Arsenal's Quartet Dominates Premier League's Biggest Dips in Form and Value

Arsenal may be leading the Premier League and still the bookmakers' favourites for the crown, but there's a silver lining in their cloud: plenty of their squad members have taken quite the tumble in the transfer market.

The Gunners' recent draw at Brentford and their continued march through four competitions—including a Champions League group stage cleared with a perfect record and a Carabao Cup final berth secured—masks a troubling trend. Four Arsenal players feature prominently in this season's most significant value decreases, according to Transfermarkt's calculations since 1 July 2025.

The Arsenal Exodus

Gabriel Jesus occupies tenth place, his market value plummeting from €32m to €20m. The Brazilian striker's cruciate ligament recovery explains much of his decline. His return saw him complete 90 minutes for the first time in over a year against Wigan, where he netted his fifth goal in 650 minutes of action. At 28, with over 100 goals across the Premier League and Champions League combined, he's now valued at two-fifths of Jorgen Strand Larsen's worth.

Ethan Nwaneri's €15m drop (€55m to €40m) reflects overoptimism rather than genuine regression. His excellent debut goal for Marseille on loan couldn't sustain the hype generated by glimpses of quality the previous season. Three unremarkable appearances followed before the bench called.

Ben White's €15m decrease (€45m to €30m) tells a familiar Arsenal tale: rare game time at the new year offered false hope before he returned to the periphery. Still, a Premier League winner's medal awaits the defender, and his current valuation—whilst fair—represents a bargain for summer suitors.

The Star's Stumble

Bukayo Saka's decline proves more concerning. The winger's €20m drop (€150m to €130m) reflects a season below his astronomical standards. His devastating formula—the inside cut from the right flank, the curled left-foot finish—has become predictable and stoppable. Opposition now reads him like a book, and he's found himself unable to turn the page.

Beyond the Red Half

Florian Wirtz's €30m tumble (€140m to €110m) at Liverpool suggests collective overexcitement. His difficult start to English football prompted reassessment, though patience remains warranted for eventual success.

Manchester City's Rodri heads the list with a €35m plunge (€110m to €75m), a reflection of his post-injury reality. The midfielder who once orchestrated midfields single-handedly now requires support from teammates—whether O'Reilly, Silva, or other functional players—following cruciate ligament and hamstring troubles.

Phil Foden's €20m drop (€100m to €80m) follows a purple patch in November and December when he scored six goals in four games. Since then, form has deteriorated sharply. Antoine Semenyo's January arrival has only highlighted Foden's struggles; the City star now finds himself outside Guardiola's best XI.

Mohamed Salah represents perhaps Liverpool's biggest regret. His €20m decline (€50m to €30m) compounds the questionable decision to hand him a £400,000-per-week contract. At 34 come summer, he contributes far less in attack whilst potentially hindering the team. His tantrum before AFCON departure when denied starts to Arne Slot hardly endeared him.

Alexis Mac Allister's €15m decrease (€100m to €85m) at Liverpool speaks volumes. Once hugely influential in the title win, he now plays with dead-eyed focus, seemingly searching for something he's mislaid—his form, perhaps—completely oblivious to the football unfolding around him.

Manchester United's Manuel Ugarte rounds out the ten, dropping €15m (€45m to €30m). Whether he grasps Erik ten Hag's original message about "fight" remains unclear. Perhaps the training ground walls need new vocabulary to describe the Uruguayan's contributions.