ARSENAL was once known as the best-run club in the transfer market – ever since the late 1990s.
Remember when Arsene Wenger picked up the world-class Sol Campbell on a free from rivals Tottenham in 2001?
But the Gunners have been nothing short of a disaster over the past few years, a contrast to whatWASa well-run club.
It’s hardly a coincidence that ever since Stan Kroenke took full control of the North Londoners, it’s been all downhill.
And if you look over the last four years, it becomes clear where the problem lies with more than £200million thrown away.
Losing top stars on free transfers, selling too cheap and youngsters going for nothing, it’s been that bad.
Ever since the 2016-17 season, it’s been dreadful – and there’s nothing that Arsenal supporters are going to like…
2016-17
SERGE GNABRY
LEFT FOR: £5m to Werder Bremen
WORTH: £60m
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 23-year-old winger is now tearing it up at Bayern Munich and worth at least £60m, and possibly more.
2017-18
WOJCIECH SZCZESNY
LEFT FOR: £10m to Juventus
WORTH: £20m
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 price.
Now their No1 and a Serie A title winner, he’s worth double the amount he was sold for, and again, probably more.
ALEX OXLADE-CHAMBERLAIN
LEFT FOR: £35m to Liverpool
WORTH: £50m
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 andWengershould have got more.
Now a Champions League and Premier League winner, £35m looks good forLiverpool.
2018-19
JEFF REINE-ADELAIDE
LEFT FOR: £1.5m to Angers
WORTH: £20m
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 last year, and now he is worth a fortune.
SANTI CAZORLA
LEFT FOR: free to Villarreal
WOTH: £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 has a lot to give – even getting a recall to the Spain squad – and was worthy of another contract.
JACK WILSHERE
LEFT FOR: free to West Ham
WORTH: £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, atWest Hamand still struggling with fitness, it would only take one season of health to show Arsenal they were daft to let him walk for nothing.
2019-20
DANNY WELBECK
LEFT FOR: free, Watford
WORTH: £20m
He might not have fulfilled what they thought, but he scored some important goals for Arsenal.
The England striker joined Watford on a free transfer in August and – following the Hornets’ relegation – is already being tipped for a move back to the top-flight.
There’s no denying the ex-Manchester United forward is worth some cash and still has some years at the top left.
AARON RAMSEY
LEFT FOR: free to Juventus
WORTH: £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 Welshmanis worth at least, if not more than, £60m and it’s nothing short of embarrassing he left – even if his debut season in Italy wasn’t always easy…
