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Arsenal have been notorious for selling players in their prime over the years. The club has had the fortune of boasting some great players. However, in recent years, they have had to see some of these players leave in search of more silverware.
The Gunners have let go of a few players who have gone on to bigger and better things over the years. For the longest time, Arsenal were synonymous with disastrous dealings in the transfer market, and were even regarded by many as a 'feeder club'.
Today's list will look at five players that Arsenal should not have sold. The list will include players who made the team significantly weaker after their departure. So without further ado, here are the
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Top 5 players Arsenal regret selling
#5 Aaron Ramsey
Aaron Ramsey was a cult hero at Arsenal. The Welshman came to the club as a 17-year old from Cardiff City and went on to become one of the most important players in the team towards the end of Arsene Wenger's reign.
The midfielder had a few underwhelming years early on but Wenger's faith in Ramsey eventually came good for the club. The Welshman won three FA Cups during his time at Arsenal, scoring the winner in two of the finals. His goal in the final against Hull City broke the club's decade-long wait for silverware.
Ramsey's dynamism in midfield was something the club could never replace under both Unai Emery and Mikel Arteta. The Welshman would have been higher on the list if not for his shoddy injury record, which could have been a detriment to the team had he stayed.
#4 Serge Gnabry
The one that got away. No one expected Serge Gnabry to blossom into the superstar he is today. The German came up through Arsenal's academy ranks and was highly-rated as a youngster at the club.
However, his time at Arsenal was cut-short due to lack of playing time. Arsene Wenger was unable to start the youngster over the likes of Theo Walcott and Lukas Podolski at the time. Gnabry found himself loaned out to West Brom before leaving the club permanently for Bundesliga side Werder Bremen in 2016.
Gnabry quickly progressed into a lethal winger, which caught the attention of European powerhouse Bayern Munich, who he joined in 2017. The German hasn't looked back since, turning into one of the best wingers in the world. His pace, dribbling and finishing abilities off either flank would have been a huge asset to have at Arsenal, but it wasn't to be.
#3 Cesc Fabregas
Cesc Fabregas was considered one of the best midfielders in the world when he left Arsenal. The Spaniard was Arsenal's captain at the time of his departure and was truly the heartbeat of Arsene Wenger's side.
Fabregas' creativity and passing ability in midfield was unmatched in the Premier League, and he also had a penchant for chipping in with goals as well. He left Arsenal for his boyhood club Barcelona in 2011 in search of silverware. This would turn out to be a good decision by the Spaniard, however it greatly weakened Arsenal at the time.
Arsene Wenger's side lost their leader and talisman in what was one of the toughest periods for the club.
#2 Robin van Persie
The player who took over from Fabregas as captain, Robin van Persie, had struggled with injuries throughout his career. But he was entering his prime when Arsene Wenger handed him the armband.
The Dutchman filled the role spectacularly, becoming the club's most important player and one of the best strikers in the world. Van Persie won both the Premier League Golden Boot and Player of the Year in the 2011-12 season. However, it would end up being his final season at Arsenal.
After a long-winded transfer saga, the striker did the unthinkable and joined Arsenal's storied rivals Manchester United in 2012. Arsenal not only lost their captain and talisman, but also, strengthened their rivals in the process. Van Persie went on to win the Premier League with United in his debut season, which was incidentally the club's record-breaking 20th title.
#1 Thierry Henry
This is where the club's downfall started. The departure of Thierry Henry truly saw Arsenal go from perrenial title challengers to fighting for a top four finish. The Frenchman was the best player in the Premier League during the time of his departure.
However, it was a heartbreak in the Champions League final the season before for Arsenal. With that and the uncertainty over Arsene Wenger's contract situation at the club, Henry decided to leave Arsenal and join Barcelona in 2007. Wenger, on the other hand, decided to stay at the club and take it in a newer, younger direction.
Henry's departure signaled the end of an era at Arsenal. Arsene Wenger decided to put his faith in the likes of Fabregas, Van Persie, Tomas Rosicky and Alexander Hleb. He banked on them to eventually lead the club back into the fight for silverware. This, however, was not to be, and the club ended up suffering a decade-long trophy drought.
