Arsenal FC: Fabregas, Henry, Van Persie In Gunners' All Star Team Of the Decade

Arsenal are one of the most successful clubs in the world, and even though they are going through a frustrating title drought, they have a rich history and have won a lot of trophies in the past. In the last decade, they have been admired by supporters all round the globe for their beautiful style of play.

The Invincibles of Arsenal, who went a full season unbeaten under the stewardship of Arsene Wenger, played some of the finest football in Europe. It was a team that boasted some of the greatest talents that the game has ever seen. Their record has yet to be broken by any team in the Premier League.

I am compiling a list in the interest of cataloguing the best eleven players at their respective positions for Arsenal in this decade.

David Seaman: Goalkeeper

David Seaman was named seventh among the greatest players to have represented Arsenal in a poll on the club's official website. He was one of the safest keepers in the Premier League, and was a great success in his time at Arsenal. He was also the first choice goalkeeper for England, but blamed himself for the loss against Brazil when he was beaten by a superb free kick from Ronaldinho.

In the years from 2000-2003 he was hampered by injuries but was still an important member of the squad. Jens Lehmann replaced him as the first choice goalkeeper in the 2003-04 unbeaten season, and was also great for the Gunners.

Ashley Cole: Left Back
 
Ashley Cole, or Cashley, was one of the best players to have emerged from the Arsenal academy, and was an integral part of Arsenal after he cemented his place on the team in the early 2000s. Arsene Wenger deserves a lot of credit for promoting him from the academy to the first team, bestowing his faith on the Englishman.

Cole subsequently established himself as a regular for England, and was an integral part of the Invincibles. Cashley acquired this name when he quit the Gunners for Chelsea under acrimonious circumstances, leaving a bitter taste in the mouths of Arsenal supporters. Gael Clichy has replaced Cole in the Left Back position and is presently Arsenal's longest serving player, but he has still some way to go before he is as good as Cole.

Sol Campbell: Centre Back

Sol Campbell's transfer from arch-rivals Tottenham to Arsenal is still considered to be one of the most controversial transfers to happen in the Premiership. Campbell was one of the best centre backs in the world in his first tenure at Arsenal, and was one of the most important players in the Invincibles squad.

Sol Campbell scored in the loss to Barcelona in the Champions League Final in 2006, after which he joined Portsmouth on a free transfer. His career then took a turn for the worse, joining Notts county from Portsmouth and then quitting Notts after a couple of games. He improved his fitness training with Arsenal reserves, and was signed by Wenger in January.

He put on some courageous displays, with his performance against Spurs deserving of special mention. He moved from Arsenal again last summer to join Newcastle United on a free transfer. Sol has had a long career, and should be appreciated for his committed performances for the Gunners.

Kolo Toure: Centre Back
 
It was a difficult decision for me to include Kolo Toure when there were other extremely good players like Martin Keown amongst others. But the fact that he was one of the most consistent players for the Gunners tilted the scales in favour of Toure and also, he was also the first choice centre back, along with Sol Campbell, in the Invincibles squad.

For more than six years he was a hardworking team player for the Gunners, and I have included him for his importance to the team in the best part of the decade.

He did get not get along well with William Gallas, and looked for a transfer away from Arsenal because of that. He was sold to Manchester City for around 15 million, where he was named captain for the 2009-10 season. However, he stepped down from the captaincy for City in 2010-11 season, and Carlos Tevez was given the armband.
 
Bacary Sagna

Again, it was a tough decision for me to choose Bacary Sagna ahead of Lauren. Sagna is one of the consistent performers for Arsenal and is the first choice right back at present. Sagna joined Arsenal in the summer of 2007, and displaced Emmanuel Eboue to be the first choice at right back.Sagna might not be the best, when it comes to the attacking side of a fullback, but he is still one of the most competent players at his position and is an integral part of the team.


He was voted the best right back in the Premier League in his debut season for Arsenal and has been consistent for the Gunners . He has not won a trophy with Arsenal, but is one of the key members of the current team.

Sagna has always put the team before himself, as was demonstrated when he played following the death of his brother.It was really difficult to choose between Lauren and Sagna, but in my opinion, Sagna can be a great player for Arsenal in the future.

Patrick Viera: Central Midfielder (Captain)

Patrick Viera is an Arsenal legend who endeared himself to supporters with his inspirational performances in the middle of the park.The tough tackling midfielder was one of the most influential players for the Gunners, realizing his true potential during his time at Arsenal under Wenger. He was one of Arsenal's best signings to date, and one of the main reasons why Arsenal were considered to be among the strongest teams in the world.

He was the captain of the Invincibles team, and forged a strong partnership with Gilberto Silva in midfield. He was a complete midfielder that was ranked fifth by Arsenal fans in a poll conducted by the club's official website. He left Arsenal in the year 2005 to join Juventus, where he stayed only for a season. He then moved on to Inter Milan, and in the last year was signed by Manchester City. He still remains a favourite with the Arsenal supporters, and received a rousing reception when he played at the Emirates last year.

Cesc Fabregas: Central Midfielder
 
Cesc Fabregas is the current Arsenal captain and is well worthy of his spot alongside legends like Patrick Viera and Thierry Henry. Fabregas was signed by Arsene Wenger at a bargain price at the tender age of 16 from FC Barcelona. Wenger believed in the youngster's talent, giving him numerous chances, but credit should go to Cesc himself for working hard and improving continuously as a player.

His creativity could be seen at a very young age, and he has improved a lot in his time at Arsenal, turning himself into one of the best central midfielders in the world. At only 23, he still has time on his side, and will be looking to lift a major trophy with Arsenal. On this current young team, Fabregas provides the spark and creativity.

He was named as the Arsenal captain after Wenger stripped William Gallas of the armband. He had the highest tally of goals and assists in the 2009-10 season for the Gunners, and was also nominated for the PFA player of the year award. His only regret with Arsenal is that he has not won many trophies with the team and though he has been linked with a return to Barcelona for some time now, there is every chance that Arsene Wenger can convince him to stay with the Gunners.

Robert Pires: Winger 

Robert Pires' career at Arsenal ended on a very sad note when he was substituted to accommodate a keeper after Jens Lehmann was red carded after only 12 minutes. A heartbroken Pires said afterwards, "I was very disappointed. When I saw my number on the fourth official’s board to be substituted, I couldn't believe it. It was my last game after six years at the club, a Champions League Final in front of all my family in Paris where I became World Cup champion and it lasted just 12 minutes. That was very hard to take".

But in the six years that he was at Arsenal, he was one of the best players for the Gunners. Arsenal supporters loved the way Pires contributed to the team and voted him the sixth greatest Gunner of all time by fans on a poll conducted by the club's official website. Pires struggled to come to grips with the physicality of the EPL in his first year, but quickly adjusted to it and produced some enchanting displays for Arsenal.

Even though his career ended on a disappointing note, he has captured the hearts of the Gooners with his magnificent displays. He'll be remembered forever as one of the most important members of the Invincibles.

Robin Van Persie: Winger/Striker

Robin Van Persie is one of Arsenal's finest talents, and if not for the numerous injuries he has suffered he would surely be considered among the world's best players. Van Persie has the creativity, vision and shooting ability to create goals out of nothing. The very presence of Van Persie on the pitch inspires the Gunners to play better and presents a threat to oppositions.

Van Persie had disciplinary issues, early on in his career at Feyenoord, mainly due to his rifts with the then Feyenoord and present Dutch coach, Van Marwijk. He was signed by Arsene Wenger, who sought a replacement for the aging Dennis Bergkamp. Van Persie was first used as a winger by Wenger, who then said he would get his chances as a striker in the future.

In the 2009-10 season he played as a centre forward, following the departure of Emmanuel Adebayor. He also extended his contract with Arsenal, saying that he couldn't imagine not playing for them. Though there was interest from big clubs like Chelsea, Manchester City and Juventus, he said he would be more than happy to remain with the Gunners.

At present, he is also the vice captain of the Arsenal team. This season, he was awarded the legendary No. 10 shirt, previously owned by Dennis Bergkamp and had a great season scoring the highest number of goals for the Gunners.
Dennis Bergkamp: Striker

Dennis Bergkamp is regarded by many to be one of the best support strikers in the history of the game. He could play in the "hole" and create numerous opportunities for strikers. He was more than capable of scoring some glorious goals, and was one of the most important Gunners players in the last decade.

The Dutchman possessed skills that most players can only dream of, and forged a deadly partnership first with Ian Wright, and later with Thierry Henry. Bergkamp possessed talents that many footballers can only dream of. He was one of the most loyal players for Arsenal and excelled not only at the club level, but also for Netherlands, scoring 37 goals in only 79 games.

In 2007, he was inducted into the English Football Hall of Fame, becoming the first and only Dutchman to be inducted in. Bergkamp was voted as the second greatest player to have played for Arsenal by an online poll conducted by the club's official website.
Thierry Henry: Striker

This was one of the easiest decisions I had to make while compiling this list.Thierry Henry was voted as the greatest player to have ever played for the Gunners in a fan-poll conducted by the official club website.
Wenger worked with Henry at Monaco, before the latter joined Juventus and the former joined Arsenal. Henry was not a great success at Juventus, and Wenger utilised the opportunity to reunite with Henry.

At first, Henry was playing on the left wing, but Wenger converted him into a centre forward. Henry had early blips in the central role, but under the tutelage of Wenger, he grew to be one of the best centre forwards in the world. He terrorized opposition defenders with his pace, movement, skill and creativity. 

Henry has many awards and achievements to his name. To name a few, he is the third highest goal scorer ever in the EPL, behind only Alan Shearer and Andy Cole. He has scored the highest number of goals for Arsenal in the league. He won the Golden Boot in the in both the Premier League and the European stage on more than one occasion. He was also named on numerous occasions in the PFA team of the year. It is not only the awards that matter, it was his contribution and love for the club that endeared him to the supporters.

7 Great Gunners Who Could Not Be Included

There are a lot of Gunners, who have contributed immensely for the club in this decade, but I could not include all of them in this list. Nevertheless, I would like to name seven more Arsenal players, who could have featured on this list.

Jens Lehmann: Goalkeeper
The German goalkeeper was considered eccentric by many, but what is undeniable is that he had quality, and could be unbeatable on his day. His performances in the 2003-04 season were very good, and it was a major reason that Arsenal went unbeaten throughout the season.

Ray Parlour: Midfielder

Parlour was one of the most under-rated performers in his time, but Arsenal fans have a special place for him in their hearts. He was one of the most consistent players in midfield, and was an important player for the Gunners. He was an important member in the Invincibles squad, and was one of the most loyal players for the club.

Lauren: Right Back

One of the toughest decisions I had to make, while compiling this list was to choose between Sagna and Lauren. Lauren was the first choice Right Back for more than 5 years for Arsenal, and was a part of the Invincibles. He was a very competent player, and also supported the attack on a lot of occasions.

Gilberto Silva: Midfielder

Gilberto Silva formed a partnership with Patrick Viera in the centre of midfield, which was the key to success for Arsenal. Silva played with a lot of passion for the club, and also established a good partnership with Cesc Fabregas, after Viera left the club. Gilberto was a role model for many youngsters, and helped youngsters develop into excellent players for the Gunners.


Nwankwo Kanu: Striker

Following the departure of Nicolas Anelka from Arsenal, Kanu emerged as one of the most important strikers for Arsenal. Though not thhe most prolific of strikers, he could score goals, when Arsenal needed it most. His importance to the side decreased following the emergence of Thierry Henry, but he was a fan favourite in his time at Arsenal and was voted 13th in the poll.

Martin Keown: Defender

He was not at his best after the millenium, but it would be a shame, not to mention him, considering his performances for Arsenal for over 10 years. He was a tough tackling defender, who had a long career with Arsenal, and is regarded as one of the best defenders to have played for the club. He lost his place to Kolo Toure in 2003, and moved on in 2004. He will be remembered as one of the best players to have played for the Gunners in the club's history.

Freddie Ljunberg: Winger



Probably, the most contentious decision in compiling this list was the inclusion of Robin Van Persie over Freddie Ljunberg. It was a really hard decision for me to make, because Ljunberg was one of the greatest players for the Gunners. He had great talent, even better work rate and was a huge fan favourite, who voted him as the 11th greatest Gunner in Arsenal's history in 2008. Ljunberg was one of the most loved players in the Wenger era, who supported him ever since his outstanding debut for the Gunners.

  

Arsenal Transfer Prospects: The Pros and Cons of Signing Gary Cahill

Arsene Wenger made it clear that he was in the market for a new defender a few days back but there has been no signing till now and with only nine days to go before the transfer window closes, the French tactician will look to bring another centre back to the Emirates. The Gunners have only two fit centre backs Laurent Koscielny and Johan Djourou who are fit and the other two defenders Sebastien Squillaci and Thomas Vermaelen are currently injured.

Djourou who did not play in the previous season except for the final game was expected to play only two games a week for the most of this season. However injuries have meant that the Swiss defender has had to play a number of games and the Gunners have benefited greatly from his impressive form this season. Despite his superb performances, Wenger will want to rest him of possible so that he stays fit.

The Gunners will be in a horrible position if the Swiss International gets injured at this time of the season which is why Wenger needs to bring in another defender. They have been linked with a number of defender including the likes of Christopher Samba of Blackburn and Per Mertesacker of Werder Bremen but one defender who has been continuously linked with a move to the Emirates is Bolton defender Gary Cahill.

Wenger has also stated that he would like to sign a defender who has the experience of playing in the Premiership. In the previous season, Cahill was one of the targets according to reports but he was priced too high which is why Arsenal could not sign him. It is likely to be quite high this time as well but Cahill could be interested in the move which would be significant in reducing the price.

Chelsea's top target remains Benefica defender David Luiz and should they sign the talented defender, it is unlikely that any other top European club other than Arsenal will be interested in signing the English International. Also, the Gunners could loan the talented Carlos Vela till the end of the season which would also interest Bolton manager Owen Coyle.

The Bolton defender has been in superb form this season which is one of the reasons that the club is in the top half of the table. Though it does seem like a no-brainer that Arsenal sign the English defender, let us analyse the pros and cons of signing the talented defender.

Advantages

Gary Cahill is a quality defender who has proved that he is amongst the best defenders in the league with consistent displays this season. Also, he is quite young at 25 and has a bright future ahead of him. The England International has excellent aerial ability which is important and also makes vital interceptions to break up play when necessary. He is experienced in the Premiership and will fit into the Arsenal without many problems.

He has also got leadership skills despite his age and can be immense for the Gunners in the future if they do sign him. Wenger likes defenders who have decent technical ability and Cahill is one of the few defenders who can bring out the ball from the back to start attacks. He is also eligible to play in the Champions League games this season which is not the case with many other transfer targets like Mertesacker and Vertonghen.

Disadvantages

Cahill is a player who will undoubtedly add a lot of quality to the team which is why it is difficult to point out many disadvantages in signing the talented England International. The biggest problem that Wenger would face if he does sign a player like Cahill is how he will accommodate him in the first team. It would mean that the Gunners have five centre backs and it is likely that Sebastien Squillaci might be sold in the summer which is unfortunate for the French centre back.

Koscielny and Djourou have both shown that they have the talent to be successful for the Gunners on a regular basis for the Gunners and both of them deserve to have enough playing time in the future in order to develop into excellent defenders in the future. Thomas Vermaelen is certainly going to be a starter if he is match fit which leaves only one place for the other defenders.

Gary Cahill will be most likely to start games alongside the Belgian while Koscielny and Djourou might not get enough opportunities to realise their potential. Koscielny and Djourou have both shown that they do have a lot of potential but if Cahill is signed by Arsenal, it is likely that the duo will receive lesser playing time in the important competitions.

Will Wenger Spend the Money Required to Sign Gary Cahill?

Arsene Wenger will have to make a big decision this week on whether to spend the money required to acquire a quality defender like Gary Cahill. The French tactician will have to sell one of the two new defensive acquisitions in the summer if they do buy a defender like Cahill. Also, Djourou in particular deserves to start games regularly for the Gunners and he looks to have got over his injury problems.

The French tactician might opt for a quick fix solution and buy a defender of much lower quality like Matthew Upson or Sol Campbell but if Arsenal are to challenge consistently on all four fronts, a strong defender like Gary Cahill could be extremely useful for the Gunners and with the goalkeeping issues finally solved, a quality central defender is the requirement for Arsenal to win titles regularly in the future

Arsenal Transfer Prospects: Analysing The Pros and Cons Of Signing Sol Campbell

Arsene Wenger would have been relieved that the Gunners managed to earn a replay against Leeds through a late Cesc Fabregas penalty which saved them the embarassment of being knocked out by the championship side. The Gunners would surely be happy with the replay than being eliminated at this stage but Wenger will know they have to play an extra game at this point of the season.

The game against Leeds is important and the French tactician will be forced to play some of his best players for the encounter. But he has admitted that he does not have enough cover in defence if Thomas Vermaelen cannot recover from his injury by the end of January. Johan Djourou played in three games this week but it is still doubtful if he can be used more than twice a week on a regular basis.

Sebastien Squillaci was signed to provide experienced depth to the side but he has found it difficult to adjust to the hardships of the Premier League. He has not enjoyed a good start to his Arsenal career and has already dropped down the order with three players ahead of him at present. Though the French International has the experience, he has not provided a commanding presence at the back which has been lacking in the absence of the Belgian.

Laurent Koscielny has shown he has the talent to be an excellent defender though he has also had an inconsistent start to his Arsenal career. It is clear that this lad will improve with experience and will gain a lot more when Vermaelen is fit again. The former Lorient defender is a player for the future and will benefit from good guidance from the manager and his more experienced team mates.

Arsenal are still challenging for all the four titles and they need quality depth in every position because this is the time of the year when players have to be rotated so that they can perform at good fitness levels. If Vermaelen does suffer another setback, he could be ruled out for the entire season. In that case, Arsenal will not have the depth and Alex Song is too valuable a player to be played in defence because he is not a great defender.

Arsene Wenger said there there was a possibility of them signing a new defender in January and it is unlikely that the Frenchman will invest too much in that department considering that Arsenal have three quality young defenders in Laurent Koscielny, Johan Djourou and Thomas Vermaelen. Most of the supporters would like Wenger to target a quality centre back like Jan Vertonghen or Per Mertesacker but it is unlikely for such a move to happen in January.

There were reports recently which linked former Arsenal captain Sol Campbell to link up with the Gunners again. Though it is quite possible that it could be just tabloid rumours, all prospects will be evaluated by the shrewd tactician. He provided Campbell with the chance to rebuild his career which he did last season when he signed for the Gunners in January.

The tall defender has huge respect from the Arsenal supporters despite leaving the club twice and Wenger also is an admirer of the Centre Back's fighting qualities. In the context of the recent rumour, let us analyse what the England defender brings to the table for the Gunners.

Advantages

Campbell is one of the most experienced players currently playing in the Premier League and his inputs could be invaluable to youngsters like Laurent Koscielny and Johan Djourou. It is clear that he has got huge respect for the club and has passion towards it. Arsenal do not have many players who have won many trophies but Campbell is one who has been successful in the past with the Gunners and has seen it all before.

He will provide a lot of fighting spirit for the Gunners and at times, Arsenal tend to give up too easily. The Centre Back has a lot of experience at the highest level and if his performances in the previous season is any indication, he can still add worth to the defence. He has excellent aerial ability and is excellent in dealing with danger. Also, Arsenal lack leadership at the back and Campbell can inspire a lot of confidence within the team at the back.

Disadvantages

If another centre back is signed, then the Gunners will have five defenders if Vermaelen does return in January. Squillaci will move further down the order which would mean that Wenger has lost confident in the French defender. Also, Sol Campbell is 36-years old and is likely to be signed only on a six month deal, which is not likely to cost much considering reports that Alan Pardew is not keen on working with him.

Also Campbell is not the quality player he was in his prime years and his weaknesses could be exploited at the back. Though he has decent pace, he could not play with good fitness levels for the 90 minutes which might prompt a subsitution in the second half. Also, he has not played much for Newcastle and does not look as fit as he was when he played for the Gunners last season. He cannot play three games a week and Arsenal will again have to shell out the money to buy a centre back next summer.

Wenger's Prospects

Arsenal have been linked with a number of defenders including the likes of the powerful Christopher Samba and Per Mertesacker. Though Samba is very dominant in the air, it is still doubtful how he would perform against the likes of technically strong oppositions such as Barcelona and Manchester United. Also, he would not come at a bargain and there might be better options for Arsenal in the summer than spending around 10 million on Samba.

Sol Campbell has been immense for the club in the past and will still fight hard for the club. He commands the defence well and can work on improving the defence of the Gunners. He adds much more than only his defensive qualities which could prove to be pivotal in Arsenal sustaining a consistent title challenge on all fronts.