5 most underrated players in Arsenal history

Arsenal, like many top clubs, have been graced by some of the finest players in world football.

These incredible players have helped the club to a plethora of trophies over the years, helping Arsenal become one of the most successful clubs in the game. While some have gained widespread recognition for their contribution to Arsenal’s success over the years, others have been underrated for several reasons.

On that note, let's have a look at five such players in Arsenal history.

Five most underrated players in Arsenal history

#1 Gilberto Silva

Following a stellar 2002 FIFA World Cup campaign for Brazil, Arsenal swiftly snapped up Gilberto Silva from Brazilian club Atletico Mineiro.

Playing alongside Patrick Vieira, Silva quickly became a key man at the centre of the park for Arsenal. He was often the anchor of the Gunners' defence, sitting deep to snuff out any danger, while Vierra marauded forward to join the attack.

His no-nonsense defending in midfield soon earned him the nickname 'invisible wall" from the Arsenal fans, who were thrilled by his ability to provide a solid defensive cover far up the pitch.

Gilberto Silva inspired Arsenal to the FA Cup triumph over Southampton in his first season at the club.

The next season, he played a key role in Arsenal’s 'invincible' run in the league, featured in 46 games for the club across competitions.

In 2008, Silva moved to Greek outfit Panathinaikos for €2.5m, bringing an end to his six-year stay at the Emirates.

#2 Ray Parlour

Ray Parlour rose through the ranks at the Arsenal academy and was handed his first-team debut in the 2-0 defeat against Liverpool in January 1992.

Parlour showed flashes of brilliance in his first four seasons at the club, with his tenacity and work-rate at the centre of the park. However, it was not until the appointment of legendary head coach Arsene Wenger that Parlour truly hit his stride.

Playing alongside Patrick Vieira, the former England international was a key man for Wenger both on and off the pitch.

He was renowned for scoring long-range screamers, and his sensational midfield displays earned him the nickname 'Romford Pele'.

Parlour made 450 appearances for Arsenal and led the club to a plethora of trophies, including three Premier League titles and four FA Cups, before moving to Middlesbrough in 2004.

#3 Nacho Monreal

Nacho Monreal might not have been the flashiest or most dogged defender in Arsenal history, but the impact he had in the squad was simply outstanding.

After spending two years with Spanish outfit Malaga, Monreal moved to Arsenal in 2013 in a €10m deal.

The Spaniard played a key role to inspire Arsenal to the FA Cup win in 2015; he grabbed the opener against Manchester United in the quarter-finals, en route to lifting the title.

He also scored a brilliant goal in the semi-final clash against Manchester City in 2017, and Arsenal went on to lift the title with a 2-1 win over Chelsea.

Monreal moved to Real Sociedad in August 2019 after an impressive six-year spell at the Emirates.

#4 Nwankwo Kanu

After struggling with the Italian side Inter Milan, Nwankwo Kanu was snapped up by Arsenal to replace the departing Nicolas Anelka.

Kanu might not have reached the heights of Thierry Henry or Bergkamp, but he was a cult hero at the club and a highly decorated one too.

His 15-minute hat-trick against Chelsea will forever be fresh in the memory of Arsenal fans. The Nigerian striker singlehandedly turned the game on its head to give the Gunners a win from two goals down.

The striker was one of the most decorated players to play for Arsenal, winning the UEFA Champions League with Inter, a UEFA Cup, one Premier League title, three FA Cups and an Olympic Gold Medal.

Individually, he won two African Player of the Year awards too.

#5 Lukas Podolski

Arsenal signed Lukas Podolski from Bundesliga team Koln for €15m In 2012, alongside Olivier Giroud and Santi Cazorla.

Playing for Bayern Munich and Koln prior to that move, Podolski proved to be a serial goal-scorer. However, he struggled to pin down his place in the starting XI, as he was often dropped to the bench by head coach Arsene Wenger.

The German centre-forward was often played out of position and out wide on the wings. However, that did not stop him from scoring an impressive 31 goals and creating 17 assists in 81 appearances for Arsenal.

He was renowned for his venomous left-footed strikes, which he scored aplenty for Arsenal.

Lucas Podolski was eventually shipped out on loan to Serie A giants Inter Milan in 2015, before completing a €2.5m move to Turkish outfit Galatasaray a year after.

About the author

Joshua is a European and international football writer at Sportskeeda who covers news and match previews. He fell in love with the sport watching Didier Drogba and Samuel Eto’o win titles at club and international level, and his passion for the sport led him to become a professional football writer. He has an overall professional experience of 5 years.

Joshua supports Chelsea at club level, having witnessed a number of African stars break records with the club. Drogba’s equalizing header and match-winning shootout penalty for Chelsea against Bayern Munich in the 2012 UEFA Champions League final left a last impact on him. His favorite player is Eden Hazard and favorite manager is Jose Mourinho, who gave him the most joyous days as a Blues supporter. He believes that Cristiano Ronaldo is unlucky to be born in Messi’s era and favors the Argentine in the G.O.A.T. debate.

Joshua also follows the Portuguese Primeira Liga and the Nigeria Professional Football League and loves to play football during his free time. Having attained a B.Sc. in Petroleum Engineering from the University of Ibadan, he employs his problem-solving skills in crafting articles while doing extensive research to ensure each article is well thought out and crafted.

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Edited by Bhargav