4. Per Mertesacker

Arsenal’s ‘BFG’ signed for the Gunners on August’s Deadline Day in 2011, as part of a late transfer flurry that also saw Mikel Arteta join the Gunners.

The experienced German immediately became a crucial part of Arsenal’s side and developed a strong partnership with Laurent Koscielny in the heart of defence. When Thomas Vermaelen left for Barcelona, with Mikel Arteta taking the captain’s armband, Mertesacker was promoted to vice-captain.

Although officially the understudy to Arteta, Mertesacker has regularly been the captain on match-days due to Arteta’s absences. He enjoyed success in the FA Cup in two successive seasons, scoring a vital equaliser in the 2014 semi-final victory over Wigan Athletic before captaining the side at Wembley the following year as Arsenal drubbed Aston Villa 4-0.

On the international stage with Germany, alongside Gunners team-mate Mesut Ozil, Mertesacker won the 2014 World Cup and retired from international football after the tournament with 104 caps to his name, making him the eighth most-capped Germany player of all-time.

Statistics last updated 22nd February 2016.