Unfortunately, a recent dip in form along with a lack of new signings means supporters won't be rushing to a free bets website to get some money on the Gunners finishing in the top four this season. The midweek goalless draw at Bolton saw the club drop alarmingly to seventh place.
But, let's take out minds off Premier League woes for the time being. With 10 seasons of the January transfer window now passed, here are some of the good (We’ll leave out the obvious ones for now), the bad and the indifferent signings Arsene Wenger has made during this period.
The Good...
Emmanuel Adebayor
AS Monaco – Undisclosed Fee - 2006
Admittedly Adebayor is unpopular at the Emirates but he was a good signing at the time. The Togo striker announced himself on the world stage in the 2007-8 season with 24 goals in 36 Premier League appearances. That season, Arsenal finished third and he was named in the PFA Team of the Year. His goal against Spurs in September 2007 was also deemed “Goal of the Season” by BBC's Match of the Day. However, his head was turned by speculation linking him to the likes of Barcelona and AC Milan and he eventually joined Manchester City in July 2009 for £25 million. Celebrating a goal against Arsenal and going on to play for Spurs means he is not remembered fondly.
Theo Walcott Southampton – £5 million – 2006
Walcott has made over 200 appearances for Arsenal in all competitions since he join the club from Southampton as a starry-eyed teenager. But, as good a signing he has been, Walcott has also been frustrating in that his best position on the field has still not been determined. Walcott played a more central striking role during the 2010-11 season and saw his best return – nine goals in 28 Premier League appearances but when his form dips, he finds himself in and out of the team. Just three goals so far this campaign suggests it's going to be another one of those seasons for Theo.
Andrei Arshavin
Zenit Saint Petersburg – Undisclosed Fee – 2009
Arshavin has become increasingly unpopular at the Emirates but let's not forget he was once loved! He came second in the Arsenal Player of the Season poll at the end of the 2008-09 season despite playing only the second half of the season and less than a quarter of all Arsenal's matches during the campaign. His four goals against Liverpool in a 4-4 draw also meant he was the first player since Dennis Westcott for Wolves in 1946 to score four in a league match at Anfield. The first Arsenal player to score four at Anfield in any competition was of course Julio Baptista in 2007. He's fast approaching 100 Premier League appearances for the club and has been a good signing overall. Its just time he moved on.
Sol Campbell
Free Transfer – 2010
A few eyebrows were raised when Campbell rejoined Arsenal during the 2010 window as a free agent but he did a good job when key defenders were ruled out injured. He became the third player behind Ryan Giggs and David James to have featured in all 18 seasons of the Premier League since its inception. In his two hundredth club appearance, Campbell scored against FC Porto in the Champions League – his first match in the competition since the 2006 final against Barcelona. He left at the end of the season with a further 11 Premier League appearances to his name in an Arsenal shirt.
The Bad...
Jose Antonio Reyes
Sevilla – £10.5 million – 2004
When 20-year-old Reyes first joined Arsenal, he looked a very promising signing. Two goals against Chelsea knocked them out of the FA Cup and goals in the latter stages of the season maintained Arsenal's unbeaten run. But, in early 2005, Reyes claimed to be homesick, despite several family members living with him in London. Despite signing a new six-year contract in July 2005 speculation linking him with Real Madrid left him unsettled. He joined Real on loan for the 2006-07 season with Julio Baptista moving the other way.
Emmanuel Eboue
Beveren – £1.5 million – 2005
Eboue was not a terrible signing by any means but it was often felt the player was just not good enough for Arsenal. Initially signed as a full-back, Eboue switched to the right wing and Wenger compared him to the legendary Brazilian winger Garrincha. He signed a long-term contract towards the end of 2010 but joined Galatasaray for £3.5 million in August 2011. He turned down a move to Tottenham Hotspur in favour of Turkey, meaning he is not as unpopular as he could have been.
The Indifferent...
Thierry Henry
New York Red Bulls – Loan – 2012
Now 34-years-old and playing out the latter years of his career in the USA, Henry returned to the club on loan this January amid a fanfare of media hype. He moved to provide cover for Gervinho and Marouane Chamakh while they were at the Africa Cup of Nations but there was a lot of belief he could turn around a flagging season almost single handedly. Henry scored the winner on his debut after coming on as a late substitute against Leeds United in the FA Cup but Gunners fans are still awaiting his first Premier League goal.
Abou Diaby
Auxerre – £2 million – 2006
It is a shame to include Diaby in this section because he could have been an excellent player for Arsenal. Just a few months after arriving at the club he suffered a horror tackle by Sunderland rookie defender Dan Smith and he has been injury prone ever since. Diaby will also be remembered as the player sent off while 4-0 up at Newcastle, only for the 10-men to concede four goals and draw the game 4-4.
Mart Poom
Signed from Sunderland in 2006 for an undisclosed fee
The former Derby County goalkeeper arrived on loan from Sunderland in August 2005 and made his move permanent during the January window. He even received a Champions League runners-up medal despite not being named in the starting eleven or on the substitutes bench for the final against Barcelona. His first and only Premier League appearance came on the final day of the 2006-07 season – a goalless draw against Portsmouth. Forgettable.
Sevilla – £10.5 million – 2004
When 20-year-old Reyes first joined Arsenal, he looked a very promising signing. Two goals against Chelsea knocked them out of the FA Cup and goals in the latter stages of the season maintained Arsenal's unbeaten run. But, in early 2005, Reyes claimed to be homesick, despite several family members living with him in London. Despite signing a new six-year contract in July 2005 speculation linking him with Real Madrid left him unsettled. He joined Real on loan for the 2006-07 season with Julio Baptista moving the other way.
Emmanuel Eboue
Beveren – £1.5 million – 2005
Eboue was not a terrible signing by any means but it was often felt the player was just not good enough for Arsenal. Initially signed as a full-back, Eboue switched to the right wing and Wenger compared him to the legendary Brazilian winger Garrincha. He signed a long-term contract towards the end of 2010 but joined Galatasaray for £3.5 million in August 2011. He turned down a move to Tottenham Hotspur in favour of Turkey, meaning he is not as unpopular as he could have been.
The Indifferent...
Thierry Henry
New York Red Bulls – Loan – 2012
Now 34-years-old and playing out the latter years of his career in the USA, Henry returned to the club on loan this January amid a fanfare of media hype. He moved to provide cover for Gervinho and Marouane Chamakh while they were at the Africa Cup of Nations but there was a lot of belief he could turn around a flagging season almost single handedly. Henry scored the winner on his debut after coming on as a late substitute against Leeds United in the FA Cup but Gunners fans are still awaiting his first Premier League goal.
Abou Diaby
Auxerre – £2 million – 2006
It is a shame to include Diaby in this section because he could have been an excellent player for Arsenal. Just a few months after arriving at the club he suffered a horror tackle by Sunderland rookie defender Dan Smith and he has been injury prone ever since. Diaby will also be remembered as the player sent off while 4-0 up at Newcastle, only for the 10-men to concede four goals and draw the game 4-4.
Mart Poom
Signed from Sunderland in 2006 for an undisclosed fee
The former Derby County goalkeeper arrived on loan from Sunderland in August 2005 and made his move permanent during the January window. He even received a Champions League runners-up medal despite not being named in the starting eleven or on the substitutes bench for the final against Barcelona. His first and only Premier League appearance came on the final day of the 2006-07 season – a goalless draw against Portsmouth. Forgettable.
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