The transfer window can often throw up moves that no one expected to happen. It might be deals mooted in passing but never seriously discussed or even, like what occurred with Mat Ryan, an announcement is made on the Arsenal website with no prior warning whatsoever.
In essence, it is what makes the window so mysterious and gripping. Persistently refreshing your feeds is all part of the fun because with how unpredictable the window can be it’s easy to look away for an hour and miss a major breaking story out of nowhere.
With that in mind, the football.london writers have given their thoughts on the surprise transfers they’d like to see suddenly moved for by the club. From the midfield to wingers and players in between a whole host of options are suggested by our contributors and they’re all eyebrow-raisers.
Tom Canton - Arsenal Writer
“I think there's this saying 'Once a Gunner, always a Gunner'. I was rooting for them. Hoping for them. They had a very good season.”
The words from former Arsenal forward Serge Gnabry. What a signing it would be if Mikel Arteta was able to convince the German international to return to north London and leave Bayern Munich. After signing a new deal last year to 2026, it would certainly be an expensive one to pull off but that’s what surprises are all about.
Gnabry would provide fantastic competition to both Serge Gnabry and Bukayo Saka
Tashan Deniran-Alleyne - Arsenal Writer
Wilfried Zaha is looking for a new club after officially becoming a free agent as his Crystal Palace contract expired last week. Of course, the winger was strongly linked with a move to Arsenal in the summer of 2019 only for his compatriot Nicolas Pepe to get the call instead but now is the right time to revisit it.
Keen to test himself in the Champions League next season - something the Gunners can now offer - capable of also operating as a centre-forward, the winger certainly ticks all the boxes for what Mikel Arteta would be looking for should he look to bolster his attacking options this summer.
While being 30 years of age could count against him, the fact he's Premier League proven and available on a free transfer wouldn't only be a surprise signing - given the lack of concrete links recently - but also a shrewd piece of business on Arteta and Edu Gaspar's behalf.
Josh Holland - US audience writer
Arsenal were reportedly offered the chance to sign the PSV prodigy Xavi Simons earlier in the summer but a return to PSG has always seemed favourable due to the cheap buy-back clause.
His performances in the Netherlands last summer have made Simons one of Europe’s most efficient attacking midfielders. His 34-goal contribution in 48 games was a truly remarkable achievement and you could see how he’d perfectly fit into Mikel Arteta’s side.
A new attacking midfielder isn’t at the top of Arteta’s list but investing in a player of Simons’ calibre to provide Martin Odegaard with tough competition shouldn’t go amiss with the demand of domestic and Champions League football.
Kaya Kaynak – Chief Arsenal Writer
I have to say I wouldn't be too surprised to see Arsenal go back in for a fourth signing this summer. Players are expected to leave the Emirates, and there is no indication that Edu will be done with the three signings they're close to finalising.
I'm expecting those departures to come in midfield so with that in mind I'm looking to that position. I'm not sure you can call Romeo Lavia or Moises Caicedo a surprise per se, but the two are players I'd love to see come into the Emirates. Caicedo would certainly surprise me because he would cost a heck of a lot. Lavia feels like the more realistic option
