While Arsenal’s attackers often grabbed the headlines during the 2010s, the club also benefited from a number of dependable defenders and goalkeepers who played vital roles in some memorable successes.
From FA Cup-winning heroes to reliable servants who gave years of commitment to the club, these players helped Arsenal remain competitive during a decade that brought silverware and unforgettable moments.
Defensive Stalwarts Who Delivered For Arsenal
Per Mertesacker
The 2014 World Cup winner may have lacked pace, but he brought leadership, organisation and aerial dominance to Arsène Wenger’s defence for seven seasons. Following his retirement, he continued serving the club as Academy Manager. One of his most memorable moments came in the 2014 FA Cup semi-final against Wigan Athletic, when he headed home the equaliser after earlier conceding a penalty.
Laurent Koscielny
A dependable and consistent central defender who formed an excellent partnership alongside Mertesacker. The Frenchman anchored Arsenal’s defence for nine seasons and became one of the most reliable defenders of the Wenger era before departing for Bordeaux in 2019.
Héctor Bellerín
One of the quickest full-backs in world football at his peak, Bellerín established himself as Arsenal’s first-choice right-back for several seasons. Unfortunately, a serious knee injury slowed his progress, and he eventually left for Barcelona in 2022 after mutually terminating his contract.
Bacary Sagna
A rock-solid right-back who provided Arsenal with seven years of outstanding service between 2007 and 2014. He departed shortly after helping the club end its trophy drought by winning the 2014 FA Cup against Hull City.
Nacho Monreal
The Spaniard was one of Arsenal’s most underrated performers during his six years in North London. Comfortable at both left-back and centre-back, Monreal made more than 250 appearances and won three FA Cups. His standout moment came against Manchester United in the 2015 FA Cup quarter-final when he scored the opening goal at Old Trafford.
Kieran Gibbs
An athletic academy graduate who made over 200 appearances for Arsenal during a decade of service. Although he eventually lost his place to Monreal, he secured a place in Premier League history by scoring the 24,000th goal in the competition during a North London Derby against Tottenham Hotspur in 2015.
Rob Holding
Signed from Bolton Wanderers in 2016, Holding proved to be a dependable squad player throughout his time at the Emirates. While opportunities were often limited, he played his part in helping Arsenal secure two FA Cup triumphs before leaving in 2023.
Mathieu Debuchy
Having impressed during his time at Newcastle United, Debuchy arrived at Arsenal in 2014. Injuries prevented him from fully establishing himself, but he still contributed to the squad that lifted the 2015 FA Cup. His memorable header at Anfield during a dramatic 2-2 draw with Liverpool remains a highlight of his Arsenal career.
Goalkeepers Who Played Their Part
Emiliano Martínez
Before becoming a World Cup winner with Argentina, Martínez patiently waited for his opportunity in North London. Following an injury to Bernd Leno during the 2019/20 season, he stepped up brilliantly and played a key role in Arsenal’s FA Cup triumph under Mikel Arteta.
Wojciech Szczęsny
The popular academy graduate shared the Premier League Golden Glove award with Joe Hart during the 2013/14 season. Although he eventually lost his place before moving to Italy, he went on to enjoy an outstanding career at the highest level.
Petr Čech
Arsenal signed Čech from Chelsea in 2015 for £10 million, bringing one of the Premier League’s most accomplished goalkeepers to the Emirates. He went on to make more than 100 appearances for the Gunners and claimed the Premier League Golden Glove during the 2015/16 campaign. He also helped Arsenal lift both the FA Cup and Community Shield in 2017.
The contributions of defenders and goalkeepers can sometimes be overlooked when supporters reflect on Arsenal’s recent history. However, these players all played important roles in helping the club win trophies, remain competitive and create memories that still resonate with fans today.
Which defender or goalkeeper from the 2010s do you think deserves more credit from Arsenal supporters? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
Liam Harding
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For a couple of years. Koscielny and Mertsacker were rated the number 1 centre back pairing in the Premier League
I rated Bellerin and Monreal highly as well
Kos and Mertesacker were excellent. This list basically has all the logical calls. Spicy Nacho and Hector were great for us.
I will say it’s a shame Vermaelen “the Verminator” didn’t work out. I knew him as a class player from Ajax days. He started really well for us but went downhill fast in 2012-13.
Great list. But none of our old non-Invincible CBs could dethrone Magalhaes or Saliba, if they still play today
As for the fullback, I think only Monreal can play Arteta’s inverted LB role well, because of his ability to play centrally
It’s a pity that people don’t appreciate the game without trophies, but no matter how good you are individually winning a trophy depends so much on other players in the squad. It doesn’t say so much about individual quality. It is the overall quality of the squad that determines the ability to win trophy, even if the best player in the world were to be in the squad. There is a reason it took Messi so much time to win the World Cup or why he has won it only once or why Ronaldo has not won it yet.
Looking down on players that were the best in Premier League during there time shows little understanding of the game.
For context, it can be argued that Gabriel and Koscielny pairing will be a better pairing than Gabriel and Saliba pairing. Koscielny was good in the air, good one-v-one, strong and aggressive like Gabriel, and fast. Koscielny is better than Gabriel when it comes to tackle. In fact is Gabriel a good tackler? Koscielny is good on the block like Gabriel he puts his body on the line too.
Timber might be better than Bellerin in 1-v-1 situation but Bellerin has better cross and recovery speed. He could easily mark anyone out of a game. He did well against Messi when he was around. Messi even asked Barcelona to sign him but he stayed loyal. Most of those names deserve respect. Do you want to argue about what kind of player Sanchez was for his generation because he did not win Premier league with Arsenal?
Per Mertesacker
Laurent Koscielny
Héctor Bellerín
Nacho Monreal
Kieran Gibbs
Emiliano Martínez
These names were arguably the best during their time in the first team.
Gibbs is better than all the current left backs we have at the moment except in physical strength. One-v-one, speed, cross and reading of the game. Hincarpie is arguable in one-v-one and better in physical strength.
Don’t forget the quality of players because they didn’t win Premier League.
I didn’t want to anger you, so I stopped short of telling you that Koscielny could be argued to be better than Gabriel. Gabriel is not significantly better.
During Koscielny’s time, we had more flair in attack and many players on the pitch that didn’t put in defensive work the way the whole squad is doing currently. Far more quality and legendary attacking oppositions in the game then, than we have now.
Finally, to close the argument, I will leave you with the lineup of the team that beat Barcelona with Prime Messi in it. Notice Koscielny in the lineup and take note of who he was paired with. You can also check the quality of players in Barcelona’s lineup to see for yourself.
Goalkeeper: Wojciech Szczęsny
Defenders: Emmanuel Eboué, Laurent Koscielny, Johan Djourou, Gaël Clichy
Midfielders: Alex Song, Jack Wilshere, Cesc Fàbregas (Captain), Samir Nasri
Forwards: Theo Walcott, Robin van Persie
Substitutions:
Andrey Arshavin (replaced Alex Song, 68′)
Nicklas Bendtner (replaced Theo Walcott, 77′)
What a excellent post Prosiscky.
As you say, it’s a squad of dedicated players who win trophies, not one or two players who are brilliant.
We tend to denegrate individual players, without the background knowledge that the manager has and how he wants individuals to play.
One of the very best posts I’ve read on JA and I agree 100% regarding Koscielny and it was such a shame that he left under a cloud.
‘It’s a pity that people don’t appreciate the game without trophies’
I once said winning is not everything and I was taken to the cleaners by a fan.
no because you want the best of both worlds
you want to on one hand say why can’t we win all 4, we are a juggernaut and suggest Arteta has surpassed Mr Wenger
but when we fail you want to say …..well winning isn’t everything
in top level sport to be considered great you win things
our champions if they now do nothing else will be remembered for ever
Dan , when did I say Arteta has surpass the legendary Frenchman?
night before the CL final you implied that if he wins the final……
meaning by that logic you think Tuchel ,Dimatteo , Rijkarrd are all better then Mr Wenger and Arteta
you also again implied Arteta will win everything at Arsenal and more then Mr Wenger
which is fine …..your opinion
but you can’t then say that’s your expectation but at the same time the standard is winning isn’t everything
Gibbs was not better then what we currently have…..that is crazy
Even our backup centre halves, Timber, Mosquero and Califiori are better than the Koscielny, Mertesacker pairing but I miss Bellarin and Monreal their attacking raids opened up spaces for the rest of the team. Can overlook their defensive frailties.
What? Debuchy shouldn’t be there. He was a total flop.
He was extremely costly at the time (12 million) and he was 29 years old already. He was injured all the time, 30 appearances over 4 years!
Eventually left on a free transfer, early, so I assume Arsenal just ripped up his contract.
One of the biggest, if not the biggest considering the cost, flops of Arsenal in the 2010’s.
Unfortunately that period in time imo wasn’t great for us defensively
Great going forward and one of the best but the back at times.were.fragile, defensively caught out of position and leaked crazy goals
Liked Thomas Vermaelen before he was sold off
Thought Nacho was our pick. First time round at LB he was so so Moved him in a centre half for awhile as cover. Went.back as the LB and some thing had clicked and was awesome from then on.
Laurent Koscielny our beloved captain who throw his toys out the pram because he wanted to go back to his home club in France. Good player, scored some important goals but had to many mistakes in him
For me Mertasacker was a big defender and would rely on his reading of a game. But to be fair if he didn’t read the game well he was in trouble. As for a Centre Half he was one of the slowest I’ve ever seen, in fact I’ve seen milk turn quicker. 😂
DEREK
Wow, I haven’t seen a good old rant since that man from Croydon went missing 😀
Gunsmoke that wasn’t a rant, it was an observation. 😂
Derek, o.k. so he was affectionately known as BFG not QFG, you can’t have everything 🤣
Bruised Banana,
😂👍
Only Laurent Koscielny from them.Really good player
I would rate high Martasacker and Koscienly considering the lack of protection infront of them. If you put Gabriel and Saliba in that team, I think their performance and the result wouldn’t differ much from Kos and BFG. The defense was always at disadvantage cos of Wenger’s gung ho approach and lack of DM. Plus, unlike today, the team back then don’t defend as a unit. Context matters
@Ibrahim
Nothing wrong with the”gung ho” approach. As long as your forward players track back. Too many times the likes of Jack and Aaron were caught out too far up the pitch and couldn’t recover, while the opposition ran roughshod over us. Just sayin…
I thought the best of that list was: Koscielny, Bacary Sagna, Nacho Monreal and Emi Martinez.
Some of them if not all could compete with the current defence and thrive with a proper holding midfielder and some proper structure rather than the gung ho basketball tactics the AW employed.
Seems y’all forgot my man Coquelin…
👍NY_Gunner – Francis should have been mentioned here or in the midfielder article. He was a real stalwart defensive midfielder who left everything he had on the pitch for our gunners. Very tough and skilled player.
@BB
RealTalk. But I remember a few people on here were squarely against him. Me myself. I think he put in a decent shift the majority of the time.