A very simple challenge today: vote for the player you think has been our best ever new signing brought in during the January transfer window.
Most of us are used to feeling disappointed most years when January comes round and Arsene refuses to open his wallet.
But a quick glance back through our buying history shows that actually quite a lot of new arrivals have pitched up at the start of the New Year. From Andrey Arshavin to Nacho Monreal, from Theo Walcott to Gabriel, we have reinforced on a fairly consistent basis.
So which of those newbies (or returnees in some cases) turned out to be the best deal for the club.
Here are the main contenders for our best ever January signing:
Carlos Vela, 2006
Fast, skilful and – like most Wenger signings at the time – extremely short. Loved to score with chips from around the area but never fulfilled his potential at Arsenal.
Emmanuel Eboue, 2005
A bit of a divider – part clown, part looney, but sometimes a really good player. The fact he stayed with us for seven seasons must mean something…
Sol Campbell, 2010
Big Sol returned to help shore up our leaky defence during a difficult period. It was great to have the legend back, but he was clearly no longer the player he once was.
Abou Diaby, 2006
Probably the biggest ‘what might have been’ story in recent Arsenal history. Reckoned by the French under 21s staff to be the most gifted of a gifted generation, his Arsenal career was blighted by injury and eventually fizzled out.
Gabriel, 2015
Our most recent January purchase, Gabriel has shown a lot of promise including an outstanding performance against Bournemouth this week.
Andrey Arshavin, 2009
A gifted little Russian with, perhaps, too much of a fondness for doughnuts. But his four goals in one game away at Anfield will live long in the memory.
Nacho Monreal, 2013
The jury was out for quite a while on our Spanish left back, but in the last season and a half he has established himself as first choice in his position and one of the most consistent left backs in the Premier League.
Emmanuel Adebayor, 2006
Not my favourite player but for a couple of seasons he led the line pretty well for us, despite having a sixth sense that enabled him to always find himself offside in any phase of play.
Joe Antonio Reyes, 2004
A super talented winger, but always seemed homesick and is mostly remembered now for having the you-know-what kicked out of him by the Neville brothers at Old Trafford.
Theo Walcott, 2006
Theo arrived as a young man from Southampton and is now one of our longest serving players.
Thierry Henry, 2012
One of the greatest players ever to pull on the famous red shirt and white sleeves, Henry returned on loan from New York Red Bulls in 2012 and scored two memorable goals before heading back to the Big apple.
So, who was our best January signing…?
RockyLives
Arsenal News 24/7
arsenalarsenal.net 
Happy Happy New Year all.
We were having problems with the poll earlier so can you let us know if there’s still a problem for you.
Thanks 🙂
Oh Rocky this is really hard …………..
Ignore the Vela vote cos I did that while i was testing the poll. Although I always hoped he’d make it with us ……. what a face, loved him to bits, he and Nikki B had amazing telepathy when they were together in the Youth ranks but it never really materialised in the first team. Shame 😦
I’ve voted for Nacho cos he’s one of those AW finds that will become part of our history. Smashing player, great defender and loves to add to the attack with his nippy Barcelona feet.
It has to be said that putting faith in the 16 year old Theo was also worth a punt.
Maybe Gabriel too but we don’t really know yet.
Thanks Rocky for the post and Happy New Year to you.
RL. Thank you and a fine post to start the year.
I know it is stupid but I like to think of football as entertainment and without doubt the most entertaining player we have had over the last decade has been Emmanuel Eboue.
Remember the dives (sorry, simulation), the terrible start to his career, being booed of the pitch and then he flourished to become a fine full back. Always had a smile, always tried his best and, best of all, the man was a complete loonie.
wenger should buy. Dm,Fw and DF
Happy New Year ALL.
Nacho. Unsung hero the past year. Always puts in a shift. Made a huge difference to our defensive duties.
Good Motning all. Happy New Year again.
Thank you Rocky.
I voted Gabriel because I believe he will soon form a formidable first choice defensive pairing with Kos that will be the rock of Arsenal for years to come.
Interesting choice VCC
Like moi, you have chosen one yet to prove his long term Arsenal Superstar status.
I’m staggered the “returning Henry” signing is leading the poll at all, let alone by such a margin.
I reckon many of those that have voted for Henry haven’t actually read the post shhhhhhhhhh lol
Peaches
Well played. I was going to be marginally less polite, however, my conclusion would have been the same
Bless Rocky …… the hits are going through the roof 🙂 🙂 🙂
Sadly the poll doesn’t show how many votes have been cast but the post has received 2,300 views in it’s first hour!!!
Are the hits down exclusively to the title?
ie are the same thickos who vote Henry, misinterpreting the title to understand we have just signed our best ever jan transferee
Micky 🙂
In fairness to thickos everywhere, I’d do exactly the same thing if I read the words “Arsenal” and “£50M” together, and it would make little difference which other English (or other tongue) words fit in around them
Yes Micky I think you’ve cracked it ………….
Post title = lots of hits
Available misinterpretation = even more hits
Double whammy there from Rocky
Didit 🙂 I’ve yet to see a poor display from Nacho since he made the Left back position his own.
IMO, he is among the top Left backs in the EPL. I wouldn’t swap him for any other.
peaches 😉 Rocky is an absolute star. Best in the blogosphere.
You’re all about the money micky 😉
How much would you like AW to spend in this window if it’s gonna win us the title?
Hi VCC – Happy New Year to you and yours – agree totally with you about Nacho.
Also agree with Micky that Gabriel could be the man too.
Phew, there’s a question Peaches
Looks like we’re about to sign the Egyptian fellow, and I read a shockingly low figure mentioned of £7M, which naturally, is horribly depressing
Obviously the sky’s the limit for a striker, so hope remains 🙂
€7m?? We have been out shopping at Lidl again
I’m whispering this …….. what if we don’t sign a striker and still win the title?
I’ve been watching Carlos Vela videos, I’m a sad woman I know, he was sooooo good. Those great goals where he just chips the keeper hahahahaha – I wish Theo did that more.
HNY to you too peaches XXX
Owing to our appalling injury crisis, I would like to see more rotation between Mert/Kos/Gab.
Gabriel surely can’t be voted high in the list as his playing time has been minimal, but, like you, I feel he is going to be a star in the future. Just improve on his decision making and he will be a star I’m sure.
Lovely feeling waking up on New Years day being TOTL.
I’m confident that Wenger is going to buy in this window. First time I have had this view for many years.
He surely see’s the need to strengthen and make a positive push this season, while the others dither a little.
Just don’t want him to sign mediocre players…….I want TOP quality, even if it means all the pennies on one player.
How amazing would it be to have a Pogba in our midfield???????? Dreams or reality????? Second best Christmas present ever.
Morning chas and Raddy 🙂
Flippin superb, Rocky, ta.
I read the comments first and was persuaded that voting Nacho was the way to go.
Gabriel’s time will surely come.
Shopping at Lidl works out beautifully sometimes. 🙂
Aaaah yes Pogba would be good, if he wanted to come we could pay a lot of money for him 🙂
Baa 🙂
A Happy new Year to all of you.
I am confused as surely not all the players in the poll were bought in January, anyway Sol on a free was a very shrewd move but possibly not the best.Then you have the new boys like Monreal and Gabriel who have the potential to be great gunners,but IMO they need a good few seasons of consistant play.
Morning kelsey and Happy New Year to you, I hope 2016 treats you better that 2015 did xx
Hi Kelsey. You wise old owl. 🙂 The voice of Wisdom.
You know my opinion on Defenders. First priority Clean sheet, anything else a bonus and Nacho knows how to defend.
Walcott came a close second for me, but he needs to grow a pair first, and hug the touchline more and use his pace to rinse the oppositions FB’s.
kelsey
Are you doubting Rocky’s research?
How very dare you. 🙂
Obviously Sol and Thierry were re-signings in January but all the rest were signed halfway through the season for the first time.
Agree about Walcott – how could he be best signing when he’s still to prove himself? He’s too flaky even for GoonerB. But getting better.
Just coming into his prime at 26.
Theo, Theo, Theo.
My favourite game of this season so far.
What a day of great beauty it was. 🙂
Don’t be like that, kelsey, I was only kidding. 🙂
No worries chas.
Walcott needs time,he’s only been with us for 10 or 11 years lol 😉
I had this great video of AW spending but it didn’t come out,hence the blank comment.
Not this one, k?
Who are these heretics who didn’t vote for Thierry? I don’t care what the question is: if Thierry Henry is one of the options then that is the correct answer!
All right, joking aside, it’s probably Monreal. Mr Consistent. Possibly if you ask me again in 5 years it’ll be Gabriel, if he turns out to be as good as I think he will.
But still, will we ever get a buzz like we did when we saw Thierry pulling on the shirt again? That was just magical.
Happy New Year everyone 🙂
Two Rocky posts in a week – fabulous!
I voted for Nacho, neither Sol or TH14 came back as the players they had been.
I never liked the Henry resigning because it meant we had no space for a more long term solution in that window.
But in recent years the Monreal signing is probably best, bought because we had no left back cover and many thought that was all he was good for. I seem to think Santos was still around when he joined but may be wrong?
I have come to love Nacho a great deal. The guy has really worked hard to silence his hordes of critics who felt he was a wastebasket of space when he initially arrived. He is no of the best players in the team now and despite Gibbs being a good player too I wish he would play every game.
Guy took his pudie tat to the Vet.
What’s the problem, said the vet. I dunno said the guy, but he is sick with somethin’.
The vet carefully examined the cat and said, I am sorry but he has curiosity……
This New Year’s Eve, when you’re out celebrating, enjoying a drink and having fun, just take a minute to spare a thought about the less fortunate then yourselves.
People with no past, no present, and no future. People who won’t be looking forward to the new year, as they simply have nothing to look forward to.
Just spare a thought for a Chelsea fan …
Thank You 😉
Kelsey^^^^^^^^^^^^^ LMAO
Happy New Year all…
Shameless hit-generator of a headline I’m afraid but I thought it would be fun to consider who our best January arrival has been as we await whatever is coming this January.
I thought I would be unusual in voting for Nacho, but it seems that’s the way most people on here are thinking.
My second choice would be Theo.
Thierry’s January return was more of an emotional high than anything else – a great moment, but really of lasting significance.
kelsey
Ant wanted to let you know that they’re not singing the Joe Hart advert at the darts but the Toure bothers song. 🙂
(as they have been for a few years now)
Love the Toure chant.
What are the words to the Koscielny one from earlier?
Hi Rocky, the words to the Koscielny chant are
Ain’t nobody like Koscielny
Makes me happy, makes me feel this way
Ain’t nobody like Koscielny …….. and repeat
Thanks again for the post.
Thanks Peaches 🙂
Henry is undeniably the best signing.
But i voted Walcott as I reckon him as the next henry of arsenal.😉
Hooray, back to normal
And a 3pm KO as well, which incidentally, are very bad for the armchair fan, as we’re sacrificing almost two hours of daylight
Gorgeous
I thoroughly enjoyed the surf vid yesterday, and boy are we looking forward to a change in bloody wind systems, but nothing beats a slider or boxer
Crystals
Fabulous transfer news. Here goes, and the list grows 🙂
Lorenzo Nippy Napoli winger sort
Rabiot French (but not his fault) DM’er
Samper Barca 20yr DM and I read we are about to “snare” him 🙂
The Egyptian
And if there’s anything you don’t understand, we can go over it again later 🙂
That’s not a cat, it was NB getting downstairs yesterday
What the hell is going on.
A bouncer IS good, but nevertheless, canines remain inferior
Didn’t you ask for a sliding boxer?
No. I did not
THAT is a boxer above, and a superb one it is too
Morning All,
chas started off with some fine vids then sadly went down the cat route. Still,l I should be grateful for the sliding NB 🙂
I saw Rabiot play when PSG came to Malmo. He scored. Can’t remember much else about him except he is lanky, got lots of hair and runs about a lot
Lanky’s good, BR. Over 6’3″ preferably.
No more ball playing midgets, ta.
More runners around alot, please.
“he is lanky, got lots of hair and runs about a lot”
That is what I call very serious footballspeak punditry
And some people think football is complicated
Someone like Matic before he turned shite ✓
OOPS, just realised I haven’t written the PM. Silly Raddy
Diaby?
LB
Who?
Apologies LB
My comment was neither funny nor clever
HNY to you as well
Damn it, none of the plant hire shops are open, and I want some heavy machinery to play with
Dangerous stuff that require safety things and bits of paper you have to sign
Boooo 😦
What about Jewson’s in Bideford?
Is that Kelsey 3rd from right, front row?
Ha ha Chas
I’ve been letting that Jewsons number ring and ring
Got one, and it’s called a demolition drill
Check shirts and hard hats on 🙂
BR
The one without the ‘tache?
Quite probably.
Lots of stat stuff to give 40 year old virgins a semi !
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-3381332/Arsene-Wenger-managed-265-games-Highbury-265-Emirates-current-Arsenal-team-playing-stylishly-win-title-way.html?ITO=1490&ns_mchannel=rss&ns_campaign=1490
Just looked at the last stat and the dirty bastard Spuds must surely be nearing a few bans !…….that is a stat to provoke a semi I think !.
Morning all
Indeed the Toure Bros song but in parts sounds like the shampoo advert.Funny how these things catch on in a darts crowd.
Unfortunately I am not in that picture and to be absolutely honest could you really ever imagine me as a copper.
So as I predicted after taking the loose change out of his pocket for the Egyptian Mummy he will pull the Rabiot out of the hat and let Giroud develop into the hottest property in football.
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