Let’s take a look at Arsenal’s six transfer targets last summer to see how they perform in the 2022-23 season.
Lisandro Martinez
“Arsenal came earlier to get Lisandro, but we said: Thank you very much for the offer, but Ajax would rather keep the player than start negotiations’,” Edwin van der Sar reveɑled in an interview. with The Athletic.
Then Martinez reunited with Erik ten Hag at Old Trafford, after being signed for a fee of £57m. Many pundits questioned the Argentine’s diminutive physique, and he soon silenced critics. Martinez enjoyed a fantastic debut season in the Premier League. He even scored his first goal for the club at the Emirates as Arsenal won a memorable 3-2 win over the Red Devils.
Ultimately, the Gunners did not add a new centre-back in the summer of 2022, but it was right to call back William Saliba.
Raphinha
“Deco always told me that Raphinha just wanted Barcelona,” Arsenal sporting director Edu told Sky Sports after the Brazilian winger joined the La Liga giants.
Raphinha was not so great in a Barcelona shirt, and received some criticism for his decision-making in the third half of the field. Anyway, the former Leeds star still left a mark with 7 goals and 7 assists, helping Xavi’s army win the first La Liga championship in 4 years.
Youri Tielemans
There is a feeling that if Arsenal really wanted Tielemans, they could have signed him last summer. Twelve months on, the 26-year-old failed to put in his best performance, while Leicester endured a disɑstrous campaign and ended up relegation.
Tielemans has now joined Aston Villa as a free agent.
Cody Gakpo
Like Man United, Arsenal have put Gakpo in their sights. But the Dutch star stayed at PSV until the winter, shining at the World Cup and quickly moving to Liverpool.
At the end of the 2022-23 season, Gakpo proves himself to be a quality addition to Jurgen Klopp’s squad.
Leroy Sane
Sky Germany reports that Arsenal were interested in Sane before their attention turned to Raphinha, and then to Mykhailo Mudryk. In the end, they recruited Leandro Trossard as a mid-season addition.
Sane has scored a total of 8 goals and 7 assists in the Bundesliga last season, making a great contribution to Bayern Munich’s coronation, but it is clear that he has not yet reached the heights expected by the Gray Lobster.
Gianluca Scamacca
Arsenal were repeatedly linked with the Italian striker last summer. Sky Sports even reported in July 2022 that the Gunners had been rejected by Sassuolo with a £34m offer.
In the end, West Ham signed Scamacca for a fee of £35.5 million and Arsenal signed Gabriel Jesus from Manchester City. That’s not too bad for Arsenal. The Azzurri forward has only scored three times for David Moyes’ The Hammers and is tipped to return to Serie A on loan.