The 5 best summer signings for Arsenal since 2008
Santi Cazorla – Midfielder – Bought from Málaga CF in August 2012 for a reported £16.5 million. Cazorla played in all 38 Barclay’s Premier League matches for the Gunners in the 2012-2013 season (49 matches in all competitions). The creative midfielder/winger amassed 12 goals and 16 assists in the first season with Arsenal. Cazorla also […]
Santi Cazorla – Midfielder – Bought from Málaga CF in August 2012 for a reported £16.5 million. Cazorla played in all 38 Barclay’s Premier League matches for the Gunners in the 2012-2013 season (49 matches in all competitions). The creative midfielder/winger amassed 12 goals and 16 assists in the first season with Arsenal. Cazorla also collected a team high 4 EA SPORTS Arsenal Player of the Month awards. The Spaniard is ambidextrous and can play on both sides of the pitch as a winger, and also through the middle as an attacking midfielder. Cazorla will most likely be named Arsenal Player of the Season for the 2012-2013 season.
Laurent Koscielny – Defender – Bought from Lorient in July 2010 for £8.5 million. In just 4 years Koscielny went from playing sparingly for French Ligue 2 side Guingamp, to starting for one of England’s most successful teams in Arsenal. The French international has had a few disappointing performances with the Gunners (the mix-up between him and goalkeeper Wojciech Szczęsny in the 2011 League Cup Final first comes to mind), however, Koscielny has definitely had more outstanding performances than not. His acrobatic clearances and well-timed goals have helped the Gunners remain in the top 4 of the Barclay’s Premier League.
Mikel Arteta – Midfielder – Bought from Everton in August 2011 for £10 million. Arteta has been one of the most important players for the north London club. After the departure of Robin Van Persie in 2012, Arteta was made vice-captain of the team after having only been with them for one season (Thomas Vermaelen was named club captain). The seemingly vocal leader of the Gunners, Arteta has collected 12 goals and 9 assists in his first two seasons with the squad. The Spaniard has also been Arsene Wenger’s choice for penalty taker this past season. Arteta’s leadership, passing skills, and vision have made him an outstanding summer signing for the Gunners.
Per Mertesacker – Defender – Bought from Werder Bremen in August 2011 for £8 million. The BFG (Big freaking German), as he is affectionately called by Arsenal supporters, established himself as a starting defender with a strong start to his Arsenal career. While Mertesacker doesn’t have the greatest pace in the soccer world, he makes up for it with outstanding positioning and strength. One would assume that the 6’6” German international would be a bit clumsy; however, he has proven to be calm and somewhat nimble by only collecting six yellow cards and one red card in his 71 total appearances with the club.
Thomas Vermaelen – Defender – Bought from Ajax in June 2009 for £10 million. While Vermaelen spent the final part of the 2012-2013 season on the bench, he has been a vital part of the club since his arrival from the Netherlands. The current club captain has played in 129 matches in the four seasons he has spent in north London (he missed most of the 2010-2011 season due to injury). The Belgium international has scored 15 goals and added 5 assists from the back line. Vermaelen also made the PFA Premier League Team of the Year in his first season with Arsenal (2009-2010). While there has been speculation that he might move on during this transfer market, Vermaelen has expressed his desire to stay with the Gunners, and fight for his starting position back.
Players just missing out on the list: Olivier Giroud, Carl Jenkinson, Alex-Oxlade Chamberlain, Aaron Ramsey, and Samir Nasri (he played outstandingly for the Gunners in 3 seasons, then was sold for twice what Arsenal paid for him). Lukas Podolski was technically agreed to move to Arsenal in April 2012, so he was not eligible to make this summer transfer list.
Culled from Yahoo sport