It’s the international break, so it means one thing… a list!
I’m looking at all past Gunners who have played for their nation and made my top 10.
To clarify, this is not based on ability or club form but on how they performed for their country.
I have not included those who represented the Three Lions, as I wrote about them the other day. Once again, I’m only including the Premier League era.
Lukas Podolski – Germany – 2014 World Cup
One of the few players in the history of the sport who can claim he was better at international level than he was for his club. Usually, it’s the other way around.
While respected everywhere he played, it is with his country where he had his most iconic moments.
Never a prolific scorer domestically, only two men have scored more for Germany.
The universe was introduced to the 21-year-old’s powerful left foot when Germany hosted the 2006 World Cup and had their attacker named Young Player of the Tournament.
That and the Euros two years later was the striker at his best.
Robin van Persie – Netherlands
If Bert van Marwijk’s tactics in the 2010 World Cup Final were different, Van Persie might be higher on this list.
For over a decade, no Dutchman scored more goals for his country than our former captain.
The Netherlands are considered one of the greatest footballing nations never to have been world champions. The irony is Van Persie led the attack of less talented squads than the ones who came before him.
The striker scored in three consecutive World Cups, with a runners-up medal and a bronze medal to show for his efforts.
His flying header against Spain will be shown in every montage every four years.
World Cup winners and international icons
Gilberto Silva – 2002 World Cup, 2007 Copa America
There are many examples of players being signed based on an international tournament and the club regretting their purchase.
Silva is the exception to the rule, in the space of a month going from a mostly unknown midfielder to a future Invincible.
A DM in 2002 wasn’t a sexy position; a sign you were doing a decent job was not being noticed at all.
When you have Ronaldo, Rivaldo and Ronaldinho in front of you, all you have to do is the basic stuff and give the ball to them.
The Brazilian magazine Veja famously summed it up by writing:
“Gilberto carried the piano for Ronaldo and Rivaldo to play their tunes on.”
Bear in mind he was only playing because Emerson got injured, yet went on to play every second of the 2002 World Cup.
Brazil have not lifted the trophy since.
Emiliano Martinez – 2022 World Cup, 2021 and 2024 Copa America
The way he celebrated with his Golden Glove held on his crotch and his mockery of Mbappe, the keeper did everything possible to ruin his legacy at the 2022 World Cup – sandwiched between two Copa Americas.
Yet part of Argentina’s footballing DNA is thinking it’s them against the world, and at the end of the day, that’s whose opinion he cares about.
In penalty shootouts against both the Dutch and France, he did everything to put off his opponent.
Some will say he crossed the line; his nation will love his mindset to do anything to win.
The irony is, talk to him away from the pitch and he’s actually very humble.
Emmanuel Petit – 1998 World Cup, Euro 2000
Few in football can call one of their best-ever displays being in the World Cup Final.
Petit was everywhere, starting in midfield, assisting the opener with a corner, filling in as a centre-back when France went down to 10 men, and then making a late run to score the third goal.
Being set up by Vieira meant the two had gone full circle. This was the midfield that lifted the Double at Arsenal and now they were world champions.
Was this the greatest season a partnership would have in the history of the Premier League?
The double act was at Euro 2000 as well, two of 49 players to win the World Cup and Euros consecutively.
Cesc Fabregas – 2010 World Cup, 2008 and 2012 Euros
No Gunner can match his international list of honours, and the only reason Fabregas isn’t my first choice is that between 2008 and 2012 he wasn’t always starting in Spain’s midfield.
That is no disgrace, as that Spanish team is considered one of the greatest to ever live.
In fact, our ex-captain deserves credit because instead of complaining about not being first choice – how can you when the competition is Iniesta and Xavi? – Fabregas always found a way to make an impact.
The Como manager can claim he made the winner in a World Cup Final, while at Euro 2012, Del Bosque was happy at times not to play a striker so he could get Fabregas into his starting XI.
The Gunners who became national-team legends
Mesut Ozil – 2014 World Cup
If this list was based on an individual performance, the midfielder’s displays in the round of 16 and quarter-finals of the 2010 World Cup would put him near the top.
No player assisted more goals than the German at that tournament or two years later at the Euros.
Later in his career, he would be accused of becoming overly obsessed with always creating, often passing when he could have taken a shot, but when he broke onto the scene, few had his vision.
Given he’s a World Cup winner, it’s a shame he felt the need to retire from international football at the age of 29 due to social and political pressure.
In the man’s own words:
“I am German when we win, but I am an immigrant when we lose.”
Patrick Vieira – 1998 World Cup, Euro 2000
The other half of one of the greatest midfield partnerships to play in England.
While assisting the third goal, he was a substitute in the 1998 World Cup Final.
Yet by the time of Euro 2000, our future captain was viewed as one of the best box-to-box midfielders in the universe.
While most remember the 2006 World Cup Final as the game Zidane got sent off, that often overshadows that many in France feel the actual turning point was Vieira being forced off injured.
That’s how good a tournament he had.
Thierry Henry – 1998 World Cup, Euro 2000
Another Gunner who has a World Cup and Euros as part of his medal collection.
For 15 years, no Frenchman had scored more times for Les Bleus.
Despite this, the Arsenal legend isn’t universally loved in his country like he is in England.
The striker became so caught up in the Highbury DNA that the French media often viewed him as arrogant, his mannerisms British and as forgetting his roots.
While his sporting achievements are no doubt respected, he wasn’t adored in his nation like a Zidane.
As one of the senior players who went to South Africa in 2010, that World Cup didn’t help his image politically.
Alexis Sanchez – 2015 and 2016 Copa America
When Sanchez was first capped, Chile had never won a major honour.
Now 37, no man has played more or scored more goals for his country and, most importantly, the nation has lifted consecutive Copa Americas.
While other names on this list also won major honours on the international stage, the majority played with fellow superstars.
Sanchez didn’t just have the pressure of providing the stardust for the team; his pressing was crucial to the whole tactical setup.
While he hurt his Arsenal legacy with how he left North London, few Gooners would deny the man’s work rate off the ball.
His Panenka penalty to end a 99-year wait for success cemented his godlike status.
Dan Smith
So, who makes your top 10 international Gunners? Would you have Sanchez at number one, and which former Arsenal player has Dan left out in your opinion? Let us know in the comments below.
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Apart from Henry, who was fenomenal,the second on the list must be Alexis Sanchez…..that man was an “ one man orchestra “-defending, attacking, assisting, scoring, passing,never stopped running…and all of these based on a mesmerizing technique,incredible speed and huge work rate.Amazing player,having him on his prime added to present team will create a dream team on the same level with dominant Barcelona of 2010-2016.Yes, at Barcelona Alexis was on the same level of Messi, that’s the reason he was listed for transfer-the Messi’s superstar status needed to be preserved…
No he wasn’t
@Dan
I’d say it’s a matter of opinion. And on that I’m going to agree with Antonio. Alexis was an all round player. A driver. And as Antonio put it”an orchestrator”, without being the center of team plays. With Messi, the team played through him. Alexis took the bull by the horns and steered it.( no pun intended). We simply did not have any other player to match his drive. And at times the frustration showed on his face. One player he did have a good connection with on the field, was Sonogo. Believe it or not. Oh yeah. And Ozil😁
yeah and in my opinion he wasn’t on the level of Messi
@Dan
Fair enough…👍🏾
just for younger fans
in same time playing together Sanchez got 37 assists compared to Messi 46
Sanchez got 46 goals …..Messi ……174 !!!
is that the same level ?
@Dan
Like I stated before. The team play went through Messi. Not Sanchez.
And at 67. I doubt if I’d be considered one of the”younger fans”. Thanks for the compliment though…👍🏾
no not for you
I give younger fans the stats who may not have watched it
Messi is the top scorer and has most assists in la liga history, and I don’t think it’s much of a stretch at all to say he’s both the greatest goalscorer (arguable Vs Ronaldo – i think they were neck and neck really, but it is arguable) and playmaker of his generation and even in football history. Sanchez was a top player, almost certainly world class at his peak, but he was not even remotely close to Messi.
The only player I think eclipsed Messi on occasion when they played together (excluding the early days when ronaldinho was in his prime and Messi was coming through) was neymar – he was better in some games, including some big games, but Messi was still the better player overall, by a distance imo.
that’s why I needed to stress the stats as it’s not even close
both are attacking players so if one has 176 goals to 46 that’s like another level
I don’t think it’s fair to hide behind oh the team went through Messi just because Messi is better
@Dan
I wasn’t hiding behind anything. I simply stated my opinion. And I stand by it. To me, Alexis was an all round player box to box. His game was more dynamic than Messi’s on a physical level. While Messi was the focal point for the teams play. As Messi was accommodated, Alexis was creating. Even with the presence of Messi in the team. That, says a lot to me. Jus sayin…
It’s not that Messi was accommodated, it’s that the team was built around him, because he made everyone else better as well (created far more for others than Sanchez ever could). Sanchez worked harder defensively but his attacking output and capability were nowhere near Messi – it was worth it to allow Messi to conserve energy. Not so much with Sanchez, who was still a top player. To me, it’s like comparing Gilberto to the greatest midfielders in the history of the game – he was very good, but no one could seriously believe that. Messi is in that bracket of greatest ever (with players like Pele and maradona), Sanchez just isn’t close to that..
That said, it’s a shame Sanchez didn’t join us at a different time because he was good enough to be the key man in a title run imo – we just didn’t have all the other pieces to do it, particularly in defence.
@Davi
If the team is built around you and no one else. That’s considered “accommodation” Alexis was a bit part in the Barcelona Messi investment. Just as the rest of the team. Never once did I downplay or deny Messi’s extraordinary talent. I just stated that I preferred Alexis as an all round better player.
And I totally agree with your last sentence. What a shame.
👍
But it begs the question if Sanchez was a better player wouldn’t it be built around him ?
The numbers are not close enough to make that excuse
It’s not even like Messi was getting all the goals but Sanchez did all the assisting
Different levels
@Dan
True. Because he is a support player. The type needed to play along with a Messi or Ronaldo. Remember. Messi was Barcelona investment. Alexis was hired as support. You’re right. Different levels. I just prefer Alexis.
Yeah but my point is if he was another level he would have got closer to his numbers and his manager would have said in training , we have a better player then Messi let’s build the team around him
But Messi created more and scored allot more
Surely quite a key measurement of success when your an attacker in an attacking team?
Would have been great to have seen Henry ,Ozil and Sanchez all in their prime playing together
I remember going to Highbury and thinking who’s that blond guy
The combination of Petit and Vieira was the gold standard imo.
While I agree with the players mentioned, I’ll add Pires, Ljungberg, Overmars.
Just one question Dan, how has the great Dennis Bergkamp not made you’re top ten.
I don’t know if DB performed as well for the Netherlands as he did for Arsenal.
He was pretty good – very good goalscoring record and performed well in tournaments. Similar to rvp I think, except possibly loses points for being marginally less successful (?) with a stronger team (albeit in a more competitive international environment?)
Also think wiltord is worth a mention – was more of a role player for that successful France side (similar to how he was for us I suppose) but he definitely made a difference.
because it’s their legacy mate for their nation
if it were for club all players you named would be on list
…and of course DB scored one of the greatest goals
ever in the World cup against Argentina in the semi final. Should get in any top ten …well mine anyway.