For many, the 2010’s were a difficult and forgettable period for Arsenal, but there were still quite a few excellent footballers playing for the Gunners during this era.
Here are five Arsenal stars from the 2010’s you should definitely remember.
CB Per Mertesacker
Per Mertesacker was a regular in the German national team and a star for Werder Bremen in the Bundesliga before making his way to Arsenal in 2011.
He was one of the better center backs in the Premier League during his time with the Gunners for the majority of the 2010’s, producing two excellent seasons in 2013/14 and 2014/15.
In the latter campaign, Mertesacker recorded 2.1 interceptions per match while rarely having to put a tackle in. He was a consistent performer and a towering presence at the back.
DM Francis Coquelin
All-action defensive midfielder Francis Coquelin did a ton of the dirty work for Arsenal, proving invaluable as a shield for world-class playmakers Santi Cazorla and Mesut Ozil.
Coquelin was unbelievable in the 2014/15 season for Arsenal, standing out as one of the elite defensive midfielders in the Premier League.
He averaged 3.2 tackles and 3.7 interceptions per game after his transfer from Charlton, following that up with 2.8 tackles and 3.0 interceptions per match in the 2015/16 campaign.
LB Nacho Monreal
Attacking left backs tend to be the bigger names, but Nacho Monreal was beloved by Arsenal fans, joining the club in 2013 after being part of that fabled Malaga Champions League side.
Nacho was one of the best defensive fullbacks of his time and should be remembered more fondly by Premier League fans as one of the best left backs of the 2010’s.
In just his second season with the club in 2014/15, Nacho Monreal averaged 2.3 tackles and 3.1 interceptions per game. He would clear two interceptions per match on three different occasions, locking down the left flank like a center back would.
AM Tomas Rosicky
Tomas Rosicky is one of the most respected and beloved players in both Arsenal and Borussia Dortmund history, even though he didn’t get to show the true extent of his playmaking and goal-scoring skills in North London due to awful luck with injuries.
Even so, Rosicky’s influence with his deft touches, slipped through balls, and outside-the-boot passes. His numbers can be best appreciated when using per-90 stats, as he had two seasons with more than two key passes per 90.
GK Wojciech Szczesny
Wojciech Sczesny has been one of the elite goalkeepers in Serie A for several years, starring for two of Italy’s most historic clubs in Roma and Juventus
Before that, Szczesny was a solid goalkeeper for Arsenal, even if he wasn’t necessarily appreciated by all corners of the fan base at the time.
Szczesny had three seasons with a save percentage above 70, including a mark of 75.8 in the 2012/13 season when he was just 22 years old, allowing under a goal per game with a clean sheet in 40 percent of his starts.
