Arsenal were one of the busiest sides in the Premier League this summer as Mikel Arteta continued his rebuild at the Emirates Stadium.
The Gunners’ boss welcomed a host of new faces to the Emirates Stadium throughout the duration of the transfer window, whilst a huge list of players waved farewell to North London - whether that be on loan or a permanent move.
A number of those who have left Arsenal throughout the summer have enjoyed mixed fortunes with their new clubs. With that being said, Mirror Football takes a close look at those players who were let go this summer and how they have got on so far in the opening weeks of the season.
Alexandre Lacazette
Coming to the end of his contract at the Emirates Stadium, French striker Lacazette elected to return to former club Lyon on a free transfer this summer and his reunion with the Ligue 1 giants appears to have gone very well.
The 31-year-old has four goals from his opening eight appearances of the campaign with Lyon currently sitting sixth in the current standings. However, they are currently in a slump of three consecutive defeats, whilst captain Lacazette is set to be on the sidelines over the international break with the striker set to undergo surgery on his vocal chords.
Matteo Guendouzi
Following an impressive loan spell with Marseille last term, French midfielder Guendouzi returned to the Orange Velodrome this summer with the Ligue 1 side having activated a purchase clause in the original deal.
The 23-year-old has been a key player for Marseille once again having already made ten appearances in all competitions this season. He captained the side during last week’s victory against Lille, whilst he also notched his first goal of the season at the weekend during a 1-1 draw with Stade Rennais.
His form has been good enough to once again see him rewarded with a place in the French national side.
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Bernd Leno
After falling out of favour under Arteta last term, Leno did not go very far having elected to move to Premier League rivals Fulham despite links with a number of clubs.
Having started his first two matches on the bench, Leno has since seized the number one shirt and has been an important part of the newly-promoted side’s impressive start to the season.
However, the German is yet to keep a clean sheet this season so will hope to change that after the international break.
Lucas Torreira
Following loan spells with Atletico Madrid and Fiorentina, the Uruguayan midfielder was expected to leave Arsenal permanently this summer and that did indeed come to fruition with a switch to Turkish giants Galatasaray.
Despite having been on the losing side on his debut, Torreira has certainly been enjoying a better time of things recently having started each of the last five league games - four of those ending in victory.
That leaves Galatasaray sitting second in the current Turkish Super Lig standings and only behind leaders Adana Demirspor on goal difference.
Hector Bellerin
Whilst Torreira has been a key player for his new side since sealing his Emirates Stadium exit, the same cannot quite be said of Spanish defender Hector Bellerin. The 27-year-old was granted a free transfer to former club Barcelona following a long spell in North London and was handed a one-year contract at the Camp Nou.
Despite that move, Bellerin has so far made just two appearances for the Catalan giants - starting against Cadiz before dropping to the bench against Elche.
Nuno Tavares
From one full-back to another, Portuguese left-back Tavares joined Guendouzi at Marseille on a season-long loan following an indifferent debut season at the Emirates Stadium. The decision to temporarily leave North London certainly appears to have benefited Tavares.
He has enjoyed an electric start to the new campaign with three goals in his opening eight league games of the campaign. Tavares actually returned to England earlier this month with Marseille’s Champions League trip to Tottenham Hotspur but found himself on the end of a 2-0 reverse.
Folarin Balogun
Another to have chosen to cross the channel to France, young striker Balogun joined Ligue 1 side Reims on a season-long loan deal after a spell in the Championship with Middlesbrough during the second-half of last season.
The forward appears to have adapted very well having been one of the standout players in the French top-flight this season. Balogun has five goals and two assists from his opening eight games with Reims. However, he has just slightly gone off the boil over recent weeks having failed to score in his last two matches - his side losing both without finding the net.
Pablo Mari
Having joined Arsenal midway through the 2019/20 season, Spanish international Mari couldn’t quite establish himself as a first-team regular at the Emirates Stadium.
He joined Serie A side Udinese on-loan last term and returned to Italy with a permanent switch to Monza. The 29-year-old has so far made four appearances this season and finally earned his first win of the campaign at the weekend with a memorable victory over Italian giants Juventus - Mari playing a huge role in his side keeping a clean sheet against the Old Lady.
Nicolas Pepe
Still officially Arsenal’s record signing, Pepe is one of a vast array of former and current Gunners players plying their trade in Ligue 1.
The 27-year-old was allowed to join OGC Nice on a season-long loan and endured a nightmare start to his spell with the club having been on the wrong end of a 3-0 reverse on his debut. Things however did improve as Pepe scored his first goal for the club just three days later - ironically coming against his former side Lille.
Pepe has been a consistent starter since but has failed to contribute any more from an attacking viewpoint.
Ainsley Maitland-Niles
A late departee, academy graduate Maitland-Niles signed a season-long loan deal with fellow Premier League side Southampton.
However, he has not really had much of a chance to impress as of yet having been limited to just 17 minutes as a substitute. He was left out of the squad entirely for the Saints’ recent defeat to Aston Villa.
Konstantinos Mavropanos
Another of those to have enjoyed an impressive loan spell away before sealing a permanent move, Greek defender Mavropanos remains with Stuttgart and continues to be one of the Bundesliga side’s best players.
The 24-year-old has made eight appearances in all competitions this season but has not yet found himself on the winning side in the league - albeit with Stuttgart having drawn on five occasions already this season.
Other departures
Jordi Osei-Tutu: Allowed to join VfL Bochum on a free transfer, the 23-year-old defender has made eight appearances but like Mavropanos, his side are winless in the Bundesliga.
Daniel Ballard: The 22-year-old was allowed to join Sunderland after an impressive stint with Millwall last season but after just three appearances, has seen his season hugely disrupted by a broken foot.
Jonathan Dinzeyi: After two years in the Arsenal youth ranks, the young defender’s contract expired in the summer and he still finds himself without a club.
Joel Lopez: Having joined Arsenal from Barcelona in 2018, the youngster was granted a return to his homeland at the end of his contract with a switch to third-tier Spanish side Cultural Leonesa. He has started every game for his new side but has been substituted off in three of those.
Jordan McEneff: An Arsenal player for six years, the youngster was also another of those to be released and joined Irish side Derry City where he has made just one appearance - a five-minute cameo at the start of September.
Luigi Gaspar: An 18-year-old, the midfielder quit Arsenal for Watford and has gone straight into the Hornets’ youth ranks.
Remy Mitchell: The goalkeeper penned a two-year contract with Swansea City following his Gunners’ exit but has thus far not played for the Welsh side.
Zak Swanson: Another to be starved of action so far this season, the young defender joined Portsmouth on a permanent deal and has so far made just one league appearance but has been granted a couple of cup outings.
Omari Hutchinson: One of the most promising players in Arsenal’s academy, it was a surprise to see the youngster elect to move across London to Chelsea. The 18-year-old has been playing for the Blues’ under-23 side and scored his first goals for the club in a 3-3 draw with Crystal Palace at the weekend.
James Olayinka: The 21-year-old sealed a move to League One side Cheltenham Town this summer but has so far only been granted one appearance this season but he did manage to notch an assist during that game.
Harry Clarke: The youngster enjoyed a bright start to his loan spell with Stoke City having scored on just his second appearance but has since seen his campaign curtailed by a serious shin injury.
Omar Rekik: Already a three-time Tunisia international, the defender was expected to shine out on loan this season but it hasn’t really gone to plan. He has played just 12 minutes of senior action for Sparta Rotterdam and has been named as an unused substitute in each of the last six Eredivisie games.
Tyreece John-Jules: Having joined League One promotion contenders Ipswich Town on a season-long loan, John-Jules has so far made 11 appearances for the Tractor Boys. He scored his first goal for them in a 3-0 success over Shrewsbury Town last month.
Mika Biereth: In the midst of a loan spell with RKC Waalwijk, the Dane was finally granted his debut as a late substitute this weekend against SC Cambuur having previously been struggling with injury.
Nikolaj Moller: The Swedish starlet has endured a frustrating time so far with Den Bosch. He has made just two substitute appearances and has been left out of the squad entirely for the last three matches.
Ovie Ejeheri: The 19-year-old has enjoyed a promising start to life with non-league outfit Chelmsford City. He has three clean sheets from his first five National League south matches and has not yet found himself on the losing side.
Alix Kirk: Another of the huge amount of Gunners out on loan, the 19-year-old joined Scottish Championship side Ayr United. He has been in and out of the side since.
Auston Trusty: Having joined Arsenal from Colorado Rapids in January, the American was given his first taste of English football with a loan move to Birmingham City. He has played every single minute for the Midlands outfit this season and has been earning rave reviews.
Marcelo Flores: A three-time Mexican international, Flores penned a season-long loan deal with Spanish second-tier side Real Oviedo. He has made five appearances - two of those being starts.
Ryan Alebiosu: Whilst some of the Gunners’ loan contingent have struggled for game time so far this season, the same cannot be said for Alebiosu. He has started every game for adoptive club Kilmarnock so far following his temporary switch north of the border.
Arthur Okonkwo: After signing a loan deal at Crewe Alexandra, the Gunners academy graduate is already the club’s number one having accumulated nine appearances with four clean sheets.
Mazeed Ogungbo: In the midst of a loan spell with Crawley Town, the Irish defender has made nine appearances so far but was left on the bench for the recent draw against Okonkwo’s Crewe.
Charlie Patino: Another exciting name from the Gunners’ academy, he already has two senior appearances to his name and is adding to that during a loan spell with Blackpool. The midfielder scored his first goal for the Tangerines in a 2-1 defeat to Millwall recently.
Runar Alex Runarsson: Signed originally as a second-choice keeper, things haven’t gone to plan for the Icelandic stopper. He finds himself in the midst of a season-long loan deal with Turkish side Alanyaspor. The 27-year-old is struggling in the Super Lig having shipped ten goals in five games and has not got a clean sheet to his name.
Brooke Norton-Cuffy: Following an excellent season with Lincoln City, the 18-year-old has continued his development with Rotherham United. He has started each of the last five games for the Championship side.
Tom Smith: Having penned a new contract at Arsenal, the young goalkeeper was then allowed to join Bromley on-loan until the end of the season. He is yet to make his debut for the club.
Salah-Eddine Oulad M'Hand: Like his colleague, the 19-year-old has not appeared for his new club yet having penned a loan deal with Championship side Hull City.
Miguel Azeez: Following a season with Portsmouth, the 20-year-old joined Spanish second-tier side Ibiza. He has so far made one start and one substitute appearance, with his adopted employers having won both games.
Tim Akinola: Another having ventured into the National League for experience, the 21-year-old joined Chesterfield until the end of the season. He has been granted just two substitute appearances.
