Arsenal transfer news: The Gunners have signed a number of wingers since 2011 with some enjoying success in north London and some failing to live up their expectation
Arsenal are currently blessed in the attacking wide positions with two of the best wingers in European football. Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli provide a threat from both sides of the pitch and have proved to be significant members of Mikel Arteta' squad.
The club's decision to invest heavily in youth has paid dividends. Saka has contributed to 82 goals in 184 appearances for his boyhood club since breaking into the first team. Martinelli has scored 33 and assisted 21 in 135 games, earning himself a spot in the Brazil national team.
Behind the dynamic duo, Arsenal also have Reiss Nelson and Leandro Trossard as options. Both have made their mark when called upon throughout the last 18 months, but that hasn't stopped various reports linking the Gunners with more attacking players.
Compared to Arsenal's current stars, how do the numerous wingers who have arrived since Kroenke become a majority shareholder of the football club in April 2011?
14. Nicolas Pepe
Signed from: Lille
Fee: £72million
Arsenal apps: 112
However, he lost his place in Arteta's team and spent last season back in France with OGC Nice. He's now very close to leaving and Arsenal will receive nowhere near the £72million they paid.
13. Takuma Asano
Signed from: Sanfreece Hiroshima
Fee: £3.4million
Arsenal apps: 0
Japanese international Asano was signed from the J-League after Arsene Wenger failed to lure Jamie Vardy from Leicester City in 2016. He arrived as a 21-year-old and was destined for big things, but he never made a single appearance for the club.
12. Willian
Signed from: Chelsea
Fee: Free
Arsenal apps: 37
In his single season in north London, the Brazilian scored one goal and assisted seven. He returned to Brazil for a single year before rescinding his contract due to 'virtual threats'. He's currently at Fulham.
11. Lucas Perez
Signed from: Deportivo La Coruna
Fee: £17.1million
Arsenal apps: 21
To be fair to Perez, he boasts an average goalscoring record at Arsenal. He managed to score seven goals across his time at the club, despite the majority of his appearances coming off the bench. He netted three goals and two assists in three Champions League games.
He returned to Deportivo on loan in 2017 before leaving the Gunners for West Ham. Perez is now back at Deportivo after paying a compensation fee close to £1million to leave Cadiz to return to his boyhood club.
10.Henrikh Mkhitaryan
Signed from: Manchester United
Fee: Direct swap with Alexis Sanchez
Arsenal apps: 59
He moved to Italy with Roma in 2020 after an initial loan deal and is now at Inter. A Champions League finalist, the Armenian is still contributing in Serie A. It just didn't quite work at Arsenal.
9. Gervinho
Signed from: Lille
Fee: £10.7million
Arsenal apps: 63
The Gunners accepted a loss for the Ivorian when he left for Roma in 2013. He went on to play in China and Turkey before becoming a free agent this summer after leaving Aris Saloniki.
8. Yossi Benayoun
Signed from: Chelsea
Fee: Loan
Arsenal apps: 25
Signed on the same day as Mikel Arteta at the end of August 2011, Benayoun moved to Arsenal after losing his place at Chelsea. At the time, Chelsea had reportedly attempted to sign Luka Modric from Tottenham with Benayoun included in the deal. It didn't happen.
The former Israel international scored six goals and produced six assists. He spent the next two seasons at West Ham and Queens Park Rangers before moving back to Israel. He announced his retirement in April 2019.
7. Joel Campbell
Signed from: Deportivo Saprissa
Fee: Undisclosed
Arsenal apps: 40
Another one of Wenger's young signings. Campbell arrived in 2011 at 19. Having struggled to get a work permit, the winger spent time on loan at Lorient, Real Betis and Olympiacos. He returned to Arsenal in 2014 but failed to make a name for himself.
6. Marquinhos
Signed from: Santos
Fee: £3million
Arsenal apps: 6
Some would argue that Marquinhos' position in this ranking is unfair. The teenager has hardly played for the Gunners since arrival in 2022. His six appearances came in the first half of last season before spending the second half at Norwich City.
5. Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain
Signed from: Southampton
Fee: £15million
Arsenal apps: 198
In 2011, Arsenal paid £12million up front with a further £3million in add-ons for 17-year-old Oxlade-Chamberlain. Another signing with an eye for the future and he certainly made up for the figure. He played 198 games for the club, scoring 20 and assisting 32 and helping them win three FA Cups.
4. Leandro Trossard
Signed from: Brighton
Fee: £27million
Arsenal apps: 25
He has only played in two of the opening four games of the season. However, once Champions League football starts later this month, his presence will be needed.
3. Lukas Podolski
Signed from: Cologne
Fee: £10.9million
Arsenal apps: 82
A remarkable piece of business by the club. The former Germany international moved to the Premier League after an impressive three years with Cologne and netted 31 goals.
2. Alexis Sanchez
Signed from: Barcelona
Fee: £35million
Arsenal apps: 166
Sanchez's move from Barcelona was the marquee signing of the summer in 2014. He won the hearts of the Emirates Stadium faithful with a series of sensational individual performances, scoring 80 goals in total and assisting an additional 45.
1. Gabriel Martinelli
Signed from: Ituano
Fee: £6million
Arsenal apps: 135
Only 22, Martinelli is one of the most exciting forwards in Europe. At only £6million, transfermarkt now value him at a whopping €80million (£68.5million), although anything less than £100million would likely be swiftly rejected by Arsenal.
Last season, the Brazilian scored 15 goals in 46 games, Arsenal's joint top scorer. He's been slow out of the tracks this year but he's another example of splendid business at the club.