da lvbet： Arsenal have had some terrific players over the years. All you have to do is think back to the season of 2003/04 where Arsene Wenger’s ‘Invincibles’ went the whole Premier League season without defeat.
da betway： That squad included some of the greatest names in the history of the league, including Thierry Henry, Dennis Bergkamp, Robert Pires and Pascal Cygan. Yes, he was in there too.
It is funny to think that amongst that list of consistent and great football players you got the likes of Cygan, Jeremy Aladidiere and David Bentley to name a few.
In every great squad there are players that may not fit the bill perfectly, and can even hide amongst the great players around them – after all, they do say you can only play as well as the team around you.
So we’ve put together an over-rated Arsenal XI of the Premier League era to celebrate those players who may have gotten more credit than deserved for the clubs success over the years…
GK – Jens Lehmann
How can the man between the sticks in a season where Arsenal didn’t lose for the whole 38 games be over-rated you ask? Well, he had a terrific back four in front of him, that answer is as simple as that. Prone to mistakes, Lehmann struggled to keep his starting place after the dispersal of that squad and became second fiddle to Manuel Almunia of all people.
Well, he had a terrific back four in front of him, that answer is as simple as that. Prone to mistakes, Lehmann struggled to keep his starting place after the dispersal of that squad and became second fiddle to Manuel Almunia of all people.
LB – Kieran Gibbs
Dubbed the next Ashley Cole, Gibbs was expected to fill the void left by Cole once he had left Highbury for pastures greater (Stamford Bridge), but he has never been able to live up to his fellow countryman’s standards. Even Arsene Wenger can’t quite make-up his mind as to whether he should play, as his appearances have fluctuated over the years.
Even Arsene Wenger can’t quite make-up his mind as to whether he should play, as his appearances have fluctuated over the years.
CB – Gabriel Paulista
Just over £11million is what Arsene Wenger paid for former Villarreal defender Gabriel back in January of 2015. He has since made only a 26 appearances for the Gunner’s. The Brazilian showed his true colours last season as he was sent off against Chelsea for a foul on Diego Costa. Rash and
He has since made only 26 appearances for the Gunners. The Brazilian showed his true colours last season as he was sent off against Chelsea for a foul on Diego Costa. Rash and un-composed, why Arsenal ever signed him is beyond me.
CB – Per Mertesacker
If Per Mertesacker wasn’t a semi-giant, would he actually class as a football player? Arsenal fans will say ‘well, he’s great in the air!’ And so should he be at a colossal 6 ft 6in, but other than that the former Germany international is generally cumbersome and sluggish.
And so should he be at a colossal 6 ft 6in, but other than that the former Germany international is generally cumbersome and sluggish.
RB – Emmanuel Eboue
Somewhat a cult hero at Arsenal because of his ‘banterous’ antics both off and on the field. But those antics too often distracted from the fact that Eboue wasn’t actually a good player, and he managed to somehow make nearly 150 appearances for the Gunners during his tenure at the club.
LM – Jose Antonio Reyes
Reyes at times was unbelievable. Quick, skilful and with an eye for the goal, the Spaniard did have some good times in a red shirt. However I like to think of him as a player Manchester City’s Jesus Navas – also formerly of Sevilla – based himself on. Plenty of speed, but little to no end product most of the time as proven by his sub-20 tally of goals in his last 200 appearances.
However, I like to think of him as a player Manchester City’s Jesus Navas – also formerly of Sevilla – based himself on. Plenty of speed, but little to no end product most of the time as proven by his sub-20 tally of goals in his last 200 appearances.
Plenty of speed, but little to no end product most of the time as proven by his sub-20 tally of goals in his last 200 appearances.
CM – Alexandre Song
So good he earns himself a move to Barcelona, where it didn’t take them two minutes to realise he really wasn’t as good as they first thought and shipoed him on loan to West Ham. Even they didn’t want him after two years on loan and sent him to play for Rubin Kazan instead, where he now struggles to make the starting XI.
Even they didn’t want him after two years on loan and sent him to play for Rubin Kazan instead, where he now struggles to make the starting XI.
CM – Jack Wilshere
Is there really any need for an explanation to this? Injury plagued, under-whelming and generally sub-par, Wilshere was continually given the nod by Wenger and multiple England managers despite the blatantly obvious fact he just wasn’t good enough. The Englishman’s summer loan move to Bournemouth is long overdue.
Injury plagued, under-whelming and generally sub-par, Wilshere was continually given the nod by Wenger and multiple England managers despite the blatantly obvious fact he just wasn’t good enough.
The Englishman’s summer loan move to Bournemouth is long overdue.
RM – Theo Walcott
Possibly the most over-rated player on this list. Walcott undeniably had the potential to be a big success, but can thank Arsene Wenger and Sven Goran Eriksen for his downfall. Paying a huge sum for him and then shipping off to the 2006 World Cup at such a young age did nothing but put heavy expectations on his shoulder that he couldn’t ultimately
Paying a huge sum for him and then shipping off to the 2006 World Cup at such a young age did nothing but put heavy expectations on his shoulder that he couldn’t ultimately live up to.
ST – Emmanuel Adebayor
Most Gunners fans would agree with me on this one seeing as the Togo international once sprinted the length of the pitch to gloat in front of his former fans when he scored for Manchester City.
The definition of an impact signing, Adebayor would begin to struggle once his impact had worn off and ultimately became impactless during the back end of his tenure at almost every club he’s ever been at.
ST – Lucas Podolski
One of the most decorated players in German footballing history in terms of International caps, Podolski did little in England to live up the huge reputation set before himself in Germany.
The occasional belter shouldn’t distract from the fact he did little to nothing of any worth during his spell at Arsenal – despite being a fan favourite.