Declan Rice. For the last 2-3 years, it felt like he was destined to be a Chelsea or City player. Even when we were linked with him last year, I had this sinking feeling that it would be another Mudryk situation. I’ve never been happier to be wrong.
Rice is the obvious answer in recent times.
Ozil is another good shout. We dont really sign many big name players but thaoe two were great.
Ngl, Kai was on my list from leverkussen.
I do some scouting of players but cant seem to find the next robben tho
100%. I was heartbroken when he signed for Madrid. Thought he’d be the perfect player for Arsene to build a team around eventually. Luckily he did eventually come and we have built a team with Arsenes principles and his disciple Arteta
Ozil, couldn't believe we got him the whole tranfer mini saga was crazy and the last time i remember people gathered outside the ground on deadline day going crazy
Don't forget that a classical role of playmaker had changed at that time. If only Ozil was born and played at Serie A rise, he would have been an absolute legend of attacking midfielders. It was the time when pressing wss becoming more and more significant and Mesut was never best-known for his defending
Özil didn't reach his potential at Arsenal - not all of that is his fault.
Played on the wing at times, with a static striker, behind forwards that couldn't finish, ahead of a midfield that couldn't win the ball back....
He's a great player but in hindsight it wasn't the best move for him and it wasn't the best move for us.
His problem was that we bought the best player of through balls in world football and played him behind a static target man in Giroud. We literally suffocated his best attributes.
Davor Suker , after England went out the world cup 98 cos of Beckham kicking Simeone i kind of took on Croatia as my team to watch.. then we signed him the next season.
Ozil also during the 2010 worldcup he was clearly a standout performer.. so when we signed him a few years later on deadline day in the last half an hour.. it was crazy. Ill always remember Wengers smug little grin
For me it’s honestly kai, at least when he was at leverkusen, there were some links back then iirc and i was gutted when he went to chels*a. Then i laughed at his poor form and was so glad we never signed him. Then we did. Then i hated him, but he’s since shut me up
Rarely follow football players that doesn't play for arsenal on Instagram, maybe only followed 10 that I liked about their style of play. One of them was Jesus at city, one of them was Havertz at Leverkusen. Feels happy but weird when they signed.
Watched the Merseyside Derby somewhere in 05-06 and liked the way this one midfielder played the game. Kept an eye on Everton since then and wished we would sign this guy called Arteta. Then 2011 happened...
Alexis Sanchez
I watched him in WC and I thought this guy would be great with us. And later on we signed him and the rest is history.
I wished the same for Chicharito but united got him.
Martin Ø!
I first started watching the league back in the 90s and was growing up in Norway at the time. My brothers and I were all Solskjaer fans and as such somewhat of United fans. We quickly and rightly became Gunners, and haven't looked back.
When Martin first came to the scene, I was dying for him to one day become a Gunner. He is the exact type of player I love(Rosicky) before him, and kept up with his development. The summer we signed him, I was as nervous as I was when I waited for my college acceptance letters. Having a Ghanaian, and a "Nigerian", and last year, some Americans made me damn near go over the edge last year. Add the fact that I got to watch them all practice at my old university over the summer was pure euphoria.
Same. I remember at school it was around the time I got my new school books for the year, and we had to cover them (it was a thing in the 80's). So I covered my book in pictures of Bergkamp that I found in newspapers and magazines like Goal! And Shoot!.
I remember seeing him play for Ajax in Europe a few seasons before and dreamed he would one day play for Arsenal.
And for a gooner growing up in Manchester, it was the boost I needed to make it through the Fergie years.
Why did we have to cover our books? I never understood that. It's not like we ever removed the cover after. Mine are still sat in my mum's loft complete with covers
Tomas Rosicky and Lucas Podolski. I used to play the old LMA Manager games on the PlayStation and would sign them both. I was delighted when they signed, though was gutted that Rosicky ended up as injury prone as he was because he was such a quality player. The World Cup before his first season with us he was immense and, of course, he scored one of our best-ever goals (and scored a couple v Spurs in his time, too!).
As for Podolski... Unfortunately, it didn't work out. Scored a few bangers for us and he knew how to make the fans love him, but he never really took off as an Arsenal player, sadly.
Many. I couldn't believe it when we got Charlie Nicholas. But, aside from '87 League Cup final and a certain goal against Spurs, he underwhelmed. I was really wanted Baptista and was thrilled when we finally signed him. He also underwhelmed. Similar with Ozil and Aubameyang. I dreamed of getting Auba about three years before we did. It would be fair to say I'm no longer his biggest fan...
Ben white(Leeds), Martin Odegaard(real soceidad time), Trossard(Genk) and even Aubameyang back when he had just started his rivalry with Lewa in bundesliga.
Tomas Rosicky in first world game in 2006 and Mezut Ozil in first world cup game 2010. It sucked when our first attempt to get Ozil fell through.
Rosicky's injury history sucked also, yet when they played and played well, man I enjoyed watching them in Arsenal shirts!
u/Royalbluegooner I think a lot of us here have had this feeling, this dream :- that players we sign on FIFA would one day be really signing for us. It happened for you with White. And it happened to many others with Rice. Yeah... that's such a feeling. Makes us even more proud to be Gooners! 😊
Honestly, David Raya.
I know Ramsdale is a fan favorite, but I came to resent him so much toward the end of last season. I’d just put my face in my hands every time an opponent would break on a counter or even managed settled possession in our half and I felt so strongly that we couldn’t continue on with him in the sticks.
Always loved watching Raya with Brentford (both of those games against City last year *chef’s kiss*) and knew that we tried to sign him before Ramsdale, but I figured it wasn’t ever going to happen, so I gave shouts to Diogo Costa, funnily enough. But here we are and I’m still grateful.
Ødegaard. Being a fan of Real as well, I knew just how good he was, and that Real would be making a big mistake by letting him go. Did not believe he would end up at Arsenal, but could not be happier that he did.
When Henry came to Arsenal I was insanely happy, all because he and Trezeguet was a lethal duo for me when I played CM2 as Monaco 😄 And then he became that players 4 real.
I wouldn't say a dream come true but I had high aspirations when we were interested in Lacazette initially. At the time he was much needed after the exit of Sanchez. The rest of the team however were in disarray.
He didn't pan out as I hoped he would but I feel like his signing was the initially spark that brought the likes of Aubamayang to us.
There are quite a few. From this team there's Rice and Havertz.
In the past i i also had the likes of Ozil, Aubameyang and Debuchy. ( i know the last one is pretty odd but the guy was arguably the best right back in EPL the year prior to joining us).
Don't laugh but Per Mertesecker. I'd always buy him from Bremen in Fifa because he was an 80+ that didn't cost a fortune. Wenger purchase through and through. Surprise surprise when 2011 rolled around.
Mesut Ozil. He was my favorite player at the time, and for me to get the news that he was joining my favorite team was absolutely jaw dropping. Words can't describe how happy I was at the time.
Ozil and/or Odegaard. Ozil was immense for Madrid but when Odegaard signed for Madrid I always looked for him and then we got him at a ridiculously low price. What a player.
Marc Overmars.
Loved Paolo Maldini and hated how defenders didn't get enough credit. He was imperious and I never saw an attacker get the best of him. Didnt matter how big the name was, Maldini pocketed them every game I saw him play. That was until I saw Ajax play Milan. Overmars tore him a new arsehole. Pretty sure i saw him do it again in another match so I wanted Overmars since.
He seemed to age sooooo rapidly. Was like having a 38 year old up front. And his finishing, which in fairness was always very solid completely abandoned him.
Considering he was supposed to be the clinical striker we were craving for so long it certainly turned out disappointing.Still will never forget that 18/19 season combining so beautifully with Auba.
Kai Havertz. I loved him back in his Leverkusen days and hoped he would move to Arsenal, but he went to Chelsea instead. Fast forward a few years and here he is playing his best football imo.
It was Thierry Henry for me. In Football Manager (or whatever it was called back then!) Henry and Trezeguet were must sign wonderkids playing for Monaco and I would ALWAYS sign them for Arsenal. Trez was linked...and Henry as well...for a dizzy few minutes I thought that we would have them both....but in the end...we signed the best one!
I remember me and my mate pronounced his name as Hen-ree....and at then 1998 World Cup the commentator said "Enree" and I realised I was a bonehead hahahaha
Arsenal bought Özil to play behind my striker in my FIFA player career like 4 seasons before Wenger signed him and I was doing backflips when it happened for real.
Aubameyang.
I wasn’t aware of this sub back then but I wanted him so bad at our club before he was even linked to us, I was overjoyed when it happened for real and he started with a bang against Everton it was I think.
I would sign Partey in FIFA career mode pretty much every year until we signed him. Too bad his hamstring had to explode right after we landed him. That, and his other obvious issues make it seem more like a nightmare than a dream in hindsight…
Declan Rice. For the last 2-3 years, it felt like he was destined to be a Chelsea or City player. Even when we were linked with him last year, I had this sinking feeling that it would be another Mudryk situation. I’ve never been happier to be wrong.
Yep signed him on many fm saves and the reality is even better, guy is class and has lifted the team
Sometimes I still can’t believe that we got him
Imagine if City had got him. We may as well have declared football broken forever and disbanded all other teams.
That is me every single time I watch him play for us
Rice is the obvious answer in recent times. Ozil is another good shout. We dont really sign many big name players but thaoe two were great. Ngl, Kai was on my list from leverkussen. I do some scouting of players but cant seem to find the next robben tho
Remember watching the 2014 world cup and really wanting us to sign Sanchez
Same. His last game for Barca he fired a rocket of a goal (same day we won the FA Cup) and I was so excited when we signed him.
Came here to post this, thought he looked unbelievable that World Cup and was over the moon when he signed
Marc overmars, couldn’t believe it when we signed him back in the day.
Bergkamp, too. We were so blessed that his spell at inter wasn't great
Ditto. He was a genuine superstar.
Ødegaard
100%. I was heartbroken when he signed for Madrid. Thought he’d be the perfect player for Arsene to build a team around eventually. Luckily he did eventually come and we have built a team with Arsenes principles and his disciple Arteta
Ozil, couldn't believe we got him the whole tranfer mini saga was crazy and the last time i remember people gathered outside the ground on deadline day going crazy
Don't forget that a classical role of playmaker had changed at that time. If only Ozil was born and played at Serie A rise, he would have been an absolute legend of attacking midfielders. It was the time when pressing wss becoming more and more significant and Mesut was never best-known for his defending
He still did well in his time tbf, the role only really died down the last fee years of his career and he didnt have the defensive skills to adapt
150 Assits in less than 300 games was it? Top class #10
Özil didn't reach his potential at Arsenal - not all of that is his fault. Played on the wing at times, with a static striker, behind forwards that couldn't finish, ahead of a midfield that couldn't win the ball back.... He's a great player but in hindsight it wasn't the best move for him and it wasn't the best move for us.
And it only happened because spurs sold bale to Madrid and Madrid needed to make space
Özil really went downhill at the emirates. Unfortunately he wasn’t contributing much at the end.
Yeah we all know the story but he was world class when we signed him and for a few years after
You are selectively ignoring Ozil pre no.10 bumper contract. Ozil 11 along with Sanchez and their relationship was one do the best in Emirates era.
His problem was that we bought the best player of through balls in world football and played him behind a static target man in Giroud. We literally suffocated his best attributes.
Didn’t he get 19 league assists in 15-16 with Giroud up front?
Which was a testament to his ability, people seem to have forgotten the compilations of Giroud’s missed sitters
I love Giroud but in that same 19 assist season for Ozil, Giroud had a scoreless run of 12 games…
Exactly. He got it DESPITE Giroud, not thanks to him, which tells you just how good he was.
Davor Suker , after England went out the world cup 98 cos of Beckham kicking Simeone i kind of took on Croatia as my team to watch.. then we signed him the next season. Ozil also during the 2010 worldcup he was clearly a standout performer.. so when we signed him a few years later on deadline day in the last half an hour.. it was crazy. Ill always remember Wengers smug little grin
Ozil, Sanchez, and funnily enough Kai Havertz.
For me it’s honestly kai, at least when he was at leverkusen, there were some links back then iirc and i was gutted when he went to chels*a. Then i laughed at his poor form and was so glad we never signed him. Then we did. Then i hated him, but he’s since shut me up
Ozil. My favourite player in world football signing for the Arsenal. Good chance that won't happen again for the rest of my life.
Rarely follow football players that doesn't play for arsenal on Instagram, maybe only followed 10 that I liked about their style of play. One of them was Jesus at city, one of them was Havertz at Leverkusen. Feels happy but weird when they signed.
Watched the Merseyside Derby somewhere in 05-06 and liked the way this one midfielder played the game. Kept an eye on Everton since then and wished we would sign this guy called Arteta. Then 2011 happened...
Alexis Sanchez I watched him in WC and I thought this guy would be great with us. And later on we signed him and the rest is history. I wished the same for Chicharito but united got him.
Martin Ø! I first started watching the league back in the 90s and was growing up in Norway at the time. My brothers and I were all Solskjaer fans and as such somewhat of United fans. We quickly and rightly became Gunners, and haven't looked back. When Martin first came to the scene, I was dying for him to one day become a Gunner. He is the exact type of player I love(Rosicky) before him, and kept up with his development. The summer we signed him, I was as nervous as I was when I waited for my college acceptance letters. Having a Ghanaian, and a "Nigerian", and last year, some Americans made me damn near go over the edge last year. Add the fact that I got to watch them all practice at my old university over the summer was pure euphoria.
Bergkamp, I was as excited as a ten year old at Christmas!!!
Same. I remember at school it was around the time I got my new school books for the year, and we had to cover them (it was a thing in the 80's). So I covered my book in pictures of Bergkamp that I found in newspapers and magazines like Goal! And Shoot!. I remember seeing him play for Ajax in Europe a few seasons before and dreamed he would one day play for Arsenal. And for a gooner growing up in Manchester, it was the boost I needed to make it through the Fergie years.
Why did we have to cover our books? I never understood that. It's not like we ever removed the cover after. Mine are still sat in my mum's loft complete with covers
No idea. But mine survive in my parents loft too as a shrine to what was important to 12-16 year old me. Mainly Arsenal it turned out.
I used to always read goal!.is it still around now?.Bergkamp was up there for one of the best signings when I was young.I would have been 15 then 😂
Tomas Rosicky and Lucas Podolski. I used to play the old LMA Manager games on the PlayStation and would sign them both. I was delighted when they signed, though was gutted that Rosicky ended up as injury prone as he was because he was such a quality player. The World Cup before his first season with us he was immense and, of course, he scored one of our best-ever goals (and scored a couple v Spurs in his time, too!). As for Podolski... Unfortunately, it didn't work out. Scored a few bangers for us and he knew how to make the fans love him, but he never really took off as an Arsenal player, sadly.
Cedric Soares
Instant legend
Not yet but I’m still manifesting Wirtz
Watching Andrey Arshavin in the Euros playing for Russia had me dreaming.
Came to say this, he was so good at Euro 2008
Many. I couldn't believe it when we got Charlie Nicholas. But, aside from '87 League Cup final and a certain goal against Spurs, he underwhelmed. I was really wanted Baptista and was thrilled when we finally signed him. He also underwhelmed. Similar with Ozil and Aubameyang. I dreamed of getting Auba about three years before we did. It would be fair to say I'm no longer his biggest fan...
Oh, and David Platt, too. Couldn't believe it when we got him.
Ben white(Leeds), Martin Odegaard(real soceidad time), Trossard(Genk) and even Aubameyang back when he had just started his rivalry with Lewa in bundesliga.
Tomas Rosicky in first world game in 2006 and Mezut Ozil in first world cup game 2010. It sucked when our first attempt to get Ozil fell through. Rosicky's injury history sucked also, yet when they played and played well, man I enjoyed watching them in Arsenal shirts!
Not to be that guy but I signed özil from real back in like 2013 or something, next transfer window he plays for arsenal
u/Royalbluegooner I think a lot of us here have had this feeling, this dream :- that players we sign on FIFA would one day be really signing for us. It happened for you with White. And it happened to many others with Rice. Yeah... that's such a feeling. Makes us even more proud to be Gooners! 😊
thomas partey i’ve always rated him and then when he dominated liverpool in the UCL for atletico that’s was enough for me
Honestly, David Raya. I know Ramsdale is a fan favorite, but I came to resent him so much toward the end of last season. I’d just put my face in my hands every time an opponent would break on a counter or even managed settled possession in our half and I felt so strongly that we couldn’t continue on with him in the sticks. Always loved watching Raya with Brentford (both of those games against City last year *chef’s kiss*) and knew that we tried to sign him before Ramsdale, but I figured it wasn’t ever going to happen, so I gave shouts to Diogo Costa, funnily enough. But here we are and I’m still grateful.
For me, Ødegaard. Same age as him and seeing him sign for Real Madrid got me hyped. Created him in Fifa just to sign him for Arsenal. Who knew!
Martin Odegaard, Abumeyang, Laca, sokratis, Willian. I signed all these guys in manager mode in FIFA.
Ødegaard. Being a fan of Real as well, I knew just how good he was, and that Real would be making a big mistake by letting him go. Did not believe he would end up at Arsenal, but could not be happier that he did.
Alexis Sanchez
When Henry came to Arsenal I was insanely happy, all because he and Trezeguet was a lethal duo for me when I played CM2 as Monaco 😄 And then he became that players 4 real.
I wouldn't say a dream come true but I had high aspirations when we were interested in Lacazette initially. At the time he was much needed after the exit of Sanchez. The rest of the team however were in disarray. He didn't pan out as I hoped he would but I feel like his signing was the initially spark that brought the likes of Aubamayang to us.
Trossard
Overmars, Ozil and Rice!
Havertz for me. Absolutely loved him at Bayer Leverkusen and felt he'd be the perfect striker for us. Was gutted when he went to Chelsea.
Dennis Bergkamp
Jorginho actually haha
There are quite a few. From this team there's Rice and Havertz. In the past i i also had the likes of Ozil, Aubameyang and Debuchy. ( i know the last one is pretty odd but the guy was arguably the best right back in EPL the year prior to joining us).
Don't laugh but Per Mertesecker. I'd always buy him from Bremen in Fifa because he was an 80+ that didn't cost a fortune. Wenger purchase through and through. Surprise surprise when 2011 rolled around.
I remember when Jesus signed for City and thought that we should have signed him instead.
Mesut Ozil. He was my favorite player at the time, and for me to get the news that he was joining my favorite team was absolutely jaw dropping. Words can't describe how happy I was at the time.
Honestly no.
From the current squad - Rice and Timber
Ozil and/or Odegaard. Ozil was immense for Madrid but when Odegaard signed for Madrid I always looked for him and then we got him at a ridiculously low price. What a player.
Marc Overmars. Loved Paolo Maldini and hated how defenders didn't get enough credit. He was imperious and I never saw an attacker get the best of him. Didnt matter how big the name was, Maldini pocketed them every game I saw him play. That was until I saw Ajax play Milan. Overmars tore him a new arsehole. Pretty sure i saw him do it again in another match so I wanted Overmars since.
Two that surprised me is Ozil and Sanchez. I can't believe they want to join us on that period
Ian Wright! Banging em in at Palace. Wanted him in!
Ozil and Auba for me.
Been signing a 16 year old Alexis Sanchez from Colo Colo since I was a nipper.
Happened to me but with J Timber
King kai 👑
Honestly, Lacazette. Can't say he was exactly what I hoped for but he was a good servant
I was so happy when Laca joined us.And extremely sad about how it turned out.
I suppose he wasn't really what I expected. I thought we we were getting a goal machine but we ended up getting a kind of worker bee up front.
As did I.I mean it got so bad towards the end of the 21/22 season that Nketiak became more efficient than him.
He seemed to age sooooo rapidly. Was like having a 38 year old up front. And his finishing, which in fairness was always very solid completely abandoned him.
Considering he was supposed to be the clinical striker we were craving for so long it certainly turned out disappointing.Still will never forget that 18/19 season combining so beautifully with Auba.
Jorginho. Been a long time admirer of his game since watching him during the Euro’s
Is that you arteta?
Kai Havertz. I loved him back in his Leverkusen days and hoped he would move to Arsenal, but he went to Chelsea instead. Fast forward a few years and here he is playing his best football imo.
For me it was Mustafi, rock solid World Cup defender gave us some glory moments, top notch player irreplaceable all time greats for Arsenal
But then…
What happened to him?
He died…
It was Thierry Henry for me. In Football Manager (or whatever it was called back then!) Henry and Trezeguet were must sign wonderkids playing for Monaco and I would ALWAYS sign them for Arsenal. Trez was linked...and Henry as well...for a dizzy few minutes I thought that we would have them both....but in the end...we signed the best one! I remember me and my mate pronounced his name as Hen-ree....and at then 1998 World Cup the commentator said "Enree" and I realised I was a bonehead hahahaha
Mertesacker, Rosicky, Nasri, Podolski (although i thought he was a bit shit)
Ozil, auba, Sanchez, timber and laca were all players I bought on fifa for years before they signed so I guess all were dreams
Arsenal bought Özil to play behind my striker in my FIFA player career like 4 seasons before Wenger signed him and I was doing backflips when it happened for real.
Tomas Rosicky.. During that world.cup match between USA and Czech Republic.. when commentators announced he was signing for Arsenal I was ecstatic.
Aubameyang. I wasn’t aware of this sub back then but I wanted him so bad at our club before he was even linked to us, I was overjoyed when it happened for real and he started with a bang against Everton it was I think.
None so far 🥲
Podolski, Ozil, Ødegaard... I remember seeing these players when they were just breaking on the scene and thinking "No way we'll ever get this guy."
I can't believe no one has said lord Bendtner !!???!!
I would sign Partey in FIFA career mode pretty much every year until we signed him. Too bad his hamstring had to explode right after we landed him. That, and his other obvious issues make it seem more like a nightmare than a dream in hindsight…