Over the years in the Premier League, Arsenal have made some excellent signings, but they have also made costly mistakes.
TeamTalk has compiled a list of the ten worst signings by the London club, ranging from players who saw minimal game time to the record signing of £72 million.
10. Nicolas Pepe
While it’s hard to label Pepe as one of the worst players to wear an Arsenal shirt, the club's record summer signing of £72 million in 2019 places him on this list due to the disappointing price-to-performance ratio.
9. Richard Wright
Arsene Wenger envisioned Wright as a long-term successor to David Seaman. Initially, things looked promising, but his mishap resulting in an own goal against Charlton in a 4-2 loss derailed his career. A subsequent injury against Deportivo only worsened his situation, and he soon fell behind not just Seaman but also young Stuart Taylor in the pecking order.
8. Denis Suarez
Unai Emery brought the Spaniard in on loan from Barcelona in January 2019, but Suarez never truly had the chance to shine, featuring only six times before injuries forced him back to Spain after the season.
7. Park Chu-Young
The South Korean arrived on transfer deadline day in the summer of 2011, following Arsenal’s humiliating 8-2 defeat to Manchester United. The club rushed to bolster their squad with Park, Andre Santos, Per Mertesacker, and Mikel Arteta. While the latter two turned out to be successful signings, Park contributed just seven matches and one goal.
6. Andre Santos
One memorable moment highlights why fans still recall the Brazilian. At Old Trafford during half-time, Santos exchanged shirts with his former teammate Robin van Persie, who had just scored against Arsenal. Santos’ lacklustre performances quickly turned him into a figure of ridicule among supporters.
5. Francis Jeffers
After a promising stint at Everton, Jeffers joined Arsenal for £8 million, plus a potential £2 million in bonuses—a significant outlay for 2001. But he failed to meet expectations, managing just four goals in 22 Premier League appearances.
4. Willian
In the summer of 2020, the Brazilian made the switch from Chelsea on a free transfer and signed a lucrative contract, yet his time at Arsenal lasted only a single season. After a disappointing campaign, Willian agreed to part ways with the club without compensation for his remaining contract.
3. Sebastien Squillaci
The French defender played for Arsenal between 2010 and 2013 but never demonstrated the required level for the team. TeamTalk ranks him as one of the most notable examples of the club's struggles during that era.
2. Alex Runar Runarsson
The arrival of the Icelandic goalkeeper raised eyebrows from the start, and he faced one of the harshest realities of his short Arsenal career in a League Cup match against Manchester City. Riyad Mahrez hit a free-kick that went through Runarsson's hands and into the net, epitomising his unfortunate spell in London.
1. Shkodran Mustafi
Mustafi tops the list as the club's biggest transfer flop, with Arsenal paying £35 million for him in 2016. He began his career promisingly, with the Gunners unbeaten in his first 22 appearances, but spiralled into a series of regular errors that made him a symbol of Arsenal's defensive woes during that period.
Interestingly, the most expensive player on this list, Pepe, ranks only tenth. His disappointing narrative primarily stems from the hefty £72 million fee, while the players further down the list faced far more scrutiny over their performances in an Arsenal shirt.
