Arsenal – Transfer Window Ranking: January 2022/23

Arsenal have had a rather respectable winter transfer window, with three incoming signings in Jakub Kiwior, Leandro Trossard and Jorginho. These signings are incredibly smart acquisitions by the Gunners.

Despite spending the third most amount of money in the league during this transfer window, Arsenal have acquired their signings for incredibly discounted prices, bar the 25 million spent on hot prospect Kiwior. So who are each of Arsenal’s signings, and how will they perform under Arteta?

Jakub Kiwior – €25.00m

COMPARED: Jakub Kiwior vs. Gabriel per 90 in the league this season.

Add more players and stats here – https://t.co/HX62Zh76oK pic.twitter.com/BTuqgy49kb

— Squawka (@Squawka) January 20, 2023

Jakub Kiwior is an exciting young centre-back from Italian club Spezia Calcio. At 22, Kiwior already has 9 caps for the Polish national team and started all four of Poland’s games at the 2022 FIFA World Cup.

Kiwior comes in as a long-term prospect and is likely to serve as a backup to Gabriel Magalhães’ & Saliba or he could come into the first team if either Saliba or Magalhães move on to a different club.

Especially with Ben White being switched to play as right-back, and Rob Holding the only traditional back-up centre-back, Kiwior will be essential in providing adequate cover lest a defender picks up an injury. Given that Arsenal are increasingly likely to play in the Champions League next season, rotation is crucial and Kiwior will get some game time that would be beneficial for his development.

Kiwior is a combative centre-back, who ranks highly in terms of tackles, especially in the midfield third, where he ranks in the 82nd percentile. He also ranks in the 90th percentile in terms of blocks which showcases his brilliant reading of the game.

However, his most interesting statistic is that of his set-pieces – ranking in the 99th percentile for corner kicks and the 93rd percentile for SCA from a dead ball, Kiwior provides threat through his set-piece deliveries.

Although the fee is on the hefty side, Kiwior is definitely an up-and-coming defender who has high potential if developed properly. Arteta will hope that the 25 million euros shelled out for him will pay off and Kiwior will become an integral part of the Gunners’ first team in the future.

Leandro Trossard – €24.00m

COMPARED: Leandro Trossard vs. Gabriel Martinelli vs. Bukayo Saka vs. Eddie Nketiah vs. Gabriel Jesus per 90 in the Premier League this season. pic.twitter.com/KQeIagZS2i

— Squawka (@Squawka) January 19, 2023

Leandro Trossard is a versatile, unpredictable forward capable of playing across the front three and even as a number 10 or a left wing-back. He comes in from Brighton and Hove Albion, where he was a key player and one of their chief creators.

Trossard will, in all likelihood, act as competition for Gabriel Martinelli, with the only realistic backups being Bukayo Saka or Reiss Nelson, the latter of who is injured. If Trossard’s performances prove to be crucial to Arsenal’s success, he might even displace Martinelli as the starting left winger.

Especially with a long-term injury to star forward Gabriel Jesus, Trossard’s arrival could prompt Arteta to shift Gabriel Martinelli from left-wing to centre-forward. Trossard’s ambidexterity gives him an advantage on the ball that isn’t present in Martinelli’s game. Martinelli has also proven himself capable of performing in the centre-forward role, albeit not to the degree of comfortability that Eddie Nketiah has shown.

Trossard is capable with the ball at his feet, and excels in ball retention, which fits perfectly into Arteta’s desired playing style. He is also an excellent long-passer, ranking in the 88th percentile for switches, and the 87th percentile for through balls. Capable of cutting in or dribbling down the line, Trossard is a versatile winger who will cause massive problems for even the best fullbacks.

The 24 million euros paid for Leandro Trossard could be seen as a coup by many and Arsenal have done an impressive job to secure such a highly-rated player for such an affordable price.

Also read: Leandro Trossard – Transfer Report: Gunpowder For The Gunners

Jorginho – €11.30m

Jorginho vs. Arsenal players in the PL this season:

Most tackles made
◉ 42 – Jorginho
◎ 39 – Ben White
◎ 36 – Thomas Partey

Most interceptions
◉ 21 – Jorginho
◎ 19 – Partey
◎ 17 – Gabriel

Most possession won
◎ 156 – William Saliba
◎ 124 – Partey
◉ 119 – Jorginho

— Squawka (@Squawka) January 31, 2023

Jorginho completed a deadline-day move from Chelsea to arch-rivals Arsenal. After being eased out of the first team by a myriad number of winter signings, Jorginho has finally left Stamford Bridge after five seasons at the club.

Jorginho is likely to provide much-needed backup to Thomas Partey or at times Granit Xhaka. With the only backup option, Mohamed Elneny, out for an ‘extended period’ following a knee injury, Jorginho is likely to be the first choice from the bench and will be expected to challenge Thomas Partey for his position in the starting eleven.

Jorginho is an incredibly underrated player and has received a large amount of undeserved criticism from Chelsea fans and rivals alike. Apart from being one of the best penalty kick takers in world football right now, Jorginho is one of the most reliable passers in the Premier League. Boasting an impressive 88.3% pass completion rate, Jorginho’s pass selection and ability to act as a metronome in midfield calls for plaudits itself.

He isn’t just a “pass merchant” as he’s widely touted to be and he also boasts incredibly respectable defensive numbers, proving that he is an incredibly solid and world-class defensive midfielder or regista. He ranks in the 91st percentile for tackles and interceptions made, outperforming the likes of even Sergio Busquets, Fabinho, and Declan Rice.

Given his slashed price of 11.3 million euros, Arsenal have pulled off an absolute coup with this transfer, poaching an incredible player from one of their arch-rivals. Jorginho should prove to be integral in Arteta’s title push this season and could very well displace or challenge Thomas Partey for his starting berth.

Summary

Total Amount Spent: €60.30m

Number of Players Brought in: 3

Looking at this transfer window as a whole, Arsenal have brought in three reliable players to plug important holes in their squad. In Jakub Kiwior, they have purchased a promising player for the future. In Leandro Trossard and Jorginho, they have brought in two tried and tested Premier League level players for bargain prices.

All in all, Edu has produced a brilliant winter transfer window for the Gunners. He has made smart acquisitions that are a good fit for Mikel Arteta’s team and secured two brilliant coups from fellow Premier League clubs.

Grade: B+

Also read: Manchester United Reborn: Ten Hag’s Surgery Gives Red Devils New Life