Arsenal could choose to sign free agents this summer but the Gunners have had a mixed success rate over the years
Arsenal have previously turned to the free agent market to help strengthen their squad. Mikel Arteta’s side enters the summer in a position of strength, but that does not mean the Gunners should shy away from potentially savvy deals.
The start of July saw eight Arsenal players officially leave the club at the end of their contracts. However, several high-profile stars are also looking for their next club.
The free agent list currently includes Liverpool legend Mohamed Salah, former Juventus striker Dusan Vlahovic and England centre-back John Stones. While the likelihood of any of the aforementioned names joining the Gunners may vary, it highlights the calibre of player that can be snapped up for free, rather than stumping up hefty transfer fees.
It is an approach that Arsenal have had mixed success with over the years. Here’s a look back at three former stars who joined the Gunners on a free transfer
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Marouane Chamakh
Signing Marouane Chamakh for free looked to be a shrewd move by Arsene Wenger in 2010. The Moroccan striker had scored 30 goals across his last two seasons at Bordeaux and was primed for a step up to the Premier League.
He made an ideal start to life in an Arsenal shirt, scoring in two of his first four league starts, as well as scoring in three consecutive Champions League games. There was hope that the Gunners had pulled off a coup, with the forward still adapting to English football.
His fortunes began to fade that winter as Chamkah lost his place in the side, leading him to end the campaign with 11 goals. An encouraging start with room for improvement, but he was never able to recapture that early promise of his first season. After 18 months as a bit-part player, the former Bordeaux star was loaned to West Ham before later sealing a permanent move to Crystal Palace in 2013.
Willian
Few could have predicted how badly Willian’s time with Arsenal would go when he arrived from Chelsea in 2020. The Gunners had snapped up the Brazilian after his best league season at Stamford Bridge, firing in nine and seven assists in 36 games.
It was thought that Willian would bring a winning mentality to Mikel Arteta’s side. The initial signs were positive as the winger clocked up two assists against Fulham on his debut. However, that proved to be a rare highlight for the former Chelsea star, who opted to join Corinthians after a solitary season at the Emirates Stadium.
“I wasn’t happy [at Arsenal], I wasn’t happy. That’s why I didn’t perform. I don’t want to go into the details,” Willian reflected on Rio Ferdinand’s YouTube channel.
“When I arrived there I was happy, from the beginning I was motivated, I wanted to do well – new club, new mates, new project. But after three months, I said to my agent: ‘Please, I want to go.’”
Jens Lehmann
In the same season that Chamakh signed for Arsenal, the Gunners turned to free agents once again to save them during a goalkeeping crisis. Arsenal boss Wenger convinced ex-Gunner Jens Lehmann to come out of retirement after being solely reliant on Manuel Almunia.
The German goalkeeper was arguably an unsung hero during the club’s iconic invincible season back in 2003/04. Lehmann was given the sizeable task of replacing the legendary David Seaman and was an instant hit. He also helped the club reach the 2006 Champions League final before being sent off against Barcelona.
His second stint at the club was less memorable. The 41-year-old made one appearance, taking his Arsenal tally to 200, before hanging up his boots for a second time at the end of the season.
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