Did we underestimate just how good former ‘Invincible’ was?

Off all Arsenal immortals, the name which perhaps comes up less often than others is Lauren. Arsenal’s Cameroonian right back was a world class defender, but for one reason or another didn’t get the recognition of his illustrious teammates. In truth, he still doesn’t.

So often we are quick to mention the likes of Campbell, Toure, Keown, Dixon, Winterburn, Adams, and Rice amongst others, but fail to include Lauren in that list.

We sometimes even pay homage to the likes of Bacary Sagna for his touch tackling and strength and stamina, yet it is Lauren who passed the torch to Sagna. He was every bit as tenacious a tackler if not more, and could sprint with the quickest.

Lauren was a superlative athlete. He could run and jump with the best of them, and possessed brute strength and stamina. Absolute destroyer he was, never afraid to march into no man’s land and stick his head where the studs fly.

He was intelligent as well, positioning himself well to snuff out the danger and I’m not sure he gets the credit he deserves.

He doesn’t feature on Arsenal’s top 50 players despite having won more trophies and played more seasons than some on the list. While I will concede that it is easy for a player to fit in a side that is already packed full of quality, Lauren deserves some credit for winning the right back spot from Lee Dixon, and carrying the mantle for quite some time.

Perhaps it is his persistent injury struggles that keeps him out of the conversation when it comes to Arsenal’s all time great defenders. In some ways though he maybe prefers it this way (being out of the spotlight), as he was always one to go about his business without a fuss. Perhaps that is what is so endearing about him, his no nonsense approach.

He is in the discussion for me, Lauren. A true legend at the club.

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— Arsenal (@Arsenal) March 25, 2015