrator behind the workforce’s shedding streaks.

However the Swiss worldwide is presently producing what’s arguably the very best soccer of his profession, as Arteta’s Gunners sit atop the Premier League desk.

Arsenal completed second within the season previous to his arrival however have but to complete within the high 4 since, though they’ve gained two FA Cups in that point.

Arsene Wenger spent closely that summer season, shopping for six gamers for round £100m in complete, the membership’s greatest window on the time. However just one extra together with Xhaka stays within the Emirates. That is how they managed.

Shkodran Mustafi

Essentially the most notorious title on this record, Mustafi, got here close to the underside of the window for round £35m from Valencia.

A World Cup winner with Germany, there was loads of pleasure across the arrival of Mustafi, who had cast a really sturdy partnership in central protection with Nicolás Otamendi on the Spanish east coast, and he began off excellently, going unbeaten in his first 21 video games within the membership.

Nonetheless, after an damage, issues shortly went downhill for Mustafi. He adopted a collection of calamitous errors over the subsequent 4 seasons, by which Arsenal’s protection grew to become extra permeable than ever, earlier than he was lastly launched in January 2021.

The truth that Mustafi has performed over 150 video games for the membership is a testomony to how poor the protection has been in recent times and regardless of scoring in a North London Derby and at Outdated Trafford, Mustafi shouldn’t be fondly remembered within the Emirates.

Since then, Mustafi has suffered back-to-back relegations, falling out with Schalke in 2021 earlier than dealing with fall out with Levante final season.

takuma asano

The Japan worldwide joined Arsenal as a 20-year-old in 2016, and lots of eyebrows have been raised on the Japanese second division signing.

“Takuma is a proficient younger striker with a terrific future,” stated Arsene Wenger.

“He has had a formidable begin to his profession in Japan and we sit up for constructing on it within the years to come back.”

However Asano could not even be given an opportunity to show himself, having been denied a piece allow.

A number of mortgage spells adopted earlier than being launched in 2019 and becoming a member of Partizan Belgrade.

Wenger had some puzzling signings throughout his 22 years on the membership, and Asano is without doubt one of the strangest.

READ: Seven of Arsene Wenger’s most forgettable signings at Arsenal

steal holding

A 20-year-old central defender from Bolton who got here for round £2m did not significantly excite followers on the time, however Rob Holding’s switch to Arsenal has been unbelievable worth total.

Nonetheless on the membership, Holding is now a dependable back-up for William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhaes, and infrequently the stand-in for Mikel Arteta when attempting to carry a lead.

Placing in a robust efficiency and a clear sheet at Leicester in what was his second look for the membership, Wenger lavished reward on the defender, whereas additionally criticizing those that questioned the switch.

“Nobody is speaking about Rob Holding’s efficiency in the present day. You have to be completely happy; he is English, he is 20 however I am sorry he did not price £55m so he cannot be good,” Wenger iconicly ranted after a 0-0 draw on the King Energy.

Holding is seen as one of many main figures within the dressing room of the league’s youngest workforce, and with over 130 appearances and two FA Cups to his title, he’s extremely admired by followers and teammates alike.

Lucas Perez

After Arsenal’s unsuccessful seek for Jamie Vardy, Wenger left for Deportivo La Coruña and introduced again the Spanish equal.

Pérez had scored 19 objectives and 11 assists within the earlier marketing campaign, and the striker was purchased for round £17m.

Regardless of scoring a Champions League hat-trick within the group stage away to Basel, and a formidable volley at Bournemouth, Wenger not often trusted Perez and he was loaned out the next season earlier than being bought to West Ham for round of £5 million.

Pérez completed his Arsenal profession with seven objectives and 5 assists in 21 video games, and lots of followers really feel he had extra to supply the membership.

He had a candy left foot…

#BOUARS #GLP Le however de Lucas Perez ce soir face à Bournemouth 🔥🔥 pic.twitter.com/lt7F9hTr2f

— HypeFoot (@HypeFoot) January 3, 2017

kelechi nwakali

Nigeria gained the U-17 World Cup in 2015 with Victor Osimhen successful the golden boot and Kelechi Nwakali successful the golden ball, awarded to the very best participant of the match.

The 2 then launched into very completely different profession paths. Nwakali joined Arsenal in 2016 from the Diamond Soccer Academy as a extremely rated prospect, however by no means made a first-team look.

“We recognized Nwakali as a high participant, he was the very best participant on the U-17 World Cup,” Wenger stated earlier than the 17-year-old’s arrival.

Mortgage spells adopted his transfer, earlier than finally becoming a member of Huesca completely. At simply 23, Nwakali hasn’t realized his full potential, whereas his former teammate Osimhen is shining at Napoli.

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