Robin van Persie
© Offside
Robin van Persie's debut campaign at Manchester United may have been impressive, being voted the fans' Player of the Year after playing a key part in their Premier League title success, but it was during a 17-month period at Arsenal that he enjoyed his best football.
After being brought in from Feyenoord for £2.5m, Van Persie was shaped into a true all-rounder and scored goals for fun between January 2011 and May 2012 - 59 in all, leading to his £24m switch to Old Trafford.
In many ways this was a classic Wenger signing, bringing in a left-winger and turning him into a ruthless striker, who would score what the Frenchman described as "the goal of a lifetime" against Charlton Athletic.
The manner of his exit may have hurt, but the Gunners got their money's worth out of Van Persie and ultimately offloaded before his injury struggles took hold.