Player Profiles

Staff and Player Profiles

Arsène Wenger, Manager

The media and rival fans and punters alike all made fun of Arsène Wenger when he was taken out of context some two years ago. He was misquoted as saying: "I think we can go the whole season unbeaten ...", and since then that quote became the bane of many jokes. Well, guess what? Arsenal did it. Arsène Wenger led Arsenal to an astonishing season in 2003-04 where the champions did not...

Manuel Almunia, Goalkeeper

When Manuel Almunia joined Arsenal in 2004, he was another relative unknown on these shores, having only really carved out the career of a journeyman for himself in Spain, being part of seven different clubs. Few predicted that he would stick around with Arsenal for much longer than a year or two, and a number of high-profile blunders will not have helped raise him in the esteem of the fans....

Abou Diaby, Defensive Midfielder

Few players at Arsenal have more pressure on them to perform in the 2008/09 season than Abou Diaby. After a bright start to his career, following a January 2006 transfer from French club Rennes, he suffered a horrific ankle injury just four months later, caused by a brutal challenge from Sunderland's Dan Smith. By that time however, whispered comparisons had already been made between Diaby,...

Bacary Sagna, Right-back

Conventional wisdom dictates that players from foreign leagues take at least six months to adapt when they arrive in the Premiership, if they manage to do so at all. However, it seems that conventional wisdom just does not apply in the case of Bacary Sagna. Another enigmatic signing in the summer of 2007, with right-back seemingly being the least of our worries, but it took only a handful of...

Cesc Fabregas, Right Central Midfielder (Captain)

Undeniably the jewel in Arsenal's crown, much rests on the shoulders of the young Catalan. Since the sale of Patrick Vieira in 2005, Arsène Wenger has made Fabregas the linchpin of his new Arsenal side and despite the pressure heaped upon him, 'Cesc' has risen admirably to the challenge. Adding goals to an ever-impressive passing game, in 2007/08 he finally looked to make the step up from...

Thomas Vermaelen, Central Defender

Vermaelen (23), who was the Ajax club captain last season, made his first team debut for the Dutch club at just 18, after playing at Youth level for Belgian side KFC Germinal Beerschot.

Laurent Koscielny, Central Defender

Arsenal Football Club has announced the signing of defender Laurent Koscielny from French Ligue 1 side Lorient on a long-term contract for an undisclosed fee.

Tomas Rosicky, Attacking Midfielder

Signed for Arsenal in May 2006, Tomas Rosicky was signed as a replacement for the exiting Robért Píres, also inheriting Píres' number 7 shirt. A playmaker blessed with incredible natural talent, Rosicky had an impressive World Cup scoring two goals in the Czech's win over the USA. Rosicky signed for previous club Borussia Dortmund in 2001, a year after starring in the Champions League with...

Samir Nasri, Winger

A naturally right-footed player, Samir Nasri generally plays on the left side of midfield for Arsenal but has also been used all over the midfield as an injury cover-up when needed. He has been hailed by many as the "new Zizou" after impressing at his boyhood club Marseille. Previously a regular for France at the youth level, Nasri was named in the Euro 2008 squad but received little playing...

Robin van Persie, Forward

Definitely one of the most skillful and technically brilliant players on our books, Robin van Persie looks like a young man with big things ahead of him. He came to Arsenal with a huge amount of both talent and ego but is starting to settle down now and we're starting to see the best of him. After coming to Arsenal with a 'bad-boy' reputation, van Persie struggled with his role on the bench...

Carlos Vela, Forward

Vela, a rising star and winner of the Golden Boot at 2005 FIFA U17 World Championship – which he helped his national team, Mexico, win – signed for Arsenal in November 2005. Following a series of loan spells in Spain, he returned to England, work permit in hand, for the 2008/09 season. The young striker made his competitive debut for Arsenal in a Premier League match against Newcastle and,...

Theo Walcott, Striker

Many have predicted a big year for the pacey young forward, and in given the physical frailties of the players in front of him, whether or not Theo Walcott can perform consistently could be one of the key success factors for the whole season. Arsène Wenger can have given him no higher vote of confidence than to hand him Thierry Henry's vacated no. 14 shirt, and, whilst further comparison's...

Denilson, Defensive Midfielder

Denilson is a talented young player from Sao Paulo with big things ahead of him. He was a surprise signing on the last day of the transfer window in August 2006 and many expected him to make up squad numbers. However he has impressed for Arsenal thus far - making assured appearances in the heart of the Arsenal engine room and drawing comparisons to another young central midfielder - Cesc...

Aaron Ramsey, Attacking Midfielder

One of the brightest young British talents, Ramsey joined Arsenal from Cardiff City in June of 2008 for around £5m. Also courted by Manchester United and Everton, he later declared that his decision to move to North London was largely based upon his personal meetings with Arsène Wenger. An attacking midfielder with superb technique and goal-scoring ability, the Welshman, affectionately known...

Alex Song, Defensive Midfielder

Alex Song spent the 2005-06 season on loan at Arsenal before joining the club permanently in June 2006. A physically imposing central midfielder, he is now beginning to fulfil the immense potential seen in him by Arsène Wenger and to establish himself as a leading member of the first team. The Cameroon international initially struggled to make much of an impact in his first two years with...

Jack Wilshere, Attacking Midfielder

Jack Wilshere plays as an attacking midfielder and is left-footed. Despite usually playing in the 'hole' behind the striker for the academy and reserve sides, he plays as a left or right midfielder for the first team.

Johan Djourou, Central Defender

Johan Djourou is a talented young central defender with great things ahead of him. Ivorian born, but Swiss by nationality, Djourou made rapid progress last season with many appearances for the first team. His impressive displays led to his call-up into the Swiss side which played in the 2006 World Cup. There, he made several appearances which will bode well for the future. He and Philippe...

Lukasz Fabianski, Goalkeeper

Polish international goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski has signed for Arsenal from Legia Warsaw on a long term contract for an undisclosed fee.

Gaël Clichy, Left-back

Ashley Who? If the arrival of William Gallas wasn't enough to help Arsenal fans cope with the shame of Cashley's departure to Chelsea, the emergence of Gaël Clichy most certainly will have many fans positively delighted to see the back of him. In an almost seamless transition at the back, Gaël picked up where Ashley left off with his marauding runs down the left hand side, and as much...

Andrey Arshavin, Attacking Midfielder

During the January 2009 transfer window Arshavin was persistently pursued by Premier League club Arsenal. On 2 February, transfer deadline day, Andrei Arshavin had flown into England and was staying in a Hertfordshire hotel, just a few miles from the Arsenal training ground. At around 10am,[7] he left the hotel and was rumoured to be heading back to Russia, but with less than an hour of the...

Vito Mannone, Goalkeeper

Signed from Atalanta in July 2005, the Italian has worked his way through the ranks and began the current campaign as the third-choice keeper behind Manuel Almunia and Lukasz Fabianski. Last season he was on the bench for a handful of first-team games but never tasted the action.

Emmanuel Eboue, Right-back

After bursting onto the scene in the 2005/06 Champions League campaign, few players in the current Arsenal squad have attracted as much controversy as the pacey Ivorian. Blistering displays at right-back against the likes of Real Madrid and Juventus saw him being hailed from some quarters as among the best in the world in his position. However he began to falter in his second season, both...

Kieran Gibbs, Left-back

Kieran first shot to prominence in the FA Youth Cup run to the semi-final in 2007, grabbing a goal in both legs of the last four defeat to Manchester United. He usually operates in either central midfield or wide on the left, but impressed again at left-back in this pre-season's Emirates Cup game against Juventus.

Marouane Chamakh, Striker

Chamakh's 13 goals in the French League in 2008–09 helped them win the title, ending Lyon's seven year domination. He scored five goals in nine appearance in the 2009-10 UEFA Champions League, netting against Juventus and Bayern Munich as Bordeaux cause an upset by finishing top of their Group. He also scored against Olympiacos in the Round of 16 to set up a quarter-final tie with Lyon....

Armand Traore, Left-back

The latest highly promising left-back from the Arsenal production line, in the Clichy and Cole mould. Still only seventeen, Traore has shown huge promise in his appearances so far this season - and could be pushing Gaël Clichy for a first team spot very soon.

Nicklas Bendtner, Forward

The big Dane with the big ambition, Nicklas Bendtner never seems to miss an opportunity to talk up his talent and desire to break into the first team. And, considering the performances he's put in as a substitute, including a winning strike against Spurs, and on the occasional start, it's becoming more and more difficult to disagree with him - indeed, he's already established himself as a...