Five Arsenal young guns who should have gone onto better things

Fran Merida

Once drawing comparisons to compatriot and fellow La Masia academy product Cesc Fabregas, Merida was tipped for greatness. Impressive technical ability and passing range, Merida loved to create goal scoring chances and was thought by many to be the eventual successor to Fabregas. He struggled to live up to his billing though, making just 6 first team appearances. Despite a few impressive glimpses, he never really made much of an impact and struggled to rise up the pecking order. Even still, he was tipped for a big future, so much that Atletico tapped him up when his Arsenal contract ran out in 2010. He flopped horribly in Spain however and was shipped out to Braga on loan before joining second division side Hercules. From there he joined Brazilian outfit Clube Atlético Paranaense. Now 25, he plies his trade back in his homeland Spain in the second division with SD Huesca.