No stranger to criticism, Arsene Wenger stole the show on transfer deadline day, sealing a deal for Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and tying Mesut Özil down to a new contract, before controversially allowing Oliver Giroud to cross London and sign for Chelsea.
While most Arsenal fans will not be upset that they have traded the ageing Frenchman for one of Europe's top strikers, it is not the first time that they have sold a first team player to one of their top 4 rivals. Plenty of important Arsenal players have gone on to play their best football elsewhere in England and Arsenal famously endured one of the longest trophyless runs in their history between FA Cup triumphs in 2005 and 2014. So does this policy hurt them more than it helps, strengthening their rivals while they weaken themselves?
Ashley Cole (Chelsea)
After a long and protracted transfer saga involving numerous claims of tapping up, Ashley Cole - a member of Arsenal's 'Invincibles' team - signed for Jose Mourinho's Chelsea in 2006 after he was left 'trembling with anger' at Arsenal's offer of £55,000 a week. His time at Chelsea marked a period of sustained success for them, as well as a decline in Arsenal's fortunes, as he won a league title, 4 FA Cups and scored in the penalty shootout as they defeated Bayern Munich in the Champions League Final.
Emmanuel Adebayor (Man City)
Arsenal received a hefty sum (£25m) when Adebayor moved north in 2009 and this transfer would probably not have made this list were it not for the controversial manner in which he celebrated after scoring against Arsenal in his first game against them - running the length of the pitch to taunt his old admirers. Aside from a Copa del Rey win during a brief loan stint at Real Madrid, Adebayor was equally as successful away from Arsenal as he was with them.
Gael Clichy (Man City)
The last member of the 'Invincibles' to be sold, Manchester City's riches proved too much to say no to for Clichy as he left Arsenal in 2011 after coming through the club's youth academy. He won 2 league titles and 2 league cups with the 'Citizens' and now plies his trade in Turkey having been released by Pep Guardiola.
Samir Nasri (Man City)
Nasri was highly critical of Arsenal and the management when he left for City, saying he moved because he would have a better chance to win trophies with City. He was interviewed on the pitch by Sky Sports while holding the Premier League Trophy thanks to some Sergio Aguero heroics, largely proving him correct. He would win another league title two years later. However he was deemed surplus to requirements at City and is currently unattached after a spell in Turkey. Nasri announced his retirement from international football aged 27, after falling out with Didier Deschamps.
Robin van Persie (Man United)
Perhaps the most famous example, van Persie left Arsenal in 2012 citing a need to win the league as his main reason, and Alex Ferguson was there with his arms wide open. Van Persie subsequently top scored in the following Premier League season as Manchester United won their 20th league title. Arsenal finished 4th.
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (Liverpool)
The 'Ox' was Man of the Match when Arsenal beat Manchester City in the 2017 FA Cup Final. Fast forward 3 months and he was stood next to a grinning Jurgen Klopp and preparing for Champions League nights at Anfield while Arsenal were facing a season of Europa League football. It remains to be seen what, if any, success awaits him at Liverpool, but he was instrumental in their victory over Manchester City when Liverpool ended their record-breaking winning run, and the future certainly looks positive for the 24 year old England international.
Alexis Sanchez (Man United)
Sanchez was hailed when he arrived from Barcelona as the player who could finally turn around Arsenal's fortunes. Three and a half seasons later and he has left in acrimonious circumstances, letting his contract run down and allowing Jose Mourinho and Manchester United to both get their hands on another or Arsenal's best players, this time a La Liga and two-time Copa America winner. Henrikh Mkhitaryan came in the other direction, but with United already ahead of Arsenal in the league it's hard to see how this deal will help them close the gap. Mourinho's teams score a lot of goals from their fast wingers (Ronaldo at Real Madrid or Arjen Robben in his first spell at Chelsea) and Sanchez looks the perfect player to fit this role this time round.
Olivier Giroud (Chelsea)
Giroud was a fine servant for Arsenal, scoring over 100 goals in just over 250 games - not a bad return. He joins a Chelsea team desperately looking for a target man up front and will surely feature for France in the World Cup this summer. When you are a goal down with 10 minutes to go there are not many players in the game better to send on than the ex-Montpelier man, and surely Arsenal will miss this.