Who are some players that when you think about, is quite shocking that they played for Arsenal.
David Luiz too
Gus Caesar for me
Steve Sidwell for me. I always associated him with Reading and a player who could potentially step up for a bigger club but he started his career at Arsenal.
Willian.
But in all seriousness, I couldn’t believe Davor Suker used to play when he was right at the top in his prime.
Jens Lehmann and Sol Campbell having second spells is pretty strange looking back.
Also, Joel Campbell and Wellington Silva who were signed but didn’t qualify for a work permit so spent almost their entire time out on loan. Campbell at least made a few appearances, I don’t think Wellington even played a minute.
Benayoun I guess. Mostly because I watched every game he played in but basically don’t remember how he played.
David Platt
I always forget John Hartson played for us.
Harry Kane…in the youth system, but still.
David Luiz is a bizarre move I probably still haven’t fully processed
Alberto Mendez Rodriguez.
Weird.
David Platt for me. Never really got used to it
Merida. As a Greek I should also add Tavlaridis.
Fran Merida maybe not turned out to be the next Fabregas but has had a decent career overall. Mostly played with lower level La Liga teams and their version of Championship, plays now in the Chinese League. Seem to remember him kicking up a fuss at Arsenal about game time. Went to Atletico Madrid only played 20 times there, and had a loan spell with Real Sociedad while at Arsenal. But that’s as high level as it got for him.
Came here for this. Often touted as the next Fabregas, but ended up not even being the next Seb Larsson. Jon Toral even more so.
Rami Shaaban is another random one, such a weird signing. He had no pedigree whatsoever when he came to Arsenal, having played 8 seasons of professional football across 6 different clubs in Sweden and Egypt. He went on loan at West Ham and then moved to Brighton, managing a massive 9 appearances in 4 years of English football.
Larsson had a good career, pretty much played 70% of his time in England in the PL. Played 133 times for his country, when they were actually good. Made over 200 apps for Birmingham and Sunderland and 40 for Hull. Played PL football for Sunderland for his whole run and played three season for Birmingham in PL with two only in the Championship and all of his run with Hull in the Championship. I’d consider that a success.
Toral, had a decent run in Championship but never seemed to settle with one club. The fact he was shipped off to Greece and not with one of their biggest clubs is pretty telling and he was only 26. Seems to be playing regularly for that side.
Yeah I’m not saying Larsson wasn’t good, he had a good career for sure, just nowhere near the level of Cesc in ability or achievements. The hype around Merida was crazy at one point but he never got close to the level of someone like Larsson even, that was my point.
Eduardo’s been mostly forgotten, and when he’s remembered, it’s for his horrific injury.
Not really anymore but Gervinho for me was a surprise. Became a fifa fan before an arsenal fan. Fifa fans know the Gervinho, Ibarbo, Doumbia front line of terror. I was a few years into being an arsenal fan that I found out he played for us.