Since the 2003/04 season, Arsenal have consistently fought for the Premier League title but failed to clinch it.
The Gunners had a remarkable season during that period, going unbeaten in 38 league matches with their distinctive style. However, much has changed since then, and the club remains determined to clinch another title.
Arsenal’s inability to secure the league title in the past two decades has led several top stars to depart the team and join other clubs and leagues where they have gone on to be crowned champions.
Below is a list of former Arsenal players who have won league titles after leaving North London in the last 20 years.
Cesc Fabregas Soler
One of the best attacking midfielders and passers of his generation, Cesc Fabregas spent nine years at Arsenal and left the club as skipper of the side in 2011. Fabregas made 212 appearances for the London side and won the English FA Cup in 2005, yet he never secured a league title in his first stint in England.
He joined Barcelona in the summer of 2011 and went on to win La Liga in the 2012/13 season only missing out on a UEFA Champions League title during his time back at the Catalan club.
Fabregas also returned to England in 2014 and won the Premier League twice with Chelsea in five years.
Robin Van Persie
Known as one of the most lethal finishers of his generation, Robin Van Persie was a menace to deal with for defenders during his time at Arsenal. Van Persie was Arsenal’s skipper in his last few seasons at the club and scored 94 goals to aid Arsenal’s pursuit of another title since their 2003/04 trophy.
Van Persie made a significant move to Manchester United during the 2012/2013 season, and in his first campaign with the club, he played a pivotal role in securing the title for the Red Devils. He scored an impressive 26 league goals during that period. Notably, Van Persie donned the number 20 shirt, symbolically leading Manchester United to their 20th Premier League title.
Samir Nasri
Crucial in midfield for Arsenal between 2008 and 2011, Samir Nasri played his part for the Gunners under Arsene Wenger for three years at the Emirates Stadium.
However, Nasri never had the opportunity to win the Premier League as a Gunner, although he scored 18 goals in 86 appearances for the London-based side.
Nasri won the league a year later with Manchester City in the 2011/12 season and also grabbed a second gold medal in the 2013/14 campaign.
Granit Xhaka
That’s a name a lot of Arsenal fans will remember in recent years. A skipper, who despite his flaws was fully committed to Arsenal’s rebuilding phase, especially after the appointment of Mikel Arteta.
Xhaka spent seven seasons at Arsenal (2016-2023), and was often deployed in a deeper midfield role. He scored 18 goals for Arsenal and won four titles(two FA Cups and two Community Shields).
His last season with Arsenal saw the team compete for the title, only to be edged by Manchester City in the last 30 days of the season. It seems as though the football gods had more in store for Xhaka.
He made a surprising move from Arsenal to Leverkusen in the summer of 2023 and has since achieved something remarkable. By securing Bayer Leverkusen their first league title in their 120-year history of operation.
Thierry Henry
Probably the biggest name in Arsenal’s Premier League football history. Thierry Henry. Henry led Arsenal to glory in the league twice. In the 2000/2001 and 2003/04 seasons.
Henry won the Premier League Golden Boot four times and is Arsenal’s top scorer in Premier League history (175).
The Frenchman however departed England for Spain in Barcelona, in the summer of 2007 after Arsenal lost to the Catalans in the 2006 UEFA Champions League final.
Henry’s spell at Barca was short, yet he managed to grab two La Liga titles(2008/09, 2009/10), including a stellar sextuple trophy set in 2009, winning his first-ever Champions League title and treble.
Ashley Cole
Regarded as one of the best fullbacks the Premier League has ever seen, Ashley Cole spent seven seasons at Arsenal before leaving for Chelsea in 2006.
Cole won the Premier League twice as a Gunner and was a part of Arsene Wenger’s 2003/04 invincible team.
Cole moved to Chelsea, and was a part of a squad that marked an era at Stamford Bridge. He won the Premier League title with the Blues in the 2009/2010 season, and also went on to be a crucial part of the side that eventually won the club’s first ever UEFA Champions League title in 2012.
Wojciech Szcz?sny
Wojciech Szcz?sny began his senior professional career at Arsenal after rising through the ranks from the youth team. he made 132 appearances at senior level for eight seasons between the 2008/09 campaign and 2016/17.
Szczesny was crucial in goal for Arsenal, yet never came close to winning the league title, although he secured two FA Cups and one Community Shield. He moved to Juventus in 2017 and turned his winning fortunes around. Grabbing three Serie A titles on the bounce between 2018 and 2020.
Serge Gnabry
Despite being known for his best playing days at Bayern Munich, Serge Gnabry began professional senior level football at Arsenal in the 2012/13 season. At 17 years and 98 days, he became Arsenal’s second-youngest player in the history of the Premier League after Jack Wilshere.
However, a lack of playing opportunities eventually landed the German star to Bayern in 2017, and the 28-year-old has gone on to win five Bundesliga titles, only missing out on the 2024 trophy to Xabi Alonso’s Bayer Leverkusen.
Thomas Vermaelen
One other former Arsenal player who went on to grab league titles after his departure from the club was Belgium defender Thomas Vermaelen.
Vermaelen spent five seasons at Arsenal between 2009-2014 and made 110 appearances for the North London side, yet never came close to winning the Premier league title. Vermaelen moved to Barcelona and secured four La Liga titles in five seasons between 2015 and 2019 before leaving for Vissel Kobe in Japan in 2020.Arsenal
Manchester City have crowned themselves champions in the final match day after an emphatic 3-1 win over West Ham to leave Arsenal’s 2-1 win over Everton irrelevant.
Kai Havertz has given Arsenal a 2-1 lead over Everton!#3SportsGH pic.twitter.com/tGOSlvJBfI
— #3Sports (@3SportsGh) May 19, 2024
It’s party in the blue part of Manchester, yet in North London, the wait continues for another league title despite an impeccable performance this season under Mikel Arteta
The post 9 top players who won league titles after leaving Arsenal first appeared on 3News.
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