ARSENAL were once considered one of the best-run clubs in England in terms of their transfer dealings.
Remember when Arsene Wenger picked up Sol Campbell at the peak of his powers on an unthinkable freebie from fierce rivals Tottenham in 2001?
Aaron Ramsey is one of the latest stars to quit Arsenal for free, joining Juventus in 2019
But the Gunners have been nothing short of a disaster over the past few years, in a total contrast to what WAS once a well-run club.
Since Stan Kroenke took full control of the North Londoners, it’s been all downhill on the transfer front.
Over the last five years more than £200million has been thrown down the drain.
Losing top stars on free transfers, selling top talent too cheaply and allowing youngsters to quit for nothing… it’s been that bad.
Ever since the 2016-17 season it’s been dreadful – and there’s nothing Arsenal supporters are going to like reading here.
SunSport has picked out the worst of Arsenal’s transfer dealings in recent years based on the fee they received versus the player’s value at the time.
SERGE GNABRY – 2016-17
Credit: ReutersGnabry has been a absolute revelation since moving to Bayern Munich
Transfer: Werder Bremen, £5m
Worth: £60m
Money lost: £55m
Once touted as one of the best young players at Arsenal, it never quite worked out despite a lot of promise.
A shocking loan spell at West Brom under Tony Pulis didn’t help, before he headed off back to Germany with Werder Bremen for just £5m.
The 25-year-old winger is now tearing it up at Bayern Munich and worth at least £60m, according to Transfermarkt.
WOJCIECH SZCZESNY – 2017-18
Transfer: Juventus, £10m
Worth: £20m
Money lost: £10m
The Polish goalkeeper was a firm favourite with the Gunners fans but was often prone to a mistake or two.
The Italian giants obviously saw something in him, and picked him up for a snip of a price.
Now their No1 and a Serie A title winner, he’s worth double the amount he was sold for, and again, probably more.
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ALEX OXLADE-CHAMBERLAIN – 2017-18
Transfer: Liverpool, £35m
Worth: £50m
Money lost: £15m
It might look harsh on Arsenal, but the simple thing is that Oxlade-Chamberlain went on the cheap.
At the time, it might have looked like good money – but it really wasn’t and Wenger should have got more.
Now a Champions League and Premier League winner, £35m looks good for Liverpool.
JEFF REINE-ADELAIDE – 2018-19
Credit: EPAJeff Reine-Adelaide starred for France at the U21 Euros in Italy earlier this month
Transfer: Angers, £1.5m
Worth: £20m
Money lost: £18.5m
Another one of the Arsenal youngsters who had promise and never really got quite there at the Emirates.
He went to Angers for a fee not even worth talking about, to a club little known in Ligue 1.
But he impressed for the France squad at the Euro Under-21 Championships a year, and now he is worth a fortune after moving to giants Lyon and now Nice, on a season-long loan with a view to a permanent move.
SANTI CAZORLA – 2018-19
Transfer: Villarreal, free
Worth: £15m
Money lost: £15m
One of the most gifted players to ever play for the Gunners in recent times, and that’s no exaggeration.
He made an emotional free move back to his homeland, mostly down to a number of injury problems.
But he proved he still had a lot to give – even getting a recall to the Spain squad – and was worthy of another contract.
JACK WILSHERE – 2018-19
Arsenal somehow let club icon Jack Wilshere quit for free
Transfer: West Ham, free
Worth: £15m
Money lost: £15m
Once one of the most talked-about English players and touted as a dead certain Arsenal legend.
Only injuries have blighted the academy product from being up there with the true greats of the Premier League.
Now, at Bournemouth after a horror spell at West Ham, it would only take one season of health to show Arsenal they were daft to let him walk for nothing.
DANNY WELBECK – 2019-20
Transfer: Watford, free
Worth: £20m
Money lost: £20m
He might not have fulfilled what they thought, but he scored some important goals for Arsenal.
The ex-England striker joined Watford on a free transfer in August and – following the Hornets’ relegation – quickly earned a call back to the Premier League with Brighton.
There’s no denying the ex-Manchester United forward is worth some cash and still has some years at the top left.
AARON RAMSEY – 2019-20
Transfer: Juventus, free
Worth: £60m
Money lost: £60m
This is one that will hurt for years and years to come, arguably their best player gone on a free.
Yes, he’s getting a good wage and at a top side, but how could the Emirates hierarchy let this one happen?
The Welshman is worth at least, if not more than, £60m and it’s nothing short of embarrassing he left.
TOTAL LOSSES: £210m
Mikel Arteta says he is very proud of the way Arsenal played against Leicester after perhaps their best performance this season
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
