Seven Arsenal stars who jumped ship for Manchester City

Photo: Emmanuel Adebayor’s move to Man City was particularly controversial (Picture: Getty Images)

Adebayor, Nasri… Arteta next? 

Over the past decade, Arsenal have made a habit of selling some of their best players to Manchester City.

Now, after Arsene Wenger’s latest revelations, club captain Mikel Arteta could become the latest to jump ship for the Citizens.

The Spaniard could be following in the footsteps of some of the north Londoners’ best, and worst, signings in doing so.

Here are how his predecessors have fared at the Etihad…

Kolo Toure, signed July 2009 for £14m

A part of the Invincibles side and a loyal servant for seven years, this move was a painful one for Arsenal fans.

Arsenal fans just couldn’t stay angry with Kolo Toure (Picture: Getty Images)

However, with the Gunners paying off their new stadium and the Sky Blues flush with cash, Wenger reluctantly sanctioned a deal.

Luckily for Arsenal, Toure was unable to replicate his best form under the likes of Mark Hughes and Roberto Mancini.

Despite originally being named club captain, he was stripped of the honur when Hughes was sacked a season later, and went on to fail a drugs test in 2011 – after which he became a squad player before leaving for Liverpool in 2013.

Emmanuel Adebayor, signed July 2009 for £25m

Adebayor’s departure from Arsenal was an acrimonious one and he certainly fanned the flames when he infamously ran the length on the pitch to taunt his former fans, after he marked his first appearance against his old side with a vital goal.

Emmanuel Adebayorr an a long way just to wind up Arsenal supporters (Picture: Getty Images)

However, this now infamous episode apart, the Togo international actually struggled to live up to his hefty transfer fee at the Etihad, and ended up leaving after a series of controversial incidents.

He ended with 19 goals in 45 appearances for Man City.

Gael Clichy, signed July 2011 for £7m

Given the esteem Kieran Gibbs was held in at the time at the time, not too many tears were shed when Gael Clichy departed for Manchester.

The France international has, however, become part of the furniture at the Etihad, managing to bag a couple of Premier League medals while sharing the left-back berth with Aleksandar Kolarov.

No one really minded Gael Clichy joining Manchester City (Pictured: Getty Images)

Despite Gibbs lack of progress and constant injury struggles, Clichy hasn’t been missed too much given the emergence of the ultra consistent Nacho Monreal.

Samir Nasri, signed August 2011 for £25m

The former Marseille midfielder has never been shy of making the odd controversial comment and his claim upon signing for Manchester City that their fans were more passionate than their Arsenal counterparts confirmed his status as a villain in the red half of north London.

Samir Nasri still gets grief from Arsenal fans today (Picture: Getty)

Inconsistency has marred the Frenchman’s time with the Citizens, but he has still managed to win two Premier League titles in his five years to date.

With Kevin De Bruyne now ruling the roost at the Etihad though, it may not be long before the 28-year-old is shipped out.

Bacary Sagna, signed June 2014 for free

Bacary Sagna has been an unqualified success at Manchester City (Picture: Getty Images)

Sagna stuck with Arsenal through thick and thin over the course of Arsenal’s trophyless spell, so there were no hard feelings when he decamped for City on a free having marked his final game for the Gunners with an FA Cup winners’ medal.

Now 33-years-old, the Frenchman has done well to take Pablo Zabaleta’s place in the starting line-up, but may not hold on to it much longer due to his advancing years.

The rest: 

Other Arsenal players to leave and eventually end up at Manchester City, albeit not directly, include club legend Patrick Vieira, as well as back-up goalkeepers Stuart Taylor and Richard Wright.

Will Arsenal regret letting Patrick Vieira coach elsewhere (Picture: Getty Images)

Losing Vieira as a player was a blow, missing out on making him a coach may become a bigger one.

Now managing New York City, the former midfielder’s personality seems tailor-made for the top job, and with Wenger’s future in doubt his closer ties to their rivals could become a contentious issue.

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