Arsenal have a history of breaking their transfer record to secure top talent, from Ian Wright's £2.5m move in 1992 to Declan Rice's £105m deal in 2023. Among the most iconic is Dennis Bergkamp, who arrived from Inter Milan in 1995 for a then-club-record £7.5m.
Bergkamp: Henry's Dream Partner
Bergkamp scored 120 goals and provided 116 assists in 420 appearances for the Gunners. Signed by Bruce Rioch, he flourished under Arsene Wenger, who built the attack around him. Thierry Henry called Bergkamp his "best partner" and "a dream for a striker." At the final match at Highbury, Bergkamp scored and assisted in a 3-1 win over West Brom, a day dubbed 'Dennis Bergkamp Day.'
In a 2015 Q&A, Henry reaffirmed: "Because of longevity and because I saw him every day in training for more than seven years, Dennis Bergkamp." Bergkamp won three Premier League titles, four FA Cups, and three Community Shields.
Wiltord and Ozil: Record Signings with International Glory
Sylvain Wiltord broke Bergkamp's record in August 2000, joining for £13m. He registered 81 goal contributions in four seasons, winning two league titles and domestic cups. In 2000, he scored the equalizer in the Euro 2000 final as France beat Italy. He also won the 2006 World Cup runner-up with Henry.
Mesut Ozil arrived from Real Madrid in 2013 for a record £42.5m. He was part of Germany's 2014 World Cup-winning squad, alongside Lukas Podolski. Ozil's creativity made him a fan favorite, though his later years were marred by controversy.
Aubameyang: Record Signing and Golden Boot Winner
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang joined in January 2018 for £56m, another club record. He shared the Premier League Golden Boot with Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane, scoring 22 goals in half a season. In four years, he netted 92 goals and added 21 assists, winning the FA Cup and Community Shield. He later moved to Barcelona in 2022 and then Chelsea, before joining Marseille at age 37.
Aubameyang represented Gabon internationally, scoring 40 goals in 83 caps. He is the only striker from this list still playing professionally.
