How did the players Arsene Wenger bought for Arsenal perform this season?
Here’s our verdict…
Gervinho
The Ivorian started well, red card against Newcastle aside, and deserves credit for his excellent performance away to Udinese alone, which was crucial for Arsenal’s season. After returning from the African Nations Cup he struggled to recapture his form, and found himself on the fringes of the first team. This season was always likely to have an adaptation period for him, so he should be happy with his early contribution, but see plenty to improve on. Give him much-needed rest in the summer, and he will return a different player next season. 2012-13 will be big for him, and the season on which will define his Arsenal career after this mixed-bag. Grade: B
Mikel Arteta
The Spanish midfielder signed from Everton has been Arsenal’s best signing of the season. He has slotted seamlessly into the Fabregas void which opened up in midfield, and helped turn around Arsenal’s season. For his impact on the team, you simply need to look at how they threatened to fall apart late on in the season after he was injured. Not all supporters were convinced when he signed, but few are doubters now. Grade: A
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain
Arsenal’s most expensive signing of last summer has not disappointed. Arsene Wenger’s reluctance to use him has been no slight on his ability, more a willingness to protect him from his own hype and his young age. His performance at home to AC Milan was magnificent, as was his role in the demolition of Blackburn, and any player that leaves the fans wanting more is an undoubted success. Grade: A
Andre Santos
Brazilian Andre Santos like Gervinho still has some convincing to do at the Emirates. Despite that, his goal against West Brom on Sunday was a vital one, and without it third place would not have been achieved. His strengths are clearly going forward rather than defending, and he faces an intriguing battle to win the left back spot from Kieran Gibbs. He missed a large part of the season through injury, but we can’t mark him down for that misfortune. Grade: B
Per Mertesacker
The giant German was seen as an immediate solution to Arsenal’s defensive woes, but had a really mixed time of it, beginning with a torrid 4-3 defeat away to Blackburn. He had better moments, but with Vermaelen and Koscielny forming a solid partnership it is difficult to know where he fits into the first team. At one stage he was playing as a centre-back, forcing Vermaelen into the left-back position preventing their partnership from developing, and if the Gunners are serious about interest in Jan Vertonghen, his future remains in doubt, and he will be more of a squad player than a first choice, albeit a good one. Grade: C
Park Chu-Young
Poor Park Chu-Young, the Korean has not really had a chance, and even Marouane Chamakh has been preferred on the bench to him. He did score one goal in the Carling Cup, but beyond that he has been Arsenal’s invisible man. His fans back in Korea are desperate for him to move on, and the prospect of him gaining regular football with Arsenal seem remote. Grade: E
Have we been fair in our assessments? How would you grade Arsenal’s signings?
image: © wonker
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