They say it is never easy to say goodbye, but Arsenal supremo Arsene Wenger seems to know the exact moment to do it. Over the years, the Frenchman has gained a reputation for releasing players at the perfect moment in their careers, just at the point their performance levels seem to dip. Apart from players who actually wanted to leave, it is difficult to think of too many who have got better when they have left Wenger’s men in north London.
Although there are one or two exceptions to the rule, most notably perhaps Matthew Upson, Wenger has generally chosen a good time to bid au revoir. In many cases, the players involved soon appear to be shadows of their former selves. Here are a handful of them who didn’t exactly set the world alight after their spells at Arsenal ended.
Freddie Ljungberg – Joined 1998 – Departed 2007
The speedy Swedie enjoyed a stellar career at Highbury, and became a cult figure among Gooners all around the world. With his spiky Sid Vicious hairdo and his all-action style, Ljungberg became an integral part of a powerful midfield unit. He also seemed to develop an almost telepathic understanding with Dennis Bergkamp.
After more than 200 games for Arsenal, the Swede moved on to pastures new in 2007. After spells with West Ham, Seattle Sounders and Chicago Fire (a football team, not an emergency service), he’s now plying his trade at Celtic. Whether he will re-kindle his career in Glasgow remains to be seen.
Alexander Hleb – Joined 2005 – Departed 2008
With more than 50 caps for Belarus, Hleb is still a class act, and is currently earning a living at Premier League outfit Birmingham City. His early appearances for Arsenal in 2005 promised much, but ultimately the attacking midfielder-cum-winger failed to live up to his potential in north London. His reluctance to shoot, even when faced with an open goal, was more than a little bit frustrating for some fans.
In the end, Wenger let Hleb go to Barcelona for a reputed fee of around €15M. It proved to be a good deal for Arsenal, because the midfielder failed to make much of a mark in Spain. A loan spell at the club Wenger bought him from, Stuttgart, didn’t yield much either, with the Bundesliga side not pursuing a permanent deal. At 29, he still has plenty of time to recover his earlier form, so perhaps there is still hope for Birmingham fans.
Robert Pires – Joined 2000 – Departed 2006
Robert Pires, soon nicknamed "Super Bob", became a legend in his own lunchtime at Arsenal, and scored a goal every three games for the Gunners, a superb return for a midfielder. His graceful style and accurate passing made the Frenchman one of the first names on the team sheet during his time with the club, and with Thierry Henry and Patrick Vieira made London N5 a little corner of France every Saturday.
Pires moved on to Spain to continue his career with Villarreal, but his best days were at Arsenal. The former Metz youth product is now at Aston Villa, and despite being 37 is still good enough to play in the Premier League.
Paul Merson – Youth Product; debut 1986 – Departed 1997
A product of Arsenal’s youth system, Paul Merson began his career with the Gunners and went on to make over 320 appearances for the club. Despite battling the twin demons of alcohol and gambling addiction, Merson became one of the most gifted players to ever don the famous red and white shirt. When Arsene Wenger released him in 1997, it was a decision that shocked many Arsenal fans.
The forward went on to play for Middlesbrough, Aston Villa, Portsmouth and Walsall, and was popular at all of them. Although his best days were spent at Arsenal, Merson could still ping the passes around at will. He is now a popular pundit on British TV channel Sky Sports, where his haphazard command of the English language keeps viewers entertained every week.
Patrick Vieira – Joined 1996 – Departed 2005
Still good enough to turn out for Manchester City, and with a nice fat pay cheque in his back pocket every week, Patrick Vieira will always be afforded legendary status at Arsenal. Arriving at Highbury as a relative unknown having failed to make his mark at AC Milan, his combative style soon made him a fans’ favourite and key member of the 1998 Premier League and FA Cup winning side.
The Frenchman went on to Italy in 2005, joining Juventus first and then Inter, but few would disagree that his best years had already been seen in London. In the ensuing six years, if Arsenal had had a midfielder as tough and uncompromising as Vieira, they might not have been trophy-less.
