The Players that we missed out...

Based on the recent transfers of Ozyakup and Bunjaku,I have decided to compile the list of youth/fringe players who would have been great players for Arsenal had it not been for poor attitude/tough luck/injuries.

My list of 5 youth/fringe players whom I desperately wanted to succeed ONLY AT Arsenal:

1.Havard Nordtveit
2.Jay-Emmanuel Thomas
3.Oguzhan Ozyakup
4.Alban Bunjaku
5.Arturo Lupoli

Honorable Mention to Jeremie Aliadiere{especially after DAT performance vs. Liverpool in FA Cup}.

And my guess is Henri Lansbury might also get added to this list in the future,though I don't want it to happen.

Feel free to add

David Bentley. I think he could've become our first choice right winger, possibly even playmaker, had he been patient and waited for his chances.

Unfortunately, he decided it was some sort of injustice that he was behind Freddie Ljungberg in the pecking order. Admittedly he did shine at Blackburn, but flopped at Spurs.

Aliadiere. Easily him. Had such potential in him that few thought it would be impossible for him not to succeed, but injuries ruined him completely.

Then Arturo Lupoli, don't exactly know wtf happened but he never stepped up to the first team despite a great season at derby on loan.

David Bentley next

Another I've just remembered is Nacer Barazite. Big shame he got that long-term injury.

Özyakup easily for me. Loved the guy, classy, good player - just was at Arsenal at the wrong time.

RealGunner wrote:Aliadiere. Easily him. Had such potential in him that few thought it would be impossible for him not to succeed, but injuries ruined him completely.

Then Arturo Lupoli, don't exactly know wtf happened but he never stepped up to the first team despite a great season at derby on loan.

David Bentley next

Agree with RG, that was 1st youth generation, such exciting time when gunners believe we finally were able to force our own Beckham & Scholes.

1. Bentley
2. Pennant
3. Aliadiere

RG, I followed a bit Lupoli since Parma days ( one of only two connections between two of my favorite clubs, the other was that crazy final). He was similar case to Bendtner and far less patient, as long as Viola offer came in, he jumped ship, eventually faded to mediocrity.

Contrast to popular opinions, I think at youth level, it's easier to judge players since they're still at early stage of developments, there are not that many external factors. Only three factors needed to be evaluated, attitude - talent - physical.

Players with talent but shitty attitude we let go off over the years, none made it, that amounts to how important one attitude is. Players with good attitude but limited talent, don't think anyone really noticed their departure but players like Randall or Hoyte have been with us for ages.

Aliadere

Fran Merida

silver wrote:Fran Merida

Technically, we didn't miss out on him. He wanted to leave.

EDIT: From July 2010 -

On his decision to leave Arsenal, he said:

I’m an Atletico fan and I feel enormously proud to be here.

Atletico is a big club and so is Arsenal, but there were some circumstances there, particularly on the sporting side, which I wasn’t happy with and I couldn’t fit in.

I made Wenger aware of that and as soon as I knew Atletico were interested, I didn’t think twice.


So yeah, maybe he can be put in the same case as JET or Bunjaku. But he didn't get sold for bad attitude, there was just a dearth of chances for him. And he wasn't willing to be a bit patient. I remember thinking he could be our replacement to Cesc when Cesc left at one point of time (it was that WC2010 summer).

He isn't even doing well lol