Top youngsters bought by Arsene Wenger (Part 2)
Continuing the list of top youngsters singed by Arsene Wenger here is the part 2 of the list:
Cesc Fabregas - from Barcelona in 2003
Fabregas was at the La Masia at the same time when Lionel Messi and Andres Iniesta were there. But after failing to land a contract as healthy as Messi and Iniesta, Cesc moved to England in the summer of 2003 and made his debut for the Gunners as a 16-year old becoming the youngest ever player to put on an Arsenal jersey.
Cesc has now been established as one of the best midfielders around the world and also has a World Cup winner’s medal to boast. The Arsenal skipper was heavily linked with a move back to Camp Nou in the summer but has opted to stay at the Emirates for another season.
Oriel Romeu, who is now heavily linked with a move to Arsenal will follow the same path as Cesc, if he moves to London but will be looking to make his mark like Cesc and not Fran Merieda, who also made the move from Catalunya to London.
Robin van Persie - from Feyenoord in 2004
RVP was a prodigious talent back in the day when he was playing for Feyenoord. He helped his team win the UEFA Cup in 2002 and was destined for a long and successful career in the country of his birth but his fall out with Bert Van Marwijk led to his departure from the club and Arsenal landed the talented striker for a fee of just under 3 million pounds.
The striker since signing on for the Gunners has established himself as one of the best strikers in the Premier League and along with Cesc Fabregas is one of the most senior members of the squad.
Van Persie has so far scored 70 times in the 200 appearances that he has made for the club.
Abou Diaby - from Auxerre in 2005
Since signing from Auxerre in 2005 Diaby has gone one to become the lynch pin of the Arsenal midfield. Diaby took his time in adjusting following his 2 million pound move, but now is one of the first names of Wenger’s team sheet.
Diaby has improved in almost all the aspects of his game and has also added the goal scoring capability to his overall play.
Recently he has also forced his way into the French national squad and remains one of the prospects that Wenger is building his team’s future on.
Alexandre Song - from Bastia in 2006
The Cameroon international came for his first spell at the Highbury on loan from Bastia but the move was made permanent the following season for a paltry fee of 1 million pounds. Since signing on for the club, Song has racked up 130 appearances and has gone on to become the midfield anchor of Wenger’s midfield along with Diaby and Cesc Fabregas. Song started his career at right back but has transformed himself into a no nonsense central midfielder who has the ability to rip apart defences with just a single pass. Song has also gone on to become a permanent fixture for the Indomitable Lions.
Gael Clichy - signed from Cannes in 2003
The left back position at Arsenal has never been a cause of concern for Arsene Wenger as he has always had some of the best players playing form him in the position. Sylvinho, Nigel Winterburn, and Ashley Cole all were one of the best left backs of their time in the League and now it’s time for Gael Clichy to make his mark. Clichy was signed from Cannes in 2003 when they were relegated from the French first division. Through the initial part of his career he only played second fiddle to Ashley Cole but since the English man’s departure Clichy has made the left back slot his own.
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