Pain in the Arsenal
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Every German to play for Arsenal – ranked

By James Cormack

LONDON, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 22: Pierre-Emerick Aubamayang of Arsenal celebrates with Mesut Ozil after scoring Arsenal's third goal during the Premier League match between Arsenal FC and Leicester City at the Emirates Stadium on October 22, 2018 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Visionhaus/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 22: Pierre-Emerick Aubamayang of Arsenal celebrates with Mesut Ozil after scoring Arsenal's third goal during the Premier League match between Arsenal FC and Leicester City at the Emirates Stadium on October 22, 2018 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Visionhaus/Getty Images) /
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Lehmann emerged as an excellent successor to David Seaman. (Photo credit should read GLYN KIRK/AFP via Getty Images)
Lehmann emerged as an excellent successor to David Seaman. (Photo credit should read GLYN KIRK/AFP via Getty Images) /

2. Jens Lehmann

Wenger thought he’d signed David Seaman’s successor in 2001 when Arsenal prised Richard Wright from Ipswich Town, but the Englishman proved to be a disaster at Highbury. Instead, the club had to wait two more years for Seaman’s true successor to manifest.

The tempestuous Lehmann certainly doesn’t boast the same legacy as his predecessor, but the German shot-stopper was part of some historical moments in Arsenal colours. He started every game during the club’s Invincibles campaign, saved Paul Scholes’ penalty to win the 2005 FA Cup final, and later set a record for most consecutive Champions League clean sheets (ten) as Arsenal made the final.

We won’t discuss what happened in Paris.

Nevertheless, while there were some low moments, as every keeper endures, Lehmann was regarded as one of the very best goalkeepers around during his stellar five-year spell in north London. But, he didn’t quite do enough to make it to number one on this list.

1. Mesut Ozil

That’s right, the greatest German to represent this great club is Mesut Ozil. Has a signing generated as much hype as this man did in 2013?

Supporters were rightfully excited by Ozil’s arrival after he emerged as one of Europe’s leading playmakers during his time with Real Madrid. The crafty creator dazzled during the first few years in an Arsenal shirt, producing some truly otherworldly moments of magic – none more so than the solo effort against Ludogorets in 2016.

He really should’ve smashed Thierry Henry’s Premier League single-season assist record in 2015/16, but he faded down the stretch and ended up just short. Ozil was utterly mesmeric (but often inconsistent) throughout his time at Arsenal, and he was another who succumbed to Arteta’s project. The languid German, who offered little without the ball, failed to adapt as the game moved beyond the creative genius of #10s and into a world of aggressive pressing.

His eventual departure was acrimonious, but that shouldn’t taint his legacy his north London.

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