Arsenal fans will be left with a huge sense of what might have been this season, after the favourites for the Premier League and FA Cup just a few months ago have conceded both titles in swift succession, a major disappointment.
It’s brought back the age old questions for Arsenal fans- does Arsene Wenger need to go? Can the star players have be kept? Did Arsenal make a mistake by selling certain individuals? The answers, unfortunately, aren’t obvious.
What’s clear though is that, looking around Europe at former Arsenal players still plying their trade, a number of those sold in recent seasons could slot easily back into the Gunners set-up, which is majorly disappointing to the fans.
Risking the wrath of said Arsenal supporters, we’ve taken a look at five former stars still plying their trade who would be a massive asset to the current Arsenal side!
Hit the image below to see FIVE former Gunners Arsenal need still!
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Alex Song
Since returning to the Premier League with West Ham United, Alex Song has shown that he still has the ability to perform at the highest level- especially last season, when the Cameroonian international was one of the stars for the Hammers.
Until Francis Coquelin’s emergence last year, Arsenal lacked a defensive midfielder and their weaknesses were exposed once again this season when Coquelin was absent through injury. Looking at the current Arsenal squad, Song could definitely still be useful.
Havard Nordtveit
A player on this list who has experienced a different scenario to the others, Havard Nordtveit has excelled in the Bundesliga since leaving Arsenal as a youngster. That’s led to the Gunners express interest in bringing him back to the Premier League but West Ham are rivalling their interest.
A quality midfielder, Nordveit has been consistent this season and would provide competition to the likes of Coquelin, Aaron Ramsey and Mohamed Elneny. Whilst he may not be a guaranteed starter, the losses of Mikel Arteta, Mathieu Flamini and Tomas Rosicky in the summer have intensified the need for midfield recruits.
Bacary Sagna
Fortunately for Arsenal Hector Bellerin has returned to top form in the past month or so, grabbing a number of assists, but the Spaniard hasn’t found this season to be plain sailing and he did enter a blip midway through the campaign.
Nobody wanted Bacary Sagna to leave Arsenal when he did in 2014, as he contract expired, and it will upset Arsenal fans to see the French international not utilised to his best at Manchester City. Back at Arsenal, he’d compete with Bellerin for the first-team spot and provide immense depth.
Robin Van Persie
He who shall not be named amongst Arsenal fans, after his controversial move to Manchester United, Robin Van Persie is the last top-class striker the Gunners have boasted. Whilst his move didn’t quite pan out, with Sir Alex Ferguson retiring at Old Trafford and the Dutch international moving to Fenerbache, he could have excelled at Arsenal.
Frustratingly, Van Persie could have developed into an Arsenal legend and when on form there isn’t many better finishers than the striker. If he was at his best this season and at Arsenal, there’s little doubt that the Gunners would be on-course for their first title in 12 years.
Thomas Vermaelen
The Arsenal captain was one of many in a long line of players to switch north London for Catalonia and, like many before him, it didn’t quite work out for the Belgian international as he needed to wait a long, long time for his Barcelona debut due to injuries.
Now fit, the competition ahead of him is vast and back at Arsenal the defence has been struggling. Laurent Koscielny hasn’t been up to his best, Per Mertesacker has looked shaky at times and there’s real concerns about Gabriel Paulista. Had Arsenal still had Vermaelen in their ranks, these issues may have been avoided.
