In their recent win against the reigning Premier League Champions Manchester City, a former La Liga player in Santi Cazorla showcased his class to numb Manchester City at their home soil. Looking at the history of star players that were acquired by Arsenal from LA Liga, most of them seemed to impress while some reached the epitome of success playing for the Gunners.
Here are 5 signings that left their mark on the Arsenal history books for years to come: –
5. Jose Antonio Reyes
A Sevilla FC player in LA Liga before making London his permanent home for 3 years, Spaniard was a member of the Arsenal team that won the Premier League in 2003-04 during that invincible season. Becoming a part of an Arsenal team that has in its ranks the players like Thierry Henry, Patrick Viera and Robert Pires, the left winger turned striker scored 16 goals in 69 appearances for the North London side.
However, due to the phenomenal form of Thierry Henry which encapsulated everyone, Reyes career cannot be described as a huge success in Arsenal colors.
4. Mesut Ozil
Even though the German is currently injured amid some brilliant performances by his team-mates, his 1st season at Arsenal was a success, to say the least. Signed from the Real Madrid for an Arsenal record 42.1 million pounds, the German made an instant impact as he assisted Olivier Giroud during the former’s 1st match in Arsenal colors.
Even though his form dipped at the end of last season which was expected as that was his 1st season at the English soil, the winger played his part for Arsenal in their FA Cup triumph.
3. Santi Cazorla
Being a part of the European team of the week after his performance against Manchester City which helped Arsenal to numb the reigning Premier League Champions, Santi Cazorla has been in the form of his life this season. Although he wasn’t a celebrated signing when Arsenal signed him from Malaga in the summer of 2012-13 for a fee in the region of 15million pounds, the 30-year-old has developed as a formidable force for Arsenal this season.
2. Alexis Sanchez
Signed from Barcelona in the World Cup summer of 2014 after he played a vital part in Chile’s road to Quarter finals, the former Barcelona right-winger has been described as the signing of the season by many already.
Having already scored 12 goals in his 1st season at the helm with 7 assists adding to his value, the Chilean has been a major reason of Arsenal’s challenger for the top 4 spot this season.
Even though this is his first season at the helm, the Spaniard shown his desire to play for Arsenal even before they signed him when the Chilean rejected an advancement from Liverpool to play for the North London side in a decision that immediately made him the fan favorite at Arsenal.
However, as they say performance is all what matters, the performance level of the Chilean has earned him praise from all and sundry in the Premier League this season.
1. Cesc Fabregas
Even though the former Gunners’ Captain has swapped loyalties to play for the London neighbors Chelsea, Fabregas is the best signing that Arsenal has made from LA Liga till date.
Being signed for the North London side after his opportunities to play for Barcelona were limited by the meteoric rise of Xavi and Iniesta, the Spaniard kicked his Arsenal tenure with an Invincible tag to his name.
After the mass exodus of players from Arsenal when players like Thierry Henry, Dennis Bergkamp and Patrick Viera eventually left the Gunners one after the other, the 1 time World Cup Champions grabbed the reigns of his team and led them to stability.
His meteoric rise at Arsenal was justified by the manager Arsene Wenger when the Frenchman awarded him the Captain’s armband on 24 November 2008 after the departure of William Gallas.
However, like most of the players of his era that left Arsenal, the Spaniard left Arsenal for a fee in the region of 29 million euros to play for his boyhood favorite club Barcelona.
Barclays Premier League: Top 5 signings made by Arsenal from La Liga
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