Top 25 Arsenal Signings Since 2006!

[@JamesLawrenceAllcott]

Alex’s spreadsheet 👉 docs.google.com/file/d/13eItqMJk1E8zSvzLKMOGwdGiMJSe3_wR/edit?usp=docslist_api&filetype=msexcel

[@memesforyouOG]

@JamesLawrenceAllcott, Loved the vid James pleaseeeeee can you do Man Utd? Since maybe 2008 or sur Alex leaving? Don’t rlly care just would love to see! Thanks keep up the good work guys!!!!

[@vaffangool9196]

*Why can't I sort* by column?

[@jamespace5429]

The discourse about Odegaard as a "leader" has always done my head in. He is very, VERY vocal, he upholds the standard, knows every tactical detail and communicates it, constantly telling players where to be, leading and orchestrating the press. People just have this idea that he isn't a "traditional" leader because he's a blonde boyish-looking Norwegian. People will say Rice is more of a leader, (and I rate Rice as a leader) because he's bigger and English. It's purely an argument of aesthetics, I struggle to believe people are still so easily duped by looks.

[@10spots18]

I absolutely agree, he's shouting all at all times on the pitch and directing everything, getting the crowd going too, he's absolutely a leader

[@archielilley3882]

YES!!!

[@garycod4-n1g]

Couldn’t agree more, hate this thought that Rice will replace Odegaard as captain soon enough. Not gonna happen, just watch how Odegaard commands the press every game

[@kiranpandiyan159]

he doesn't get into fights or arguments that's why people tell he is not a leader but when you have others like Rice or Jesus to argue and complain he can think of tactics and improve the team.

[@yousefbhacker8160]

But people really do get duped by looks. That's the sad truth, especially in England. Odegaard leads by example in the way he acts as well as his performance and efforts on the pitch.

[@jacobbrabo63]

I can't believe no one has mentioned him, but how tf is Ben White not on this list? The guy has been so good since he signed. Is it the price we paid for him? I'd sure as hell rate him over Rob Holding or Mo Elneny...

[@Tix298]

Agreed. Actually didn't know TDK has bad takes like that. Elneny and Rob holding are nice guys and good 3rd choice players, ben white has been a regular first 11 player and a huge part of our success and he is not on the list lol

[@lakersouthpaw]

He's valuing price:performance ratio basically. Not that I completely agree with him, but Elneny and Holding were cheap players who played for us for years and have been very popular players in the dressing room. Also accepting of their roles and always prepared to step in, even though they weren't the best players. I see the argument, although I think they are more deserving of a "honorable mention" type of recognition.

[@troy8420]

Yeah, replace Elneny with White and Holding with Partey.

[@TheBurdenOfHope]

“Price adjusted for inflation (BoE 2023)” is the new Field Tilt

[@rushnafwadud]

There’s a “central running power” in the middle somewhere.

[@TheBurdenOfHope]

@@rushnafwadud 😘

[@tensei7700]

⁠@@rushnafwadud😂😂😂

[@AnarXhyyy7]

Amazing that Alex is on here, he's such a knowledgeable creator

[@HeadiestOne]

I don’t think it’s the first time, you should check out the ripple effect if you haven’t!

[@keiranohare6302]

Completely disagree

[@MrDonovan124]

All complaints aside, Gabriel pick was dynamite he's superb and incredibly underrated - glad to see him this high

[@TheBurdenOfHope]

Big up Alex. Love his content. This is a noice little collab. The vibes are strong

[@AleNuexGamer]

So glad Alex is getting exposure, been subbed to tdk for a while when he had a couple thousands subs, great channep

[@charleyhogan6575]

Not an Arsenal or a Liverpool fan but really love listening and watching these 'best signing' videos. 1 suggestion I would have though would be to be putting up a still of the player being talked about when they are mentioned. With some of the player being talked about I found I had to look them up when they were being mentioned so I could remember what they looked like. Would love to see more of these videos for clubs in the prem

[@emmamcleod432]

Imagine Santi and Rosicky as free 8s in todays game... *drools*

[@la1ex01]

What people forget is when wenger went to a back 3 of Monreal, holding, koscielny holding was often made captain and in the fa cup final in 2017 he was told to man mark diego Costa and he pocketed him ok if I'm not mistaken he picked up a yellow and relied on fouling him a few times but he was arguably one of the most vital players in that game and so for 3m for a CB who was 3rd/4th choice for 5+ years and captain for a handful of games aswel as bullying a striker at the top of his game in an fa cup final he was a brilliant and underrated signing. Having said that 19 is too high somewhere between 25-30 would've been fine and as far as elneny goes I like his attitude and he's done a good job for us but shouldnt be on this list at all

[@thomasmartyn65]

1:17:17 108 goals and assists per minute is CRAZY!! 😉😂

[@snaggiz]

Messi ain’t got nothing on Sanchez in a 8 minute cameo 🤣

[@keiranohare6302]

The top 25 should’ve been 25. Rice - high potential but too little time 24 nasri - brilliant player on his day. Snake status lowered his position 23 arteta - did his job 9 games out of 10. Not a world beater but solid. 22 podolski- brilliant on his day. Injury prone 21 lacazette- decent player , wasn’t worth the fee paid though 20 - Leno - solid keeper 19 tierney- solid full back. Doesn’t suit mikels way. 18 tomiyasu another solid value for money full back 17 Gabriel jesus- brilliant player , injury prone so yet to see his brilliance consistently 16 Ramsdale - probs the best keeper of the emirates era. 15 giroud- decent striker for the restricted budget we had. Near impossible rvp replacement 14 monreal- solid defender. 13 Ben white - another brilliant defender, high price point tho 12 gabriel- solid. High ceiling 11 odegaard- brilliant creator 10 martinelli- expectional value for money 09 sagna- mr consistent 08 partey- world class midfielder but so injury prone 07 saliba- world class defender 06 ozil- world class player, lack of effort and illness excuses drops him down 05 - koscielny- best defender of the emirates era 04 cazorla fans favourite unreal player was wasted at a double pivot 03auba- goals goals goals what a player single handily won us an fa cup… best striker of the emirates era 02 Ramsey consistently good, always came up and scored vital goals in finals.most consistent player of the emirates era 01 - alexis ( best player since we’ve been at the stadium bar fabregas )

[@Bullybellator]

Mate, where's Rosicky and Arshavin??? lol

[@bkc6873]

Great list. I'd sneak Zinchenko over Tierney though

[@keiranohare6302]

@@Bullybellator rosicky great player but too injury prone. He was injured for over 1000 days with us. So I couldn’t include him. Arshavin ? He was good for about 5 games mate….

[@keiranohare6302]

@@bkc6873 I’m not the biggest Zinchenko fan. Once Tomiyasu and Timber return he’ll be benched

[@Bullybellator]

@@keiranohare6302 Rosicky loved partying and cocaine. It's the excuse arsenal made to cover it up

[@plm6523]

Zinchenko has made mistakes that have led to goals, but most of those games we didnt look good to begin with. So many games when we have struggled Zinchenko has been the one that genuinely tried. Remember all to well the end of last season. Everyone just looked out of their depths except Zinchenko, he was the only one who looked like he gave a damn. Everytime he got the ball he tried to initiate an attack, but nobody helped him out. Those were tough games to watch. He is much more important than most people realize, even though he does make mistakes.

[@makogearsolid8002]

It’s funny because whenever Zinchenko is out people are begging for him to come back and ask where the ball movement is, definitely a catch 22

[@lakersouthpaw]

On that conversation about how the best players don't always make the best managers. Another example is Magic Johnson (legendary basketball player) tried his hand at coaching in the NBA and he even admitted that his problem was he would expect other players to see the game and be able to do things on a level that just came naturally to Magic, but weren't really things that you could coach into people. So basically he wasn't used to working with players with such limitations. Of course he said it more diplomatically than that, but same idea.

[@MrBurnsy100]

The best content as always - thanks Jim!

[@Wayne_Jenkins]

Elneny and holding getting talked about on a top 25 emirates era signing list when they were both barely in the 25 man squads every year at Arsenal, Alex as usual doing everything to be different

[@thomasgrant8074]

Nah he's taken everything into account. Longevity, transfer cost and general performances. Plus he said multiple times it's a subjective list 😅

[@paul3092]

@@thomasgrant8074 Doesn't matter if they have been there for years though, they each have had like 1 good game a season at arsenal. I give them respect for what they have done for use but they aren't top signings.

[@davidmccann3695]

@@thomasgrant8074they were/are absolutely crap at football and we have been at our worse for 25 years when they’ve been in the team and no one’s ever wanted to buy them but sure

[@gomeze8230]

@@paul3092Elneny in Arteta’s first couple of seasons trying to settle in was so valuable. We would have done so much worse without him.

[@Clubzno11]

The craziest thing about the Holding one was saying it wasn't his fault he was "put in that position". What position? Literally just on the pitch? How can you buy a player who you believe should not be on the pitch and call it a good transfer lol

[@Bobertron199494]

Alexis Sanchez was the best player at the club for every second that he spent there. Clear best signing imo

[@laurencemckenna]

I really emi-rate Alex’s choices!

[@BigTurki14]

Elneney and Holding clearly mines to get the comments going - well done lads it worked!

[@ZZZ77-]

Aubameyang has to be top 10 we would have finished 15th in 19/20 without him

[@keiranohare6302]

Has to be top 5 minimum? He’s the best striker of the emirates stadium

[@RsDv5]

@@keiranohare6302hard to put him ahead of RVP

[@davkarimz]

@@keiranohare6302Titi played in the Emirates

[@keiranohare6302]

@@davkarimz he did but he wasn’t signed before during us playing there. Which is why he’s not included. And why adebayor isn’t either

[@therealclp]

We wouldn’t have been playing with 10 men, goals could have come from elsewhere or tactics adjusted, you never know. He was obviously quite important tho

[@MrDonovan124]

There's thinking outside the box and then there's LUNACY. Rob Holding at 19th ?????? Could count the amount of good games he had on one hand (granted one of them was an FA cup final) but no no no no no chance

[@aka_jr]

I think that stint with him in the title race just can't be levelled at him - he's been super good in periods over the Arteta period, struck up a great partnership with Mari and Gabriel and yes he's not on the level of Saliba or White, but he shouldn't have played in the run-in and had Tomi not got injured then he may well have left for Palace with a Prem medal.

[@benham3124]

He actually had two very good FA cup final winning performances. Still shouldn't be on the list though

[@stuartlane413]

Loved the shout out of The Rewatchables James, definitely ny favourite film podcast 👌🏻

[@brbrow4]

The Willian “3 year” quote from Arteta is legendary

[@MrCrockaG]

Overall, I agree with the choices they made and each of the explanations, but I agree with the other comments about Ben White. I don't know if he was simply forgotten or something, but he absolutely deserves a spot in this list.

[@philamakhanya4908]

great video, I'd like to see James do 2 all star squads on stream for this seasson, North v South and you're only allowed to use 4 players per team and mininum 2 gk's , it would be interesting to see how both 23 man squads would like

[@oward8389]

Great content as always. The Liverpool one with Paul was great too. Would love to see this style of video for all the big clubs

[@philipcrewdson6245]

Santi for me is number 1 player to watch

[@gooner72]

I totally agree about Arteta, he may appear quite steely and hardy but you can clearly see that he's an emotional bloke....... I love him as our manager, I'm confident that he will win us a decent trophy pretty soon.

[@Wayne_Jenkins]

Rob holding was hardly performing at a top 4 level if we didn’t finish in the top 4 whilst he was at the club until his final year, he was the 4th/5th choice centre back throughout his time at the club and when he played we were infinitely worse

[@NaturalBornChilla666]

As a 1. FC Köln Fan I am so happy to see that Podolski made the list

[@joetucker971]

"name me another player for 16m who can play rb, rcb, lcb, lb" Joel veltman - mainstay in our team, all accross the backline, can play at wingback too, 900K.

[@jcameronferguson]

I saw Gabriel Martinelli's first appearance in an Arsenal shirt on any pitch, it was a friendly in Colorado against MLS Colorado Rapids, in July 2019. He played on the right and was introduced with the stars - Auba, Laca, Ozil - in the second half. This 17-year old kid scored a belter as we were on our way into the stadium. I wonder whatever became of that Bukayo something or other?

[@_MFender]

Great video guys well done!

[@RsDv5]

The list in this order, if we’re counting couple players who were there before emirates but played majority of their Arsenal career there, is Sanchez, Fabregas, RVP, Cazorla, Ozil, Aubameyang, Nasri, Rosicky.

[@miniman2132]

Xhaka being 24 is fairly criminal. He didn’t just have a good last year at Arsenal. He had a good last 3 seasons at Arsenal.

[@keiranohare6302]

Nope

[@MrMeh23]

A friend once asked me how good Giroud was. I just referenced the Wilshere goal against Norwich. People genuinely forget that there were two people who created that moment.

[@Thwze]

Holding was a great shout, had a good career at the club

[@thomasgrant8074]

Half way through the video and the *only* name that can be number one is *surely* Sanchez. Never mind how he left the club and his drop off after Arsenal. Was the best player in the league for them.

[@ChefChucky720]

I don't think Zinchenko ruined Tierney's career, I think his injuries ruined his career... He has every ability to play like White does on the left, would have forced us to invert from that side as well, but that shower injury as we competed for top 4 confirmed to Mikel that we can't rely on him.

[@gomeze8230]

James is so wrong on Elneny. There are seasons when Elneny has been so key to us not conceding and he has been very obviously one of the most important people in the dressing room since his big injury

[@kristian2497]

As a Fulham fan. Leno is easily in the top three goalkeepers we've had(at least in the PL). Alongside EvdS and Areola. Amazing keeper. Great bargain ❤️

[@MasterPig11]

This was such a good video. I am surprised to not see Walcott on this list, but i am not sure if he counts as pre emirates. Both happened in 2006.

[@Jimbobiscuit]

Walcott signed in 05-06 and Emirates opened for the 06-07 season. Although Theo didn't actually play until 06-07 so 🤷

[@JackoJ15]

More exposure for sensible and coherent Arsenal fans like this, please. The DeArsenalfanTVfication of the club I love's fanbase is of big personal interest to me.

[@MrDonovan124]

James was right about Tierney and Zinchenko, also Dat Guy Welbz has to be in there

[@RandyTandy15]

you either die a hero or live long enough to see yourself Joe Hart-ed

[@Ssweis23]

Orny and Fabrizio are truly the Ronaldo and Messi of the transfer reporting game

[@Jimbobiscuit]

Amazing vids these. A Manchester United signings since Fergie would be a good one, if not incredibly depressing.

[@garethley66]

Santi Carzola lovely footballer, sadly injury ended his time with us.

[@LiamGervaise]

Loving these ranking signings

[@fazzyth14]

Leno, Sagna, Koscielny (but eventually Saliba), Gabriel, Monreal, Song, Fabregas, Santi, Saka, RVP, Alexis would be my emrites 11

[@dylanz4928]

Not sure if Saka really counts as a signing, while Fabregas was signed before the move to the Emirates. If we want to be pedantic, Song was signed on loan a year before the Emirates, before signing on permanently roughly a month before the official move to the stadium.

[@aka_jr]

Rice over Song, Ramsdale over Leno and that XI wins the league at a canter

[@maxderdax6117]

That Jacket looks great on you James! What brand is it?

[@lakersouthpaw]

1:17:17 108 goals and assists PER MINUTE! Alexis Sanchez GOAT.

[@mrGriffin1985]

Tried to watch but it was interrupting the adverts

[@DB-uf6md]

That hair+ chain combo is class🎉

[@ahkwaheart]

crappiest combo

[@DB-uf6md]

​@@ahkwaheart Best.

[@DJJ616]

Anyone got the time stamp for when they spoke about auba ?

[@MrDonovan124]

Nacho at 14 is criminal - top 10 easily

[@shozltn2376]

Arsenal content lets goooooo

[@nahelj]

Where’s the full list?

[@nahelj]

TLDW

[@alfiegodsal2830]

Rob holding and mertesakers performance against Chelsea in the FA cup final was prime Maldini Nesta esq

[@bennybenny55]

Rice is a better signing not because of how much he was but because "we" signed him. Arsenal hardly ever get that guy the guy that is so good its obvious he is gonna do bits, but we did so he deserves to be higher on the list purely because of that.

[@dagmawibekele4147]

What about Ramsey laurent and Walcott

[@dylanz4928]

Walcott signed roughly 6 months before the move to the Emirates

[@JRM_Prodz]

Arsenal fan here and I’m sorry but this list is atrocious. Completely understand that everything is subjective but to think that by any metric that elneny and holding are better signings than Partey, Xhaka, Rice and are in the same conversation as Ozil and Rosicky is laughable. Not to mention Aubameyang outside the top 10, Alexis not being top 3 and RAMSEY being 1. Some absolute howlers

[@lacey7025]

What is this guy on, he hasn’t picked Partey, put rice at 23rd, rob holding at 19th and elneny above all mentioned above, took

[@connoroleary4761]

Classic overthought list wtf. Why are you putting elneny and rob holding on a list like this?

[@trttrtson4463]

Xhaka is one of the best players we've ever had. Mentality, skills, leader. For sure one of our best ever players. Not his fault he was played outside position and let's be honest... Look at the players he had around himself for the most part. Horrbile squad, what can he do?

[@johncole4021]

I remember when Emery first joined arsenal, I thought torriera and guendouzi was going to be our future for a double pivot but Emery couldn't handle guendouzi attitude if we had a coach that could he couldn't been a prem quality midfielder (sorry for the bad speeling)

[@Dannyvan14]

I freaking LOVED Aaron Ramsey!

[@ACE360x]

Finally Gabriel praise...the guys immense. He has to make up space for zinny and has still looked class. Honestly been better than Saliba since December

[@Goodibro]

If you're going to argue Elneny, Rob Holding were good value then you have to acknowledge players like Nasri despite how it ended, because the facts are he was an insanely gifted player that played at a high level for us on reasonable wages. Plus we made around 10million profit on him in transfer fees. Sure you can argue it wasn't the best outcome, but those are the objective facts. I don't see how Elneny comes near this list when nothing impactful came off him, neither good or bad and was/is clearly not up to Arsenal level. There's far more to argue for Holding though than Elneny because he actually delivered some impactful performances, like the FA cup final battling Diego Costa in his prime and coming out on top to lift the trophy. Still neither were Arsenal level at the end of the day so I'm having a hardtime believing anyone would put these two in any Arsenal related list, yet here we are. Both seem like great dudes though and I wish them the best

[@123kaired]

arteta wants both fullbacks to be able to defend and invert so he can switch ingame depending on where the ball is. This hugely limits the options we can buy and will make us unpredictable. Arteta will be considered in the goat managers by the time his career is over. Also, martinelli won't be a starter soon. I can promise you that

[@TomRudd-m4j]

Was koscielny not on the list?

[@croissantpower]

Couldn’t take it seriously when I saw Elneny 😂😂

[@laurencevanryne8996]

In fairness to willian, he decided to cut his wages he wouldve earned beyond his contract termination. Saved the club a lot of money!

[@vaffangool9196]

*Does anyone understand* the ranking criteria here?

[@TomRudd-m4j]

Was koscelny not on the list?

[@isaacnewton3514]

I agree Ramsey should be number 1 but Martinelli at No 2? I understand he was cheap but has he made a bigger impact than Sanchez?

[@willcrompton9830]

akanji on tomiyasu all positions take- has played them all

[@jonjup8600]

Terrible ranking. Good on Jim for questioning his placements and then watch him grasp for excuses when he clearly messed up lol

[@Thwze]

Football podcasts can normally wind people up but this was a genuinely outstanding episode, all spot on opinions and even if you don’t agree they managed to justify them logically and make you understand

[@nozzaboy316kid]

You missed Song

[@paul3092]

I feel like the cheapness of some players is extremely overrated in this list, Holding and Elneny that high? Yeah they was good servants but were never top 20 signing for us.

[@RiceAndRun]

Respect for the partay omission. You are correct when you said “Arsenal fans don’t want to go near it” 😂, I appreciate where he’s taken us, and I appreciate his quality; but his injuries and moments of complete absence of brain-power at points; is just a lost cause. For £45m, and always injured at crucial points in the season; I’d have someone you could rely on all the time; and there’s not such a gulf in the team’s performance when they’re gone

[@Poet1397]

He's not talking about injuries. It's about the rape allegations

[@djdjdijon]

Oxlande was also a terrible deal with Southampton it literally cost us money to play him for more than 70 minutes

[@mariodemetriou918]

Is this the top 25 signings list or the top 25 bargains list? Rice should definitly be ion the top 5 top signings list. if we signed Mbappe tomorrow would it not be in the top signings?

[@jcameronferguson]

Since rating Gabriel Magalhães as "slightly less good" in the air as John Terry, he's only gone and scored two more with his noggin

[@ironiron-nf3oc]

Granit xhaka was never injured the games that he not played was because a red card. Maybe the position that he never played as good as last year

[@deludedgooner]

BIG UP THE MANDEM

[@swantwitter4000]

Surely Ozil is the number 1 signing, he literally launched us into winning the FA Cups and we should have won the league title in 16/17 with him.

[@hashemshourbagy6]

Alexis Sanchez has to be number 1. I don't care how he left us, but we have never had a player like him in the Emirates era.

[@makogearsolid8002]

He was actually magical to watch, he was definitely the best PL winger/striker for those 2-3 years, I don’t ever think there will be a singular player who can carry a team as hard as he did

[@DigitalNomadOnFIRE]

It's "paying Homage" and "an omage"

[@minichileno]

It’s a genuine shame that you put Sanchez at 4th. Should be number 1 - peak Sanchez was unbeatable. Even Sanchez playing poor for Arsenal would still score more than peak Martinelli.

[@ripstainmcripstain905]

Thanks

[@LaurenceWAFC]

Putting Elneny and Rob holding on the list...

[@flembob6510]

lacca ???

[@DigitalNomadOnFIRE]

Holding and Elneny are ridiculous calls...

[@arsenalcrazy8]

Definitely not Xhaka. There were many other options for his price at the time that would have been better signings. Loved him his last season, and love his redemption story, but no, not Xhaka.

[@dylanpurcell123]

Am I missing something or was Henry not in top three?

[@jack36afc18]

Your mate is way too focused on price of signings. Elneny and Holding being where they are is insane

[@benroden1944]

Mertesacker ❤