Arsenal kept hold of Alexis Sanchez as Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain headed the list of Emirates Stadium exits on transfer deadline day.
Sanchez had been the subject of two late bids from Manchester City but was not allowed to complete his move to the north west as Arsenal failed in their own last-minute attempts to sign Thomas Lemar from Monaco.
The France international then showed Arsenal supporters what they were missing by scoring his first two goals for his country in their 4-0 World Cup qualifying win over Holland — the first of which was a sublime volley.
Arsenal made an 11th-hour effort to sign the 21-year-old in a club-record deal, reportedly worth €100million, but did not have time to get the transfer over the line.
That meant Sanchez was prevented from joining City as Press Association Sport understands Arsenal were only prepared to let him leave if they recruited a big-name replacement.
City had reportedly tabled a bid worth up to €65m but Sanchez will now remain at Arsenal with his contract expiring at the end of the season.
One player who did land a move away was England international Oxlade-Chamberlain, who completed the formalities on his transfer to Liverpool.
The midfielder’s move to Anfield was one of the biggest domestic transfer of deadline day as Oxlade-Chamberlain insisted he wants to take his game to the next level.
“The decision to leave was tough after being a part of the club for so many years, but I feel that this move is right for the next stage in my ongoing development,” he said.
Oxlade-Chamberlain joins Kieran Gibbs in leaving the Emirates Stadium in the past 48 hours after the full-back moved to West Brom on Wednesday.
The pair were part of a quintet of Arsenal stars who formed part of a promising British core of players much-heralded by manager Arsene Wenger.
Another of the group, Aaron Ramsey, posted a message on Instagram which looked to query the decision to sell.
“Another of our British boys heading on to new things,” he wrote alongside a picture of himself and Oxlade-Chamberlain.
“Not only have we lost a great player we’ve lost a great guy in the changing room and It is sad to see you go mate.
“Had some great memories over the years playing along side you and I wish you all the best with this new chapter in your life ?#theOX#shaaambles.”
The “shaaambles” hashtag refers to Oxlade-Chamberlain’s nickname, rather than being a comment on Arsenal’s dealings.
Ramsey is the only one of those five precocious players, famously pictured alongside one another as they all penned new deals in December 2012, who finds himself a first-team regular at the club.
Carl Jenkinson is currently on loan at Birmingham, although he is sidelined having dislocated his shoulder on his Blues debut, while Jack Wilshere was widely expected to be sent out on a temporary deal having spent last season at Bournemouth.
The deadline day outgoings continued as forwards Lucas Perez and Joel Campbell completed loan moves away from the club.
Perez returned to previous side Deportivo for the season while Costa Rica international Campbell signed a similar deal with Real Betis.
Campbell has been on Arsenal’s books since 2011 but this is his sixth temporary move away from north London and will be his second spell on loan in Seville.
Defender Calum Chambers was reportedly the target of two big-money bids from Leicester but Arsenal were adamant he would be staying put.
Having missed out on Lemar, Wenger failed to add to the earlier summer signings of Sead Kolasinac and Alexandre Lacazette despite only finishing fifth in the Premier League last season.
Other departures included Poland goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny joining Juventus last month and Valencia signing defender Gabriel earlier in August.
Promising defender Cohen Bramall joined Jenkinson on loan at Birmingham while a host of young players were also moved on.
