Five prospects that Arsenal released too soon

Here at Arsenal Mania, we recognise that every manager makes mistakes. I mean just look at Sir Alex Ferguson and Paul Pogba.

Under new leadership in Jose Mourinho nowadays of course, it is still the same club Manchester United who are seemingly on the verge of re-signing their former prospect for a new world record transfer fee!

A pretty expensive oversight, right?

In keeping with that theme, we’re today looking at five prospects that may have slipped through the Gunners’ grasp way too easily way back when.

With Arsene Wenger having built up a fantastic reputation for developing younger players with that still ringing triue nowadays with the likes of Hector Bellerin, even the Frenchman has been hasty in the past.

While Arsenal haven’t regrettable let any young Gunners star leave on the scale of Paul Pogba, there were still some interesting finds as we were sifting through Arsenal playing squads of old.

Oguzhan Ozyakup

Dutch-born Turkish international Oguzhan Ozyakup never actually made a first team appearance for Arsenal but was on the books of the North London club from 2011 to 2012.

An unused substitute twice for two high-profile Arsenal games in the form of the Gunners’ infamous 8-2 loss at Manchester United in 2011 and Champions League last 16 tie with AC Milan at home, the midfielder just never got his chance to show what he could do.

Despite the difference in playing standard, Ozyakup is a rare example of a young former Arsenal prospect that has gone on to improve since representing Besiktas from 2012 onwards.

Now revered as one of the top box-to-box midfielders in the Turkish Super Lig, Ozyakup’s performances have been so consistent that The Express were claiming Arsene Wenger was keen on re-signing him in January!

Benik Afobe

Definitely one that got away for Arsenal and when you consider the lack of out-and-out strikers Arsenal possess at the moment, this one hurts.

Faring a little better than Ozyakup in actually making the field in a Gunners jersey, Afobe impressed Arsene Wenger and Gooners in the 2011 Emirates Cup but he didn’t really go much further than that.

Essentially embroiled in loan after loan thereafter, Afobe completed SIX separate loan spells before finally breaking loose from Emirates Stadium while joining Championship outfit Wolverhampton Wanderers in 2015.

Always a prolific goalscorer at youth level, Afobe just needed a run of games and he left Molineux with a record of 22 goals in 46 appearances in the end.

While Afobe may still not be considered Arsenal class despite continuing to impress at AFC Bournemouth, he’d definitely be taken as a reserve option right now with just Olivier Giroud and Theo Walcott available as first team striking options right now.

Carlos Vela

Now compared to both Ozyakup and Afobe, Carlos Vela actually got far longer to prove himself in an Arsenal shirt – 29 Premier League appearances to be precise.

However, after scoring just three times in the top flight, essentially his transfer to a big European club came way too soon in his career.

The Mexican international is a shining example of a player not fading off into obscurity after leaving North London however with the 27-year-old boasting a decent goalscoring record at current club Real Sociedad.

Plundering 44 goals in 136 appearances for the La Liga outfit so far, a more experienced and well-rounded Vela could probably be utilised at Arsenal right now who continue to stutter in their search for striking reinforcements.

Henri Lansbury

Continually ranked highly as one of the top performers in the Championship season in, season out, Nottingham Forest’s Henri Lansbury has been at the City Ground  for four years now.

Surely primed for a return to the Premier League at some point given his energy in the middle of the park, Burnley have tried to prise him away from Forest on multiple occasions.

Lansbury has actually achieved something most Arsenal fans would like to have completed themselves in regards to scoring against Tottenham Hotspur at White Hart Lane in a 1-4 League Cup triumph back in 2010.

Despite this achievement, Lansbury was the unfortunate victim of having to dislodge the likes of Cesc Fabregas, Jack Wilshere, Samir Nasri and Tomas Rosicky from the Gunners’ midfield at the time.

He’s gone on to become a well-rounded, combative second tier footballer ever since however.

Sebastian Larsson

Released far longer ago than the rest of the names on our five-man shortlist, Sebastian Larsson departed Arsenal way back in 2007.

A household name in the Premier League after making over 300 appearances split between both Birmingham City and Sunderland since, Larsson remains one of the best free-kick specialists in the top flight.

Now 31-years-old, we’re not saying Larsson was ever good enough to dislodge Arsenal greats such as Robert Pires way back but he’s gone on to achieve an admirable career despite his Arsenal dream fading a long time ago.