Goal/GettyFrom the dominant days of manager Herbert Chapman’s tenure in the 1930s right through to the modern era, Arsenal have signed some sensational players who have gone on to write their names into the history books.
But which transfers rank as the greatest in the Gunners' long and illustrious history.
GOAL reveals all below...
Arguably Arsenal’s best ever signing.
Hapgood was plucked from lowly Kettering Town by Gunners manager Herbert Chapman in 1927 for just £950 ($1,170) and went to captain Arsenal’s all-conquering side of the 1930s.
He made 440 appearances in all competitions for Arsenal and won the First Division title five times, as well as the FA Cup twice.
The left-back spent 12 years with Arsenal before the onset of the Second World War, scoring twice.
He died in 1973, at the age of just 64.
GettyMany questioned Arsenal’s decision to spend a club record £2.5 million ($3m) to sign Ian Wright from Crystal Palace in 1991.
The Gunners had just won the First Division title and had two-time golden boot winner Alan Smith leading the line, with Kevin Campbell also at George Graham’s disposal.
But from the moment Wright opened his account with a goal at Leicester City on his Arsenal debut, he quickly silenced any of his doubters.
He went on the score 185 goals for the club, overtaking Cliff Bastin to become Arsenal’s all-time record goalscorer in 1997.
Wright won a Premier League title during his time in North London as well as two FA Cups, a League Cup, the Cup Winners Cup and the Golden Boot.
Known as one of the finest players to have ever played for Arsenal, James arrived from Preston in 1929 for £8,750 ($10,800).
The playmaker quickly established himself in Chapman’s stellar side and scored the opening goal as Arsenal beat Huddersfield 2-0 in the 1930 FA Cup final – a victory which gave the club its first ever major trophy.
James went on to make 261 appearances for Arsenal and formed a formidable partnership with legendary attackers Ted Drake and Cliff Bastin.
The Scotland international won four league titles for the Gunners and a second FA Cup in 1936. He was forced to retire due to injury the following year.
There is plenty of debate over who is the best free transfer of the Premier League era, but not amongst Arsenal fans.
Sol Campbell’s move across North London from Tottenham in the summer of 2001 is the stuff of legend.
Members of the media were all expecting to see goalkeeper Richard Wright unveiled when they arrived at a press conference at Arsenal’s training ground, so there was an audible gasp when Arsene Wenger walked out accompanied by Campbell – who was football's most in-demand free agent at the time.
Arsenal had taken Spurs’ captain without having to pay them a penny and they had to watch their former idol go on to win two league titles and three FA Cups during his time at Highbury.
Bastin was Arsenal’s record goalscorer for more than five decades before Wright eventually edged past him in 1997.
He was signed as a 17-year-old from Exeter City in 1929. Story has it that Herbert Chapman had actually gone to watch a game between Watford and Exeter to cast his eye over a Hornets player, but left with Bastin having caught his eye.
Chapman swooped soon after for the teenage inside forward and it proved to be an inspired signing.
Bastin went on to score 178 goals for the Gunners in 395 games, winning five league titles and two FA Cups.
Had it not been for the outbreak of World War II, it's probable that Bastin would have scored so many more times that he'd still be sitting at the top of Arsenal goals chart today.
GettyFew had heard of Patrick Vieira when Arsene Wenger signed him from AC Milan in 1996.
But the French midfielder would establish himself as a Premier League legend during an historic period for the club.
Indeed, from the moment he came off the bench against Sheffield Wednesday to make his debut, it was clear Wenger had landed an extraordinary footballer for just £3.5m ($4.3m).
Vieira would go on to win three Premier League titles and he won his fourth FA Cup with his very last kick of a ball for Arsenal, scoring the winning penalty against Manchester United in the 2005 final.
He was also the inspirational captain in Arsene Wenger’s legendary Invincibles side, which went through the entire 2003-04 season without losing a single league game.
From one legendary captain to another.
McLintock was signed by Billy Wright in 1964 for what was then a club-record fee of £80,000 ($98,000).
Although it took him a bit of time to fully prove himself in North London, he started to flourish after Bertie Mee was appointed manager in 1968.
After losing two successive League cup finals, Arsenal eventually ended the club’s 17-year wait for a major trophy in 1970 when they beat Anderlecht to lift the Inter-Cities Fair Cup, with McLintock playing an influential role.
The centre-back would then lead Arsenal to the historic league-and-cup double in 1971 and was crowned footballer of the year.
He eventually left Arsenal in 1973, joining QPR.
GettyA player many view as the greatest in Arsenal’s history.
The forward signed from Inter in 1995 and although the Gunners spent what was then a club-record £7.5m ($9.2m) to bring him to the club, it proved to be an absolute bargain.
Bergkamp would stay in north London for 10 years, winning three league titles and four FA Cups. He was also named the PFA and Football Writers' player of the season in 1998.
He scored 120 times, which makes him the 11th-highest scorer in Arsenal’s history.
But Bergkamp’s game was about far more than just goals, as the likes of Ian Wright, Nicolas Anelka and Thierry Henry will all tell you.
His touch, technique and vision made him a dream to play alongside, with the Dutchman providing 94 Premier League assists – 20 more than any other Arsenal player.
“Dennis is the one that all the success was built on,' Wright said when discussing his former strike partner. “He is the best signing the club has ever made. He changed the DNA of the club.”
Getty ImagesArsenal’s greatest ever goalscorer.
When Wright overtook Bastin's tally of 178 in 1997, few believed anyone would go on to better Wright’s record of 185.
But then Henry came along in 1999 after signing from Juventus and soon started ripping up the history books.
The French striker is arguably the finest player to grace the Premier League. He scored 228 goals, won two Premier League titles and three FA Cups before joining Barcelona in 2007.
He won the Premier League Golden Boot four times and was Player of the Year twice.
All in all, a true Arsenal legend.
GettyThe right-back signed from Stoke City in January of 1988 for around £300,000 ($370,000) and would go on to make it to number four in the list of Arsenal’s all-time appearance-makers.
Between 1988 and 2002, Dixon played 619 times – only David O’Leary, Tony Adams and George Armstrong featured in more games.
He also won four league titles during his time in North London, as well as three FA Cups, the League Cup and the Cup Winners' Cup.
Dixon was part of the famous Arsenal back four that proved the foundation for Graham's success, but he was also the rock that Wenger built his early success around.
There may have been players before and after Dixon who were far more eye-catching, but there are very few in Arsenal’s history who come close to achieving what he did during his time at the club.
