4) Nacho Monreal – Arsenal
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Wenger bought Monreal in January 2013, primarily as a backup for Kieran Gibbs but the Spanish international has gotten better season after season, he is now an automatic starter and one of the first names on the team sheet.
Monreal was targeted by opposition managers in his debut season as being the weak link (Brendan Rodgers used Luis Suarez on the right in that 5-1 game and Roberto Martinez weeks later using the same tactic). He has improved a lot and was also used last year in central defence when Arsenal had their entire back four on the treatment table. The stint in the heart of defence has certainly helped him improve defensively especially in winning aerial duels.
The Arsenal star has also become a good tackler and his numbers prove it. He has registered 38 tackles in the Premier League this season, which is more than any other Arsenal player has managed. He is also Arsenal’s lucky charm if the numbers are to believed.
He has the second-highest winning percentage of any Arsenal player to play 50 Premier League games (Edu had a win rate of 70%). And what’s more, the Gunners have never lost when Nacho has scored.
Everything about Monreal is low-key. Even his social media presence which he runs himself. He’s hugely liked and respected by his team-mates. He has been so good this season that even Pirlo has labelled him “Faultless”.
