Arsenal are always active in the transfer market- spotting young talent who go on and mature under Arsene Wenger.
But they shook the transfer market by signing Ozil from Real Madrid on deadline day- an indication for the years to come.
Ozil’s place at the top looks contentious though, with Arsenal seemingly having agreed to pay a club-record £53m for Alexandre Lacazette.
He will be Arsenal’s most expensive signing with 37 goals in 47 games last season. His arrival should help Arsenal challenge for the title, and maybe even for a place in the semi-final in the Champions League.
Let’s take a look at the players for whom the club paid a lot to bring to the Emirates.
3) Alexis Sanchez – 36.13 Million Euros
Having joined the Gunners during the summer of 2014 from Barcelona, Sanchez has gone on to cement the place in Wenger’s side.
Arsenal signed Sanchez looking for attacking inspiration upfront, with Welbeck’s injury woes and Giroud not providing enough firepower.
With Neymar cementing his place in the left, Sanchez was forced onto the bench. He moved to Arsenal in search of playtime and has seen nothing but that ever since.
He has bagged 72 goals and 52 assists so far for the Gunners and played an instrumental role in Arsenal’s 5th place finish last season with 30 goals and 19 assists overall.
Deployed mostly on the left wing, the 28-year old loves to cut in and curl the ball into the net. He has been the sole reason for the Arsenal’s shift in their style of play and has been given the freedom to run with the ball.
Fast and with excellent vision, he is easily one of the best play-makers in Europe. He is arguably their best signing in the recent past.
2) Granit Xhaka – 38.25 Million Euros
The 24-year old defensive midfielder signed a 5 year contract with the red and whites during the summer of 2016. The gunners were in dire need of a player to fill the role in-front of the back four.
Traditionally occupied by Ramsey and Wilshere, two attacking minded left players, a hole wide open during counter attacks. Coquelin stepped up, but the need for another man did not vanish.
The Swiss international seemed to be the perfect option with his experience and similar style of play. Xhaka established himself as ‘the choice’ for the position with Borrusia M’gladbach.
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He is strong, tall, and good in the air; capable of reading the game well, and can pick out passes to start counters.
He has had a decent season at the Emirates, averaging 2.5 tackles and 1.5 interceptions per game, with Kante, the best defensive midfielder in the Premier League last season, averaging just over 3 and 2.5 respectively.
The prescence of Xhaka has given the players the ability to attack more frequently and more freedom in the opposition’s half.
He also bags a goal now and then, and with the one against Manchester United he struck a chord with the fans.
1) Mesut Ozil – 42.50 Million Euros
The 27-year old joined The Gunnners from Real Madrid for a record-fee of £42.50m.
The German Assist machine needs no introduction. He established himself as the most creative midfielder at Real Madrid, with whom he won La Liga and was also named in the team of the year by Uefa.
The world-record transfer of Bale from Tottenham made way for Ozil to move to the Premier League.
He was signed to provide creativity up front, and has done just that. He assisted 19 goals during 2015-16 missing out on the record by just one, holds the record for the most consecutive games with assists (7 matches).
He broke the record for most chances a game-12 with the team taking a total of 36 shots. He has recently been criticised for lacklustre play, but the German is the kind of guy who gives you moments of brilliance which are enough to win the game.
When the team are in need of a goal, you look to Ozil. No wonder his faithful call him the “German Zidane”.
