Five Arsenal legends that the Gunners never managed to replace.
Arsenal are in a rut – here’s a look at five Arsenal legends they never managed to replace, including former goal machine Thierry Henry…
1) Patrick Vieira
A one-man midfield and great captain, Patrick Vieira is certainly a one of a kind but Arsenal have not even come close to finding a similar style of player. Yaya Toure has been available at times in the past, while others like Lassana Diarra and Alex Song looked at points like maybe they could do the job, but the current crop of players like Mikel Arteta and Jack Wilshere who have been used in defensive midfield just aren’t fit to lace Vieira’s boots.
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2) Tony Adams
One of the best defenders and players in Arsenal’s history, Tony Adams was one of the top performers in the Premier League for a long, long time. Since his retirement, Arsenal have failed to find defensive players of that calibre, with the Gunners becoming known for being a soft touch at the back.
3) Thierry Henry
A sensational player with an incredible goal record and great influence, Thierry Henry is one of the best strikers of modern history, so it’s fair enough that he’s been hard to replace. Still, Arsenal simply haven’t spent enough money and as a result get second-rate players like Emmanuel Adebayor, Marouane Chamakh and Danny Welbeck instead.
4) David Seaman
A goalkeeping great in Arsenal and England’s history, Jens Lehmann was a good short-term option, but it’s fair to say there has not yet been another David Seaman. Petr Cech could do a good job for the Gunners, but they need a similarly long-term option for the number one spot.
5) Dennis Bergkamp
Finally, Dennis Bergkamp revolutionised the club when he joined Arsenal, and few have made such an impact since. Mesut Ozil’s arrival was initially compared with that of the Dutchman, but the Gunners really need a game-changer to take them to the next level, as well as a committed performer who won’t look to jump ship when things get tough.