Every Arsenal signing under Mislintat – & how they’ve impacted the first team
Sven Mislintat is reportedly set to leave his role as Arsenal‘s head of recruitment after just over a year in the position.
Former Borussia Dortmund chief scout Mislintat was hired in November 2017 to much fanfare in an appointment which supposedly represented the modernisation of the Gunners in the final months of Arsene Wenger’s reign.
Yet he is due to leave Arsenal after just 15 months, with one source telling The Independent he has grown tired of “unfulfilled promises” – and we’ve taken a closer look at the impact he has had on the north Londoners’ first team.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang
The headline arrival of Mislintat’s tenure, Aubameyang was signed from the German’s former club, Borussia Dortmund, in a club record £56million.
Aubameyang has taken no time to adjust to life in England, scoring 26 goals in 41 games for the Gunners, although Unai Emery has found it difficult to accommodate both the Gabon international and Alexandre Lacazette in his starting XI.
Percentage of Arsenal games played since signing: 75.9%
Arsenal’s win rate in games he has played: 53.7%
Henrikh Mkhitaryan
Another former Borussia Dortmund man, Mislintat played a big role in convincing Mkhitaryan to join Arsenal from Manchester United as part of the swap deal which saw Alexis Sanchez move in the opposite direction, according to The Independent.
Injuries have slightly stunted his impact at Arsenal, with the attacking midfielder scoring seven goals and providing nine assists in 37 appearances in yet another position the Gunners are well stocked.
Percentage of Arsenal games played since signing: 66.1%
Arsenal’s win rate in games he has played: 56.8%
Konstantinos Mavropanos
Mavropanos was Arsenal’s first signing after Mislintat’s appointment, arriving as an unknown quantity among supporters from Greek outfit PAS Giannina for around £1.8million.
The 21-year-old centre-back was expected to be sent out on loan but was thrust into the first team due to injuries, making three Premier League appearances, catching the eye in a loss to Manchester United but receiving a red card after just 15 minutes in a defeat at Leicester City.
A groin injury has kept Mavropanos sidelined for the past four months, but he recently made his comeback for the club’s Under-23s.
Percentage of Arsenal games played since signing: 5%
Arsenal’s win rate in games he has played: 33.3%
If Sven Mislintat leaves #Arsenal, the team loses the EPL's best kit letter marketer in history.
Since joining Arsenal in December 2017 he is credited in having a part in the club’s signing of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Konstatantinos Mavropanos and Sokratis Papsatathopulos.
— OyOyOy (@LaPanIAm) January 16, 2019
Lucas Torreira
One of the most exciting and impressive signings under Mislintat has been the recruitment of Torreira in a £26.5million deal from Sampdoria.
Still just 22, the Uruguay international has added the tenacity Arsenal’s midfield has been crying out for over a number of years, although his form has slightly tailed off since he starred in the 4-2 victory over Tottenham at the start of December.
Percentage of Arsenal games played since signing: 87.5%
Arsenal’s win rate in games he has played: 60.7%
Bernd Leno
Goalkeeper was identified as a problem position for Arsenal with Petr Cech thought to be unsuited with Emery’s desire for his stopper to be comfortable with the ball at his feet.
Leno was signed in a £19.2million deal from Bayer Leverkusen, but the jury remains out on the Germany international, who had to wait for Cech to suffer an untimely injury before establishing himself in the starting XI and has not won universal appreciation.
Percentage of Arsenal games played since signing: 62.5%
Arsenal’s win rate in games he has played: 60%
Sokratis
Mislintat returned to his former club once again to sign Sokratis, who Arsenal fans hoped would be the brute of a bastard to sort their defence out.
That hasn’t exactly transpired, although the Greece international has not been helped by a number of injuries to afflict the Gunners’ backline.
Percentage of Arsenal games played since signing: 68.8%
Arsenal’s win rate in games he has played: 63.6%
Mattéo Guendouzi
Alongside Mavropanos, Guendouzi can be held up as a prime example of Mislintat’s eye for a relatively unknown quantity, with the midfielder joining Arsenal in a £7million deal from Ligue 2 Lorient.
The 19-year-old has featured much more heavily than anticipated, and while his form has fluctuated as to be expected from any teenager, supporters are excited about the potential Guendouzi has shown.
Percentage of Arsenal games played since signing: 84.4%
Arsenal’s win rate in games he has played: 59.3%
Stephan Lichtsteiner
Another player signed in the hope of adding a bit of wily shithousery to Arsenal’s squad, Lichtsteiner arrived on a free transfer from Juventus as Emery’s first signing as manager.
Although the full-back’s aggressive displays initially won over Arsenal fans, the 35-year-old has begun to struggle with the pace of English football.
Percentage of Arsenal games played since signing: 53.1%
Arsenal’s win rate in games he has played: 58.8%