Deserved Better XI

It's very early days, although things are looking positive and you get the feeling that this season, with the new acquisitions and way things are working, feels a bit different, a bit more positive. Still, here's hoping 🤞🏻

Were we to win the league, it would obviously be amazing, but there are players who've been at the club who deserved a league win, more return for their efforts, or even just a better career, who didn't and aren't going to get it. I feel like we have more than our fair share of these players, so I've put some below, feel free to rubbish it or add your own - the ex (or even current ) Arsenal eleven who deserved better:

David Ospina - Was never going to be a long term starter but was too good to be a backup. Had the misfortune of being around in the same era as Szczesny, and became the another of our goalkeepers who could have been a starter elsewhere. His career was definitely stunted by his decision to stick around.

Emmanuel Eboue - The ultimate utility man and a cult hero. Eboue gave us seven years, well over a hundred appearances and plenty of solid play, but arrived at the end of the Invincibles era and never won a single thing. His career and his life in general took a nosedive afterwards.
Laurent Koscielny - Probably our best centre half for the duration he was with us, which was nine years and over 250 games. Gave us the best years of his career and won silverware with us, but never won a league title, even though he was talked about in the same sentences as some title winning central defenders of the time.
Jakub Kiwior - Brought in as a backup but started to show his worth when we needed him, and towards the end of last season had started to look really confident and had arguably some of his best performances in our win against Real Madrid. Loaned out this season, while we brought in new defenders, which I fear might indicate a permanent situation on the horizon, before he was really given a proper chance to make the position his own.
Takehiro Tomiyasu - The very definition of a workhorse, and had also gained a following among the Arsenal fans. Whatever the outcome of his actions, he never gave anything less than his all, and looked set to fight for the fullback position but injuries took his chance away before he had his contract terminated.


Granite Xhaka - One of our most divisive players, and you held your breath every time he tackled, but his guts and determination couldn't be questioned. Had a wand of a left foot and warranted more than two cups, especially when he came so close to winning the league - he subsequently left for Germany and deservedly did just that.
Santi Cazorla - Along with Bergkamp, Henry and Rosicky, he's one of the few players I'd immortalise if I could. He played like he enjoyed it and there was almost never anyone better on the pitch. He was part of the reason our trophyless spell ended and deserved far more than he got, but his career at Arsenal was ruined by that awful injury.
Tomas Rosicky - Like Cazorla, he was skilful and entertaining and could have filled his trophy room had he played elsewhere. Arrived during the most barren spell we've had, and spent 18 months of his peak out with injury.
Giovanni Van Bronckhorst - Arrived at the peak of his career and earned some honours, but a knee injury cut him down after only a few months. Made only about half of the appearances you'd hope for in the time he was with us.

Lukas Podolski - Had his share of fitness issues but was one of those players most associated with the early 2010s - brilliant to watch and gave us a decent return for a forward, and contributed to our first trophy in nine years, but probably should have got more for his efforts.
Olivier Giroud - Gave us six years of loyal service as well as goal return of about one every 2.5 games, through the peak of his career. Got three cups and community shields in return but his consistency and effort probably should have earned more. Nobody could hold against him the Champions League win he got when he moved across London.