5 Arsenal players who left and became successful elsewhere

#3 Lassana Diarra

Diarra found his feet in Spain with Real Madrid

Aged just 22 in 2007, Lassana Diarra moved to the Gunners from league rivals Chelsea. However, his time at Arsenal was short lived. He made just 13 appearances in all competitions with Arsenal and was moved on after just five months, suggesting Arsene Wenger saw no promise in the young Frenchman.

After a very good second half to the season with Portsmouth, he earned himself a place in France’s Euro 2008 squad and claimed he’d ‘justified his decision’ to leave Arsenal.

In December 2008, Portsmouth then agreed a fee with Real Madrid of around £19 million to allow the Frenchman to move to the Spanish giants, where he would prove his critics wrong. In his first season, he earned himself a spot in UEFA's 2008–09 La Liga Breakthrough Team, having only played half the season.

Overall, he went on to make 117 appearances in all competitions, winning a La Liga and Copa del Rey title in a successful stint with the Galacticos.