Arsenal's five greatest January signings in the Premier League era

Arsenal will look to bring in January reinforcements to maintain their position at the summit of the Premier League.

However, it is notoriously difficult to make good business in the January market, with clubs unwilling to let their most prized assets leave mid-season.

While the Gunners have made several underwhelming moves in the winter window, they have occasionally had mid-season transfer successes.

Here are Arsenal’s five best pieces of January business in the Premier League era.

5. Andrey Arshavin

Andrey Arshavin joined Arsenal in 2009 for £15million and in his first seven starts for the club recorded a healthy two goals and five assists.

Then in his eighth game, the Russia international eclipsed his entire Arsenal career with all four goals in a 4-4 draw against Liverpool at Anfield.

It would be the high watermark of Arshavin's Arsenal stint. The following years saw the player struggle to live up to the hype.

He would ultimately leave the Emirates in 2013.

4. Nacho Monreal

Nacho Monreal signed for Arsenal on deadline day of January 2013 and in the subsequent seven seasons became a fan favourite at the Emirates.

Monreal, who was nicknamed the goat as a child (Yes, really) went on to play over 250 games in north London, winning three FA Cups.

3. Emmanuel Adebayor

Emmanuel Adebayor tarnished his Arsenal legacy with his acrimonious departure and THAT celebration when playing for Manchester City against the Gunners.

However, having been signed for just £3million from Monaco as a lanky 21-year-old, the Togo international went on to become one of the more clinical strikers in the Premier League.

After Thierry Henry was sold to Barcelona in 2007, Adebayor stepped up to net 30 goals in 48 appearances the following season.

2. Theo Walcott

Theo Walcott was one of Arsenal’s best value-for-money signings in history. Arsene Wenger’s side signed the then 16-year-old for a whopping £9.1million in 2006.

The winger would depart the club 12 years later for £20million, having played 397 games, netted 108 goals and won four trophies for the Gunners.

He may not have reached the heights that were expected of him when he first made ripples in senior football as a teenager but was without doubt an exceptional club servant at Arsenal.

1. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang joined Arsenal from Borussia Dortmund in January 2018 and went on to win the Golden Boot in his first full season for the club.

The Gabon international went on to score 92 goals in 163 appearances for the Gunners, including a brace that helped Arsenal over the line in the 2020 FA Cup final against Chelsea.

Aubameyang departed Arsenal in January 2022 having fallen out with manager Mikel Arteta, but left the club with the second-best goals-per-game ratio in the club's Premier League history, behind Thierry Henry.

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