5 players Arsenal regretted letting go

Time Stamp: February 25, 2022 2:30 AM

Over the years, many top clubs have let talented players go only for them to resurface at other clubs and enjoy successful careers. Arsenal are no exception to this scenario as The Gunners have let some slip through their net. What makes The Gunners an exceptional case is that some players they have let go have proven to be world-class talents in their own right – players that could’ve possibly made a difference in North London. But who are some of these top talents?

 

Serge Gnabry

It took a few seasons for Serge Gnabry to find who he was as a player but what a player he has turned out to b. The German winger burst to fame with Arsenal as his pace and mazy runs caught the eye instantly. A couple of goals in the 2013-14 season earned him a Golden Boy nomination that season however a prolonged injury put him on the sidelines. An unproductive loan spell with West Brom and discipline issues saw Gnabry leave Arsenal in 2016 to go to Werder Bremen in the Bundesliga. In his homeland, Gnabry shone scoring 11 goals in his first season with Bremen. After reproducing the same form with Hoffenheim a season later, he joined Bayern Munich in 2018. Since being with Bayern, Gnabry has been a world-beater. He has netted double figure goal tallies in all four seasons with the German giants and won 4 Bundesliga titles as well. It was a move that certainly saw Gnabry shine.

 

Donyell Malen

It seemed like a dream come true when Donyell Malen joined Arsenal in 2015 moving across to the UK from Holland. However, the Dutch prodigy never settled in England and despite excellent form and flirtation with the senior Arsenal squad, it didn’t keep him in London. Instead, the tricky attacker returned to his homeland joining PSV Eindhoven in 2017. His taste for goal didn’t keep him out of the senior squad for very long as he debuted for PSV that season. It would be a couple of seasons later where his impact would be felt as he netted 10 goals in the 2018-19 season. After the Dutch season was cancelled in 2020, Malen’s true form was showed the following year scoring 19 goals in 32 games. Since then, Malen has joined Borussia Dortmund looking to take his form one step further in one of Europe’s most competitive leagues/

 

Ismael Bennacer

Arsenal spent over a decade searching for a top-level holding midfielder but little did they realise there was one lurking in their ranks for several seasons. Ismael Bennacer spent two seasons in Arsenal’s youth ranks but the Algerian never once featured for the senior squad. Instead, Bennacer moved to Italy with Empoli and showed a calmness beyond his years. That demeanour, mixed with excellent passing, made him a top level midfield anchor. After two seasons with Empoli, Bennacer was sold to AC Milan as the Rossonieri completed a squad rebuild. Since then, Bennacer has become an exemplary holding midfielder that is capable at playing at the highest level for any top side in Europe.

 

Carlos Vela

It seems a mystery how Carlos Vela didn’t become a star for Arsenal. After several impressive performances for The Gunners in League Cup matches including a stunning hat-trick against Sheffield United in 2008. The powerful striker always had strong finishing abilities but injuries hindered his time at The Emirates. After a productive loan spell in Spain with Real Sociedad in the 2011/12 season, the Mexican striker made him move permanent to the La Liga side. It was a wise move has he netted 30 league goals over the next two seasons at La Anoeta. His form didn’t dwindle after he left Spain for the USA in 2018 where he joined Los Angeles FC. The best return was in 2019 where Vela scored 34 goals in 31 games underlining how good a finisher Vela has been throughout his career.

 

Harry Kane

Has there ever been a bigger thorn in Arsenal’s side than Harry Kane? Before becoming the Tottenham legend he is today, Kane spent time in the Arsenal academy when he was 8. However, the powers at be released him for being too overweight leading Kane on a path through London that resulted in a move to Spurs aged in 2004. Since then. Kane has risen through the ranks to become one of the Premier League’s deadliest strikers. What makes this story even richer is the amount of goals Kane has scored against Arsenal in all competitions. In his professional career, Kane has scored at least 11 times for Spurs against Arsenal – an all-time record for the North London Derby. It’s a moment that will always remind The Gunners how Kane’s story could’ve been so much different had he stayed in North London with Arsenal back in 2002.

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