Ranking the 5 greatest players to win the Champions League after leaving Arsenal 

Henry (left) and Cole (right) were part of the invincibles at Arsenal
Henry (left) and Cole (right) were part of the invincibles at Arsenal

#3 Serge Gnabry

Serge Gnabry is currently valued at €70 million
Serge Gnabry is currently valued at €70 million

The wounds are fresh and time and again Arsenal reject Serge Gnabry applies salt to them with his happy pictures of the Champions League trophy. One of the most regretful pieces of business from Arsenal in their history was letting go of Gnabry for cheap.

What was more regretful was that they did not leave any possibility of bringing him back should he become better, no buy-back clause, no right to first refusal either. Gnabry has become one of the most reliable and top performers at Bayern Munich in the last couple of years and is emulating his form for his country as well.

In their 2020 Champions League winning campaign, Gnabry scored a crucial brace in the semi-final to set up a final against Paris Saint-Germain. Gnabry has managed 88 goal involvements for Bayern in 140 appearances and there are no signs of him slowing down.

The Germany winger has been very happy since leaving Arsenal after a demotivating spell. West Bromwich Albion manager Tony Pulis once claimed Gnabry was not up to the level to play for his side. What a joke it turned out to be after the Champions League winner won the most prestigious trophy in Europe.


#2 Ashley Cole

Cole won the Champions League with Chelsea in 2012
Cole won the Champions League with Chelsea in 2012

The man who is often considered highly in the debate for the best left-back to play in the Premier League ended his relationship with Arsenal on a sour note. It was in 2006 when an ambitious Ashley Cole realized that Arsene Wenger was failing to retain the core from the "invincible" Arsenal and he left for Chelsea.

Unfortunately, the incident did not sit down well with the Arsenal faithful who baptized him with the name 'Cashley'. The Englishman explained his side of the story but then, in the face of success with his new club, moved on from unnecessary confrontations. In his 228 appearances for Arsenal, Cole won the Premier League twice and the FA Cup thrice.

He played in the Champions League final in 2006, when Arsenal suffered a 2-1 defeat against Barcelona. Perhaps that was the moment when Cole realized this was the most the Arsenal side were capable of.

Since joining Chelsea, the left-back's trophy cabinet needed expansion. He won a Premier League title, one Europa League and one Champions League trophy. In terms of domestic cup success, he also won four FA Cups with Chelsea.

Currently, Cole holds the record for featuring in most FA Cup finals, nine and winning most, seven. He finished his stint with Chelsea after making 338 appearances for the Blues. Cole was also England's first-choice left-back for many years and amassed 107 caps.


#1 Thierry Henry

Henry is Arsenal's top goalscorer in Champions League with 35 goals
Henry is Arsenal's top goalscorer in Champions League with 35 goals

There hasn't been a much bigger player in Arsenal's history than their very own King of Highbury. From being labeled 'overpriced' when he joined Arsenal from Juventus in 1999 for £11 million to becoming 'priceless', Thierry Henry changed the narrative as he became the club's top goalscorer.

Henry was the most complete striker there was and he could ping passes for fun and through the tightest of gaps. He could finish in front of the goal with the most casual attitude, without any effort, and could glide past defenders with the ball at his feet. It was just pure entertainment. But all of that put together just wouldn't allow him to win the Champions League with Arsenal.

In his eight years with Arsenal, the Frenchman won two Premier League titles and two FA Cups. He came very close in 2006 to winning the Champions League with Arsenal, but was part of the team with Cole that suffered a 2-1 defeat in the final to Barcelona. But fate has its own way of giving you what you deserve.

In 2007, Henry left Arsenal because he wasn't sure whether Arsene Wenger was going to continue at the club. At 29, he was still capable of competing at the highest level and joined Barcelona.

He won La Liga twice under Pep Guardiola's management and finally fulfilled his dream of winning the Champions League in 2009. Henry finished the 2008-09 season with 26 goals and 11 assists in all competitions. The Champions League winner is also France's all-time top scorer with 51 goals.

Quick Links