5 players who left Arsenal too soon

Arsenal are oftentimes highlighted for their poor decision-making. Particularly towards the beginning of the Emirates Stadium era, the club made many poor decisions, a lot of them coming in the transfer window.

While their poor transfer choices are often at the forefront of Arsenal fans' nightmares, there are some decisions which involved selling players that should have been considered in more detail before they were made.

That said, here are 5 players who left Arsenal too soon...

5 players who left Arsenal too soon

1. Lassana Diarra

For a long period of time under Arsene Wenger, Arsenal were criticised for not having a midfield general. There were many who tried but failed to fill that defensive midfielder role during this time period.

Arsenal received no sympathy and if anything, it was their decision to sell Lassana Diarra which was the main blaming point.

Lassana Diarra left Arsenal in 2008, after just one year without being given much of a chance. He signed for Portsmouth, winning the FA Cup in his only season there before being picked up by the superclub Real Madrid.

The rest, as they say, is history. He became an important player in the Real Madrid midfield, making 87 La Liga appearances. This left many to question, did Lassana Diarra leave Arsenal too son? The answer, of course, being a resounding yes.

2. Alex Hleb

Ah, of course. The Belarusian attacker Alex Hleb just had to make this list, didn't he?

As a Champions League finalist (not many Arsenal players can say that), it is a surprise to many that Alex Hleb spent only four years with Arsenal, making 89 Premier League appearances for Arsenal.

Hleb then made the decision to move to Barcelona in 2008, a decision which he likely regrets considering it marked the start of the downfall in his career. He spent four years with the Catalan club but those four years were nowhere near as fruitful as the matched tenure he had in North London.

If anything, Hleb spent more time on loan than he did having the chance to prove himself to Barcelona.

In hindsight, Hleb's most memorable career tenure was with Stuttgart but had he not left Arsenal too soon to join Barcelona, Arsenal could have topped that tenure. After all, he clearly had incredible ability to retain the ball in tight positions and was showing world-class potential as the number 10.

3. Serge Gnabry

Serge Gnabry is the most recent example on this list. The Germany international came through the Arsenal academy and he was showing all the signs of becoming a truly great option at Arsenal. However, in 2016, Gnabry signed permanently for Werder Bremen where he impressed enough to earn a move to Bayern Munich.

Serge Gnabry only made 10 Premier League appearances for Arsenal but as of 26 April 2024, Gnabry has made 165 Bundesliga appearances for Bayern Munich, scoring 63 goals.

From Gnabry's perspective, he didn't leave Arsenal too soon but from Arsenal's perspective, he did. Gnabry wasn't given too much of a chance in North London, through no fault of his own.

As far as regrets go, allowing Gnabry to leave the club is probably right up there for Arsenal. After all, he only went on to become one of the best wingers in the world and even scored a goal at the Emirates Stadium which contributed to Arsenal's elimination in the 2023/24 Champions League.

4. Ashley Cole

Okay, now we're entering controversial territory (just wait until you hear about number 5).

Ashley Cole is next up in this list of Arsenal players who left the club too soon. While some Arsenal fans may claim "good riddance" (I can understand the reasoning), those who remember watching Ashley Cole at Arsenal will recall the world-class quality he was showing at the time.

Proving to be one of the best defenders in the world while he was at Arsenal, it was a great shame to see him leave. Particularly when considering the manner in which he left.

Look, I am by no means overlooking the fact that Ashley Cole is a traitor and a money-grabber. However, I cannot help but ponder "what if?"

Ashley Cole would have definitely bettered the Arsenal team, had he not been a money-hungry traitor. Unfortunately, though, he proved to be a stereotypical greedy footballer, who valued money over legacy. If only, ey?

5. Samir Nasri

Speaking of greedy players who betrayed Arsenal, who remembers Samir Nasri?

That's a trick question, of course you remember Samir Nasri. Even newer Arsenal fans would have been told countless times about the boyhood wonder who once was given the world by Arsenal, only to throw it back in the face of the club and sign for Man City.

In truth, the club should take some blame for allowing Samir Nasri to leave Arsenal too early. It was a contract mistake (in essence, not tying him down sooner) which allowed Nasri to hold the club to ransom, essentially leaving Arsenal with no choice but to sell him. My point is that Arsenal could have avoided that by securing his contract extension sooner.

Nasri was showing world-class potential as an Arsenal player. Playing under his countryman Arsene Wenger, Nasri was given the world, quite literally, by Arsenal and he could have developed into so much more. In 2011, though, he left Arsenal to join Man City. There he won two Premier League titles but did not develop his attributes as greatly as he could've done at Arsenal.

Partly the club's fault but Samir Nasri left Arsenal too early.

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Which player do you think Arsenal should regret losing the most?

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