Ashburton Grove - The Home of Mediocre Gunners?

[Angelito]

There's been a discussion on Arsenal fans loving to hate their best players lately. If we consider players from the Emirates era, or those who starred in this era, the list of players adored by Gooners isn't long, if there is such a list at all.

From getting jeered and booed, some of our best players have been treated very poorly. Moreover, we seem to be extra harsh on our best players, whilst continuing to pull every excuse out of the bag to defend mediocrity.

Below are what I believe the best/most influential players we've had in the Emirates era. It's not in any order.

Re-arrange the list—from top to bottom—to reveal who you think is the closest to being an Arsenal legend out of these players. None of them may be legends in your eyes, which is why I'm asking you rearrange it to see who's the closest to being one and who's the farthest away.

Cesc Fabregas (2003)
Robin van Persie (2004)
Alex Hleb (2005)
Tomas Rosicky (2006)
Bacary Sagna (2007)
Aaron Ramsey (2008)
Samir Nasri (2008)
Andrey Arshavin (2009)
Laurent Koscielny (2010)
Per Mertesacker (2011)
Santi Cazorla (2012)
Nacho Monreal (2013)
Mesut Ozil (2013)
Alexis Sanchez (2014)

In order of their signing dates.

Let's set personal likes and dislikes aside and honor some of the best that have worn the shirt in an era that has been unfair to fans and players alike.

[Dejan]

1. Cesc <3

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[Angelito]

1. Cesc <3

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Care to elaborate?

And what about the rest?

[Yago]

1. Cesc Fabregas (2003)
2. Laurent Koscielny (2010)
3. Aaron Ramsey (2008)
4. Tomas Rosicky (2006)
5. Bacary Sagna (2007)
6. Samir Nasri (2008)
7. Robin van Persie (2004)
8. Mesut Ozil (2013)
9. Alexis Sanchez (2014)
10. Andrey Arshavin (2009)
11. Santi Cazorla (2012)
12. Alex Hleb (2005)
13. Nacho Monreal (2013)
14. Per Mertesacker (2011)

Walcott should probably be in that list tbh

[knowledge93]

Cesc Fabregas (2003)
Aaron Ramsey (2008)
Santi Cazorla (2012)
Laurent Koscielny (2010)
Mesut Ozil (2013)
Alexis Sanchez (2014)
Robin van Persie (2004)
Tomas Rosicky (2006)
Bacary Sagna (2007)
Tomas Rosicky (2006)
Per Mertesacker (2011)
Nacho Monreal (2013))
Andrey Arshavin (2009)
Samir Nasri (2008)
Alex Hleb (2005)

[ag6789]

Robin Van Persie
Santi Cazorla
Cesc Fabregas
Alexis Sanchez
Mesut Ozil
Aron Ramsey
Tomas Rosicky
Nacho Monreal
Laurent Koscielny
Bacary Sagna
Andrey Arshavin
Per Mertasaker
Alexander Hleb
Took Nasri out as he didn't do enough for us inspite of his ample abilities, and was disrespectful towards the club later on.
Van Persie up top , for obvious reasons, scored Max for us in post Henri era. Cazorla,
Sanchez, Ozil , Ramsey up the table because they helped us back the winning ways after a long gap.
My two other favourites Rosicky, Arshavin- for great potential that didn't come to fruition for different reasons.

[Va-Va-Voom]

Sagna - Best ever RB and top 5 player of the Emirates era. Our only world class player who stayed loyal during our barren years when he could've joined other elite clubs.

Koscielny - Top player in his day and has been at the club for almost a decade. Donated money to save his local accordion factory. What a guy, a true renaissance man.

Fabregas - Boy wonder whose departure was the most understandable and amicable. He didn't join a rival club. We were on the brink of greatness with him as captain, shame we never got over the line.

Sanchez - No player has ever made as big as an impact for the club in such a short period of time. Got more assists than Ozil in 2 of 3 seasons he was here, that fact is often overlooked/not known.

Ramsey - Over a decade of service. 2 FA Cup winning goals.

Ozil - Divisive player but his arrival coincided with the end of our trophy drought.

Rosicky - Cult hero

Mertesacker - Big fvcking German who became a fan favourite.

Monreal

Arshavin/Hleb along with Reyes fall into the "what could have been?" category. Unfulfilled potential, doubt there is any footballer who regrets their decision to leave a club more than Hleb.

RVP - Best player of the Emirates era and one of the most naturally gifted players England has ever seen. Destroyed his legacy by joining United.

Nasri the Dog doesn't even deserve a mention in this conversation.

[Ach]

Ozil and Ramsey. 2 legitimate legends of this club. Can't separate the 2. I like Ozil more so he's top

Mertesacker - the best defender of the emirates era. Fan favourite. Roald Dahl even named a book after him

Sagna - so so good and should've been rated as the best rb in the league

Roaicky - if not for injury he'd be one of the best players in the world, certainly talked about in the same level as Nedved

Arshavin - what a talented player when he joined. Had a pre season with Wenger and the cancer took hold.

Alexis - brilliant at times and should be higher but cried like a bitch to leave.

Kos - bang average for us but loyal. Probably cos he's bang average but I'm optimistic he stayed cos he loved the club

Hleb - legend in pro ego. Couldn't produce an end product in real life if his life depended on it.

Cazorla - greatest sideways pass master we have had and if judging on that he's a legend.

Monreal - good squaddie. Nowhere near legend status

Nasri - he is what santi dreamt he could be. Left too early.

RVP - injury prone c***. Had one good season when finally fit and f***ked off to a rival.

Cesc - the face of failure for the youth project. Cried like a bitch cos he wanted to join his home town club and how we laughed when he was proven shot there and he returned to England and London absolutely finished.

[theHotHead]

I will do this when I get to work. But it got me thinking about why there is so much hate for players in the Emirates era compared to Highbury. It could just be technology now with forums so fans voices are heard easier. You have a different type of fan going to Arsenal now, lots of kids, women and middle class men go.

I don't remember the likes of David Hillier and Ian Selley getting hounded by fans like Denilson and Coquelin etc did. Different times I guess, there is not much patience left in the world and people want everything right now. Point is we had mediocre players before, we had good players before too, when they left us they were not hated like they are now. Even if they move to a nee league they are hated

[Rockape]

Why isn’t Alex Song in that list?

[theHotHead]

Cesc Fabregas (2003) - amazing player for us, great passer.
Robin van Persie (2004) - one of the best strikers in world football.
Aaron Ramsey (2008) - that 18 month purple patch and for scoring goals in FA Cup final.
Santi Cazorla (2012) - the glue to Arsenal's game, both footed, we miss him massively.
Mesut Ozil (2013) - brought happiness and joy to me in a time I hated football.
Laurent Koscielny (2010) - was a world class defender for a few years
Bacary Sagna (2007) - one of the best RBs in the league when he was with us. Consistent beyond belief
Emmanuel Eboue !!! Class clown, great RB and Arsenal legend.
Tomas Rosicky (2006) - hampered by injuries but when he played he made the team tick.
Per Mertesacker (2011) - anyone that has a song named big f***ing german is a top man. Class in periods of time.
Alexis Sanchez (2014) - one of the very few world class players we have had at the Emirates
Nacho Monreal (2013) - up until recently was our most improved player.
Alex Hleb (2005) - real quality on the ball, no end product though
Samir Nasri (2008) - world class on his day, shame he wasn't with us for longer
Andrey Arshavin (2009) - hot and cold but we will never forget the Anfield demolition.

Why is Eboue not in the list ???? I added him in, a total Arsenal legend.

[Angelito]

This is going to be controversial as f**k, but so be it:

1. Mesut Ozil
First world class player we signed since DB10. And the biggest name we've ever signed. His arrival coincided with trophies and some epic, big game wins. Mesut <3

2. Alexis Sanchez
Has scored more final-winning goals than Bergkamp and Henry combined. Only a petty Arsenal fan would undermine his contribution.

3. Aaron Ramsey
Has scored two trophy-winning goals. Talent-wise, he's nowhere near some of the best in the list, but his contribution has been significant.

4. Santi Cazorla
Arguably the best technically gifted player we've had in the Emirates era. The performance vs. City and that free-kick vs. Hull cements him as an Arsenal legend.

5. Bacary Sagna
The most consistent player of the Emirates era. Had we been more consistent and a title challenger, he'd have gone down as, perhaps, the best RB in Prem history. <FA's pussy explodes>

6. Robin van Persie
The greatest striker we've had after Henry. The flying Dutchman indeed.

7. Cesc Fabregas
Moaned to leave, but his skill cannot be ignored. Was the best CAM in the world at one point until our own, Mesut Ozil put him to shame.

8. Tomas Rosicky
Hands down the most talented player we've had since DB10.

9. Nacho Monreal
Mr. Dependable. Has scored some of the most crucial goals for us and easily the best LB we've had since Cole.

10. Laurent Koscielny
Has been a great servant to the club even if he hasn't always been a world class CB.

11. Per Mertesacker
Superb defender. Probably the second-best defender we've had after Sagna but more importantly, a great leader.

12. Andrey Arshavin
Raw talent. Wenger couldn't use him as well. As talented as any Arsenal legend I've ever seen.

13. Alex Hleb
The best dribbler we've had?

14. Samir Nasri
Okay.

[Va-Va-Voom]

Rosicky more talented than Cesc and RVP?

I've never seen any other teenaged midfielder dominate Europe's elite.

[Angelito]

Rosicky more talented than Cesc and RVP?

I've never seen any other teenaged midfielder dominate Europe's elite.

Talent ≠ Application.

Cesc was a better playmaker. Rosicky could play any position in the middle. The raw talent he had.. Unlucky that all those injuries didn't allow him to express his unreal talent.

[CrimsonGunner11]

Criteria
1. How long did he serve the club/is expected to serve the club?
2. Is he a joy to watch and how often/memorable player?
3. Is he a leader/captain material?
4. How many players have we had/do we have during the Emirates Era who are better than him in his position?
5. How did he leave the club/expected to leave the club?




Currently:
Rosicky (10 years)
Cesc (8 years)
Sagna (7 years)
Koscielny (9 years and counting)
RVP (8 years)
Cazorla (6 years)
Monreal (6 years and counting)
Ozil (6 years and counting)
Ramsey (11 years)
Mertesacker (7 years)
Sanchez (4 years)
Hleb (3 years)
Arshavin (4 years)
Nasri (3 years)