4 of the best World Cup campaigns by Arsenal players

Are the Arsenal withdrawal symptoms setting in yet?

While the north London title procession will have to indulge an untimely four-week interruption, supporters can still get their fix of football action this winter as the highly controversial 2022 FIFA World Cup finally kicks off in Qatar on Sunday.

The Gunners will be well represented at the upcoming Middle Eastern spectacle, with rising stars including Gabriel Martinelli and Bukayo Saka among a ten-strong Emirates core hoping to inscribe their names in the history books at Lusail Iconic Stadium next month.

4 of the best individual campaigns by Arsenal players at the World Cup finals

Several red and white competitors have enjoyed standout individual campaigns on the biggest of international stages over the years. Here are four past N5 residents whose national-team exploits can inspire our current crop as they begin their quest for World Cup glory.

1. Emmanuel Petit (France 1998)

The summer of 1998 will forever be etched in the memory of Emmanuel Petit, as the diminutive Frenchman helped his team defeat Brazil to claim their maiden World Cup triumph on home soil.

Petit was a Les Bleus regular throughout the tournament and produced many fine, battling performances in the engine room alongside his captain and incumbent French manager Didier Deschamps.

However, he saved his headline contributions for the showpiece event in Paris. Petit began an impressive display with a well-taken corner to set up Zidane for the opening goal just before the half-hour mark, and he got in on the act himself deep into injury time with a clinical effort to round off a famous victory.

A fearless competitor who boasted great positional awareness and an incredible work rate, Petit was a key figure in every team he represented and his impact earned him a distinguished career for both club and country.

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