5 most profitable transfers in the history of Arsenal

#3 Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain is doing better at Liverpool

Arsenal's policy of investing in young players has more often than not benefited them. Signing Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain in 2011 from Southampton looked like one of those investments.

The transfer fee involved a fee of £12.42 million for the Gunners. With his incredible pace, fast foot-work and creativity, Oxlade-Chamberlain could have achieved big things but struggled with consistency and injuries. Over time, his game-time took a hit, which is when he decided to move away from London.

Liverpool were behind his signature and were successful in getting the Englishman in 2017 for a fee of £34.20 million. This helped Arsenal make a profit of £21.78 million on Oxlade-Chamberlain.

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#2 Robin Van Persie

Robin Van Persie went on to win the Premier League with Manchester United

The Dutchman is arguably one of the best forwards to have played for Arsenal and Arsene Wenger. Robin Van Persie was signed from Feyenoord for a fee of £4.05 million in 2004.

Under the guidance and management of Arsene Wenger, the Dutchman had grown into one of the best strikers in the Premier League. Using his sweet left-foot, amazing technique and wonderful positioning, Robin Van Persie was very difficult to contain in the box. In his eight seasons with the Gunners, he scored 96 goals in 194 league appearances.

Over time, winning silverware became tricky at Arsenal, which instigated Robin Van Persie to leave and join Manchester United in the summer of 2012. It was shocking given the rivalry between the two clubs but given the player's demands, it was unstoppable. The transfer fee involved was £27.63 million, resulting in a profit of £23.58 million for the London club.

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#1 Nicolas Anelka

Nicolas Anelka was wrong in leaving the Gunners for Real Madrid

Arsene Wenger had assembled some quality French players during his time at Arsenal. One of them was Nicolas Anelka, who was signed from Paris Saint-Germain in 1997 for a fee of £684k.

In his full two seasons with the club, the Frenchman had become one of the key players for the Gunners. With his close control of the ball, awareness and clinical finishing, Anelka was very productive in front of goal. He scored 23 goals in 65 league appearances at the time, winning the Premier League in the 1997-98 season.

He also won the PFA Young Player of the Year award the following season, after which he decided to join Real Madrid. Anelka signed for Los Blancos in 1999 for a transfer fee of £31.50 million, meaning the Gunners made a profit of £30.82 million from the young French striker.