Arteta's pattern: Never-ending hunt for goalkeepers

Mikel Arteta finally achieved his goal last season and won the Premier League with Arsenal after six seasons at the club. And unlike some other recent champions like Manchester City and Liverpool, the Spaniard's main weapon was a rock-solid defence.

With arguably the best centre-back duo in the world, William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhaes, full-backs Riccardo Calafiori and Jurrien Timber, and help from the bench from Cristhian Mosquera, Piero Hincapie, Myles Lewis-Skelly, and Ben White, Arteta built a fortress in front of David Raya's goal.

Arsenal eye ex-Man City defender as Saliba injury fears grow

Still, the impact of the fantastic goalkeeper cannot be overlooked, as he won the Premier League Golden Glove award for the third consecutive time last season.

Therefore, everyone is aware that Arteta places great emphasis on defence, and perhaps that could explain his recently discovered yet rather obvious obsession with custodians.

Since taking charge of Arsenal in December 2019 - excluding his first half-season at the Emirates - the Spaniard has brought in at least one new goalkeeper every season!

It all started in September 2020, when the Gunners signed Runar Alex Runarsson from Dijon for €2 million. Although the Icelander arrived in London as a great prospect, he spent the next four seasons on various loans before leaving the club in 2024 and joining Copenhagen as a free agent, having made only six appearances for Arsenal.

Four months later, the experienced 29-year-old Mathew Ryan was brought in on loan from Brighton. After the underwhelming five months at the Emirates, the Australian returned to the Seagulls' ranks, having played only three matches for the Gunners.

Mathew Ryan in action for Arsenal against Aston Villa in the Premier League in February 2021 (©Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)

In August 2021, Arsenal signed Aaron Ramsdale as a vital reinforcement from Sheffield United for €28 million. In his first two seasons in North London, he was Arteta's first-choice custodian and even earned a place in the England national team.

However, once David Raya joined, Ramsdale lost his place between the posts before being sold to Southampton for €21.4 million in August 2024.

Raya's arrival from Brentford in July 2024 - following his year-long loan in North London - in a transfer worth €31.9 million, turned out to be one of the Gunners' best moves in the current decade, as the Spaniard became the face of today's Arsenal and its sturdy defence.

Nevertheless, a year before Raya, Arteta signed the US keeper Matt Turner from New England Revolution and paid €5.9 million to sign him, only to sell him 13 months later for €8.15 million to Nottingham Forest, with seven games on his Arsenal tally.

In need - or rather, a never-ending hunt - for an experienced goalie during the June 2024 Transfer Window, the Gunners brought the then-35-year-old Neto from Bournemouth on a one-year loan. Still, he made only a single appearance for the club. Alongside the Brazilian, the young Tommy Setford was also brought in from Ajax for €900,000, and is currently Arteta's third-choice custodian.

Premier League-experienced keeper set to join Arsenal

Finally, in the last two seasons, Arsenal signed two keepers with vast Premier League experience: Kepa Arrizabalaga - who is still at the Emirates and played 12 games in the previous campaign - a year ago from Chelsea for €5.8 million, and free agent Illan Meslier - who spent seven seasons at Leeds United - two weeks ago.

In total, Arsenal spent €74.5 million on seven goalkeepers in the last six years - excluding the two loanees - and recouped €29.5 million through the sales of two of them.

With Meslier's arrival, Arteta's tradition has been upheld for the upcoming season, though it will be interesting to see how long this obsession of his will last.