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#3 Robin Van Persie
Transfer Market 101: Do not sell your best players to direct rivals.
Unfortunately, Arsenal’s transfer business has hardly adhered to this rule and there is no better example than the departure of Robin van Persie.
The Dutchman had taken on the role of leading the attack from Arsenal legend Thierry Henry. He was at the peak of his career at Arsenal, especially during the 2011-12 season. With 30 goals through the course of the season, van Persie won the Golden Boot and the PFA Player of the Year.
But…
Arsenal let him go. The best player in the league moved to Manchester United for a mere fee of £22.5m. To rub salt into Arsenal’s wounds, RVP continued his exceptional goal-scoring form in the 2012-13 season.
The Dutchman scored 26 goals, won the Golden Boot for the second consecutive season and won the Premier League title in Alex Ferguson’s last season as a Manchester United manager.
Arsenal even had to give him a guard of honour when United played at the Emrites Stadium!
#2 Cesc Fàbregas
It didn’t take Cesc Fabregas long to settle in London after boldly deciding to leave La Masia. At the mere age of 16, Fabregas became a Gunner and Arsene Wenger had found a midfield maestro who painted London red for years to come.
Apart from his creativity and exceptional technical ability, Fabregas also had leadership qualities. So it came as no surprise when Wenger handed him the captain’s armband at just 21 years of age.
Fabregas and Arsenal seemed like a match made in heaven. But it all came crashing down for Arsenal as they could not stop Fabregas from going back to his boyhood club. Fabregas returned to Barcelona in 2011 and Arsenal’s midfield has never been the same ever since.
After leaving Barcelona, Fabregas joined Arsenal's cross-town rivals, Chelsea, in 2014 and went on to win two league titles with the Blues.
#1 Serge Gnarby
Arsenal have made quite a few mistakes in their transfer business but none hurt them more than letting Serge Gnarby leave.
The German joined the Arsenal Academy in 2011 and made his professional debut in 2012. He hardly spent any time on the field during his three years with the first team, making just 10 league appearances. Gnarby then spent a season on loan at West Brom Albion, where he was ‘not at the Premier League level’ according to Tony Pulis.
5 years later, Serge Gnarby is amongst first names on the team sheet at Bayern Munich. The winger scored 23 goals and provided 12 assists for the Bavarians in the 2019-20 season and played a crucial role in the team’s European Treble.
PS: He is only 25 years old right now!
