Arsenal’s January may be defined by whether they make a big money move for Ivan Toney as Mikel Arteta seeks the firepower to restart their title fight.
Brentford striker Toney can return from his gambling ban next week but speculation remains rife that the Gunners could table a mega money bid to sign him before the deadline.
But Arsenal have enjoyed mixed success in the winter window down the years.
Here are five of the best and five of the worst.
The best
Theo Walcott Three-times FA Cup winner served from 2006 to 2018, making 397 appearances and scoring 108 goals. Not bad for a fee that was later revised to £9.1m by an independent panel after he arrived from Southampton and was registered as a scholar.
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Emmanuel Adebayor Scored 62 goals in all competitions after arriving from Monaco in 2006 for about £3m. And while the Togo striker did not win a trophy and sullied his reputation among Arsenal fans later on when joining Tottenham, Arsene Wenger got a good tune of him before selling to Manchester City for about £25m in 2009. Decent business.
Pierre Emerick Aubameyang Recency bias will make it look like Aubameyang is a Mr Flash who failed to live up to expectations but the then club-record £58m signing in 2018 bagged 92 goals, a Premier League golden boot and the FA Cup prior to things turning pear-shaped as Mikel Arteta became upset with his discipline and packed him off to Barcelona.
Martin Odegaard The current captain’s story remains far from finished but upon initially joining on loan from Real Madrid in January 2021 he was an instant hit. The Norwegian is now Arteta’s creator-in-chief and while he still waits for a major trophy, Odegaard has become one of the headline acts for a team again capable of challenging for the title.
Andrey Arshavin
Similar to Aubameyang, he faded badly towards the end of his spell but the first 18 months of the Russian’s time in north London after arriving on deadline day for an estimated £18m in 2009 was stellar.
The worst
Kim Kallstrom arrived at Arsenal with an injury (Getty Images)Kim Kallstrom Arrived on deadline day in 2014, on loan from Spartak Moscow, and it swiftly became apparent the Sweden international got off the plane with a back injury that meant he barely played. That he was Arsenal’s only arrival of that window was a bitter pill for fans to swallow.
Wellington Silva Brazilian arrived in 2010 from Fluminense but Arsenal could not initially secure a work permit, meaning he was sent out on loan to Levante. With the permit cleared, he then went back on loan to Alcoyano, Ponferradina, Murcia and Almeria before finally appearing in English football… at Bolton Wanderers. He returned to Fluminense in 2016 having not made a senior appearance for his parent club.
Thomas Eisfeld Attacking midfielder came from Borussia Dortmund in 2012 as a young player with huge potential but his impact was limited to two appearances in the League Cup. Joined Fulham in the summer of 2014 but they offloaded him to German second-tier side Bochum within six months, and he still plays there now.
Cedric Soares A loan signing from Southampton late in the 2020 window, which was made permanent that summer, he was unable to play in the FA Cup run and has continuously struggled for injuries and form. Spent half of last season at Fulham and his only meaningful action this term was an hour in the Champions League dead rubber away to PSV Eindhoven.
Denis Suarez Another loanee, from Barcelona in 2019, who spent his stint at the Emirates on the treatment table. He made four substitute appearances under Unai Emery and went back to Catalunya before being sold to Celta Vigo. “I wasn’t comfortable. I don’t think I was even at 50%,” the half-fit flop told the Guardian soon after departing north London.
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