How Arsenal’s 2021-22 sales have performed this season

Martin Macdonald

• 24 Mar 2022 14:15 CDT
• 4 min read

Things around Arsenal are more positive than they have been for a while, and a major factor in the improvements over the past year is that Mikel Arteta is finally shaping the squad in his image.

The Spaniard has not been shy in letting players go whom he feels are not pulling their weight or do not fit in.

A variety of high-profile players have left Arsenal on a permanent basis and on loan in the 2021/22 season, so let's have a look at how they have performed.

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Joe Willock - €30m to Newcastle

In January of 2021, Joe Willock went out on loan to Newcastle and was fantastic, scoring eight goals in 11 starts.

Believing first-team opportunities to be hard to come by at Arsenal, he would subsequently complete a €30m permanent transfer to Newcastle.

In the first half of the season, he was unable to replicate that form, but he has been excellent since the turn of the year and has even managed to keep start signing Bruno Guimaraes out of the side.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang - FREE to Barcelona

It was a sour departure for Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang at Arsenal after a falling out with Arteta, but it has proved to be a move that has worked out for everyone.

Arsenal are performing well on the pitch, while Aubameyang has been a revelation at Barcelona.

He proved his quality in the Clasico as he scored two goals and set up another as Barca demolished Real Madrid 4-0 at Santiago Bernabeu.

Willian - FREE to Corinthians

In one of the more controversial transfers of the summer of 2020, Arsenal signed Brazilian winger Willian from London rivals Chelsea.

He was a major, major flop, costing the club a costly £900,000 per appearance.

Like Mesut Ozil, like Aubameyang, he was allowed to leave on a free transfer to Corinthians, where he has made nine appearances.

Sead Kolasinac - FREE to Marseille

Sead Kolasinac was allowed to leave on a free transfer too, and joined Marseille in January.

He has made seven Ligue 1 appearances so far.

Calum Chambers - FREE to Aston Villa

Calum Chambers was signed by Steven Gerrard at Aston Villa and has played a handful of games so far, but he probably won't be first-choice.

Ainsley Maitland-Niles - LOAN to Roma

Ainsley-Maitland Niles was completely exiled by Arteta and joined Roma on a season loan in January. He has started six games under Jose Mourinho, though hasn't exactly lit up the Italian capital.

Matteo Guendouzi - LOAN to Marseille

Matteo Guendouzi will complete a summer transfer from Arsenal to Marseille, with the details of the deal all finalised.

The midfielder arrived with a reputation for having a fiery temper, and while there have been occasions that has been evident, OM supporters have generally seen the best of the 22-year-old.

Indeed, Guendouzi has performed so well for Marseille that he has been given international honours for the first time and, RMC reports, will be signed by the club permanently.

William Saliba - LOAN to Marseille

William Saliba continues to go from strength to strength in France, having now received his first international call-up.

The French defender initially made the move to Arsenal in 2019, when the Premier League side signed him from Saint-Etienne for €30 million.

However, despite joining the club over two years ago, Saliba hasn’t made a single first-team appearance for Mikel Arteta’s side and has instead been loaned out to three clubs in that time. He has also hit out at Arsenal’s treatment of him numerous times.

His future is unclear.

Hector Bellerin - LOAN to Betis

There's little doubt that the most high-profile player to leave Arsenal on a loan deal this season was Hector Bellerin, who has started his spell at Betis rather brightly.

He has made 27 appearances so far, and recorded four assists.

Reiss Nelson - LOAN to Feyenoord

Feyenoord were poised to sign Manchester United wonderkid Amad Diallo on loan for this campaign, but after he suffered an injury Reiss Nelson was sought as second choice. He has played just 560 minutes in the Eredivisie so far.