Arsenal Player Profiles

Staff and Player Profiles

Per Mertesacker, Central Defender

The 6ft 6in centre back has significant experience at both club and international level, enjoying eight seasons in the German top flight - five with Werder Bremen and three with Hannover 96 - making 221 league appearances in total and finding the net on 19 occasions.

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.

Sebastien Squillaci, Central Defender

Part of the France 2010 World Cup squad, Sebastien is a tall, strong and vastly-experienced central defender who has made 36 appearances in the Champions League, as well as tallying 21 caps for his country. Prior to his time in Spain with Sevilla, Squillaci enjoyed a successful spell in France with Lyon by winning back-to-back Ligue 1 titles in 2007 and 2008. The combative defender was...

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...

Carl Jenkinson, Central Defender

Carl joined the Club from League One side Charlton Athletic in June.
 The promising defender, who featured nine times for Charlton's first team, is predominantly a right-back but can also play at centre-half.
 Although born in England, Carl qualifies to represent both England and Finland through his mother. The 6ft 1ins youngster has already represented both countries at...

Ignasi Miquel, Central Defender

Highly-regarded central defender Ignasi enjoyed a breakthrough season with Arsenal last term and made his first-team debut against Leyton Orient in the FA Cup. The Reserves captain, who has flourished in the youth ranks since joining the Club as a 16 year-old, made an excellent impression with a commanding display. An excellent reader of the game, Ignasi was handed a second senior start...

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