Arsenal have been represented by legions of top-quality players down the years & we salute those former Gunners that are still active in professional football.
Many Arsenal players from the late 2000s and the early 2010s have already retired. However, there are still a handful of journeymen chugging along in leagues across the globe.
We’ve taken a closer look at seven former Gunners that we couldn’t believe were still playing competitively in late 2022.
Emmanuel Adebayor
In January 2006, Arsenal splashed £3million on Monaco striker Emmanuel Adebayor. Baby Kanu, as he became known, went on to have a memorable spell in North London.
The forward was sent off in the 2007 League Cup final, scored Arsenal’s 100th goal at the Emirates and enjoyed a plethora of unforgettable moments.
Despite this, Adebayor will be best remembered for his goal against the Gunners not long after moving to Manchester City. You know the one.
And, now, according to Transfermarkt, the player is plying his trade for AC Semassi FC in the top league of his home nation. With the league currently inactive, it will be interesting to see whether the striker continues with his playing career once the season begins in November.
Until he officially announces retirement, Adebayor certainly qualifies on our list. We make the rules around here.
READ: A rare celebration of peak Adebayor and his superb spell at Arsenal
Amaury Bischoff
Even the staunchest of Arsenal supporters will struggle to remember Bischoff’s name.
The central midfielder arrived in North London in 2008 and was even described as one of ‘Arsene Wenger’s most left-field signings’ by the club’s own website. Zinger.
Considering he only made four appearances for the Gunners, there’s little we can say about his time in the capital. But we can reveal the Portuguese still competes in the fourth tier of French football with SR Colmar.
Lukas Podolski
As a World Cup winner, Bundesliga champion and a proud kebab shop owner, there’s little Podolski hasn’t done with his life.
Back in 2012, the Polish-born German moved from his hometown club FC Koln and joined Arsenal. In 82 games, Podolski bagged 31 goals and even helped the team to an FA Cup triumph.
Today, the forward is terrorizing defenders in the Polish Ekstraklasa. Though perhaps that isn’t the right adjective, considering he has scored just nine goals in his 38 appearances for Gornik Zabrze.
Mathieu Debuchy
Despite remaining with the club for four years after signing in 2014, Debuchy suffered an inconsistent time at the Emirates that was marked by injury.
Although he did win the Community Shield and FA Cup, the full-back lost his place to Hector Bellerin during his first season and never regained Arsene Wenger’s trust.
Debuchy moved back to France on loan with Bordeaux before signing for St Etienne in 2018. He joined Valenciennes in 2021 and is still at the club today.
Alex Song
At the age of 35, Alex Song is still playing competitive football. We’re as surprised as you are.
During the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic, the former Arsenal man was one of nine players sacked by Swiss club FC Sion. But the midfielder is soldiering on and has played for Djiboutian side Arta/Solar7 since November 2020.
The streets will never forget Song’s performances in the 2011-12 season, especially this assist for Robin van Persie’s iconic volley against Everton.
READ: Remembering the strange season Alex Song became Arsenal’s new Fabregas
Gael Clichy
Clichy established himself as a key figure at Arsenal following Ashley Cole’s controversial move to Chelsea in 2006.
The full-back went on to claim two Premier League medals with Manchester City and won the Turkish Super Lig with Istanbul Basaksehir in 2020
The former France international is now playing for Servette in Switzerland and has spoken about his plans after his playing career is over.
“The idea is to become a manager,” he told The Guardian in July 2021, “but I do not know if I will be good or if I will like it, so the first step is to learn.
“I am talking to the coaches, I am going to start my badges and from that moment I will see if I have that feeling and desire to do it. At the moment I do but when I am available and have my badges, maybe I will feel it is not really for me.”
Fran Merida
Merida only made a handful of appearances for Arsenal during the late 2000s, though he will never be forgotten for his sensational strike against Liverpool.
The central midfielder moved to Atletico Madrid in 2010 and spent 12 years across Spain, Portugal and Brazil. He even racked up 109 appearances for Osasuna and 52 for Espanyol.
Today, the 32-year-old competes for Chinese Super League outfit, Tianjin Jinmen Tiger F.C.
READ MORE: 15 players Arsenal have taken on trial – and how they fared
https://www.planetfootball.com/quick-reads/seven-former-arsenal-players-we-cant-believe-are-still-playing-in-2022/
