Justin Hoyte

Name Justin Hoyte
Born November 20, 1984
Waltham Forest
London
Position Defender
Squad Number 31
Previous Club(s) None
Joined Arsenal August 01, 2001
Arsenal Debut Southampton (h)
Premiership
May 7, 2003,
Won 6-1


31. Justin Hoyte


Justin has established himself as a genuine first-team player over recent seasons. He amassed 36 appearances last season and, in May, signed a new long-term contract. He achieved all this despite starting the campaign as probably the third-choice right-back.

Justin has risen through the ranks at the club and become very solid defensively while his pace going forward could be in the genes. His mother was an England international sprinter and his father is an athletics coach.

He became the first Englishman to score for Arsenal at Emirates Stadium when he struck against Charlton on January 2, 2007. His brother Gavin is a regular in the Reserves.

                                            My Year

April

Justin continued to be a useful member to the squad, featuring against Liverpool and Manchester United in the Premier League.

January

Justin had a productive month for the Club. The defender featured in League, Carling Cup and FA Cup matches and was praised by manager Arsène Wenger. “He has improved tremendously,” said the boss. “Technically he is very good but as well he is very versatile and quick on the turn which is a great quality for a centre back.”

September

Justin played throughout the 2-0 Carling Cup win over Newcastle and looked to be in good form. The youngster produced some fine tackles as well as proving to be a good attacking option in the final third.

August

Justin didn’t appear domestically for Arsène Wenger’s side in August but did play a full 90 minutes in the second leg of the Champions League qualifying tie against Sparta Prague, helping the team to a 3-0 victory.

Armand Traore

Name Armand Traore
Born October 08, 1989
Paris
France
Position Defender
Squad Number 30
Previous Club(s) Monaco
Joined Arsenal August 01, 2006
Arsenal Debut W.B.A. (a)
Carling Cup 3rd Round
October 24, 2006,
Won 2-0


30. Armand Traore


Armand was perhaps the player who gained most from the Carling Cup run in 2006/07. He started every game in the run apart from the opening rubber at West Brom and never looked out of place, even in the Final against Chelsea.

The powerful, quick left back is now a veteran of two pre-season training camps in Austria. Signed from Monaco in 2006, Armand has represented France at Under-17 level and was called up for the Under-18s at their European Championship last season.

My Year

April

Armand had cause to celebrate as he earned a first Premier League start against Liverpool in early April.

September

Armand was named in the starting line-up for the 2-0 Carling Cup win over Newcastle and provided a perfect cross from which Nicklas Bendtner gave Arsenal the lead. The Frenchman impressed throughout the game and looked a danger going forward as well as solid at the back. The young left back had earlier in the month scored a fine goal in a Reserve team fixture against Birmingham.

August

Armand didn’t feature for the first team in August, making just one appearance on the bench for the Champions League qualifying tie first leg against Sparta Prague. However, he did score what will probably be one of the goals of the season - a thunderous 40-yard strike for the Reserves against Fulham.

March

A memorable month for Armand as he made the first-team bench for the Premiership win over Reading and the Champions League draw with PSV Eindhoven. He was unused on both occasions but it represented a remarkable rise from schoolboy to first-team fringe player for the 17-year-old. The young Frenchman also played in front of an FA Youth Cup record crowd in the Semi-Final first leg win over Manchester United at Emirates Stadium. His month ended on a down note as he was dismissed for a second bookable offence in the dying seconds of the Reserves’ 3-0 defeat at Aston Villa.

February

One of the young stars of this season’s Carling Cup, Armand’s month was always going to be about that date with Chelsea in Cardiff. It may not have gone to plan for Arsenal but the 17-year-old Frenchman turned in an assured performance for 65 minutes before being replaced by Emmanuel Eboue. The left back’s performance earned him his FA Cup debut four days later when the Gunners were knocked out by Blackburn. Armand’s month had earlier been in doubt when he limped off after nine minutes of the FA Youth Cup tie with Bristol city. His young team-mates went on to win 6-5 on penalties after a 2-2 draw.

January

A breakthrough month for Armand as he played a vital role in Arsenal’s progression to the Carling Cup Final. The 17-year-old played 87 minutes of the incredible 6-3 victory at Liverpool before making a full appearance in the Semi-Final first leg against Tottenham at White Hart Lane. The Frenchman’s performance earned him another start in the second leg but his game was cut short on 63 minutes as he limped off with severe cramp. Armand also played a full 90 minutes as Arsenal Under-18s beat Hull City 2-1 in the fourth round of the FA Youth Cup.

Emmanuel Eboue

Name Emmanuel Eboue
Born June 04, 1983
Abidjan
Ivory Coast
Position Midfielder
Squad Number 27
Previous Club(s) Asec Mimosas
Beveren
Joined Arsenal January 02, 2005
Arsenal Debut Stoke City (h)
FA Cup 3rd Round
January 29, 2005,
Won 2-1


27. Emmanuel Eboue


Perhaps the most attacking right-back in England right now. Emmanuel has electric pace and seems happy to raid down the flank at any opportunity. He amassed five Premiership assists in 2006/07 but, oddly, weighed in with only one goal — against Hamburg in the Champions League.

Emmanuel’s rise has been rapid. He was signed from Beveren in January 2005 and, in May 2006, was starting the Champions League Final against Barcelona. Like his countryman Kolo Toure, he can play in numerous positions and, in pre-season, Arsene Wenger suggested Emmanuel could be employed on the right side of midfield in the future.

He began the current season with 16 caps for the Ivory Coast.

                                          My Year

April

Emmanuel appeared in every game in April, causing trouble down the right flank on several occasions.

March

Emmanuel was suspended in the two domestic fixtures which bookended the win in Milan. He returned to domestic action against Middlesbrough and was in the squads that travelled to Chelsea and Bolton.

February

Emmanuel’s return from the Africa Cup of Nations ended in a red card, away at Manchester United. He did though feature for 89 minutes against AC Milan and went close to breaking the deadlock.

January

Emmanuel, like Kolo Toure, was plucked from the Arsenal squad two games into January. His international commitments - he featured three times for the Ivory Coast in January — limited him to Club appearances against West Ham and Burnley.

December

Emmanuel continued to build his partnership on the right with Bacary Sagna, providing an assist in December. The Ivorian featured in all Arsenal’s league games, getting ever closer to his first goal of the season.

November

Life in midfield is very nearly the norm for Emmanuel now. He is a regular fixture ahead of Bacary Sagna, starting all five of the games in November, although he completed 90 minutes only once. He was also involved in games for the Ivory Coast.

October

Emmanuel operated on the right flank in October. The Ivorian featured four times, three from the start, and proved a constant threat to defenders. He played a stunning back-heeled pass to Nicklas Bendtner for his goal against Slavia Prague, and was himself denied twice by the woodwork.

Nicklas Bendtner

Name Nicklas Bendtner
Born January 16, 1988
Copenhagen
Denmark
Position Striker
Squad Number 26
Previous Club(s) FC Copenhagen
Joined Arsenal August 01, 2004
Arsenal Debut Sunderland (a)
Carling Cup 3rd Round
October 25, 2005,
Won 3-0


26. Nicklas Bendtner


Nicklas returned from his loan season at Birmingham City as a more mature and seasoned player. He left for the Midlands with a record of 22 goals in 27 goals in the Arsenal reserve team. He added to his developing reputation with 13 goals as Steve Bruce’s side lifted the Championship trophy.

Strong, tall and powerful he can lead the forward line but also possesses a deft touch. He showed all those qualities scoring the first goal against PSG in the Emirates Cup

The Dane is in his fourth year with Arsenal after joining from FC Copenhagen in 2004. Last season he won his first cap against Poland — and celebrated with a debut goal. He also struck the solitary goal in Denmark’s victory over Germany.

                                             My Year

April

Nicklas crashed home the equalising goal against Liverpool, one of two for the month, and continued to improve, most notably with an eye-catching performance against Derby. He appeared in five games, scoring against the Rams.

March

A superb intervention late on in the match with Aston Villa got Nicklas’ month off to a flyer and he continued to make a positive impact when he was used. The Dane also notched for his country in the draw with the Czech Republic.

February

Nicklas featured in the final three games of the month for Arsenal and notched a goal while on international duty. The Dane seemingly benefited from a run in the side and was a threat throughout the draw with Birmingham.

January

Nicklas was on target against Burnley in the FA Cup and featured in five Arsenal games during January. The Dane’s power and finesse was key in several Gunners goals including the final goal of the month - setting up Cesc Fabregas just moments after coming on against Newcastle.

December

A first Premier League goal for Nicklas was made all the more sweet as it sealed another victory over North London rivals Tottenham. The Dane also scored against Steaua Bucharest, but ended the month on a sour note with a red card at Everton.

November

Two goals for his country and some eye-catching cameos for Arsenal in November will have given Nicklas a real confidence boost. The Dane grabbed two assists in the four games he featured and is certainly proving his worth as a Premier League striker.

October

Nicklas had a wonderful end to October. The Dane scored his first Champions League goal, the seventh of the night, against Slavia Prague. Having been introduced late-on against Liverpool, he very nearly snatched a last-gasp winner. He was also in action for his country as they faced Spain and Latvia. He finished the month with a fine display away at Sheffield United.

Emmanuel Adebayor

Name Emmanuel Adebayor
Born February 26, 1984
Lome
Togo
Position Striker
Squad Number 25
Previous Club(s) Metz
Monaco
Joined Arsenal January 13, 2006
Arsenal Debut Birmingham City (a)
Premiership
February 4, 2006,
Won 2-0


25. Emmanuel Adebayor


Emmanuel made himself a firm favourite with the fans last season by notching a goal in each of his three games against Tottenham and a crucial late winner at Manchester United.

The tall Togolese striker has added a new dimension to the Arsenal side since signing from Monaco in January 2006 and took just 21 minutes to open his account at Birmingham on his debut. However Emmanuel’s contribution to the side can not be measured solely in goals. His pace and willingness to chase down defenders can create countless openings for his colleagues.
Emmanuel’s talent was seen early. He made his debut for Metz at just 17 and scooped a Champions League runners-up medal in 2004. He has twice been nominated as African Footballer of the Year and his 11 goals for Togo in qualifying for the 2006 World Cup was the best on his Continent. At the start of this season he had amassed an impressive 37 international caps.

                                             My Year

April

Only in the Premier League game with Liverpool did Emmanuel not trouble the scorers in April. The Togo man plundered a second-half hat-trick against Derby in his highlight of the month but also scored key goals against Reading, Liverpool and Manchester United.

March

A strangely barren month for Emmanuel in the League, but he did notch his first goal in Europe. Slotting home against AC Milan, he was also a key contributor to goals against Aston Villa and Bolton.

February

Three goals and two assists signalled another profitable month for the Gunners’ leading marksman. Emmanuel’s brace helped inflict a first home league defeat on Manchester City, and he followed that with a clinical late strike against Blackburn. He started four of the five games in February, appearing as a 70th-minute substitute in the defeat at Old Trafford.

January

Eight goals in six games during January - quite a return for Arsenal’s Togolese striker. Emmanuel was in blistering form during the first month of the New Year and remains one of the favourites to scoop the Golden Boot. Notching with his left foot, right foot and even three times with his head, the 23-year-old was simply marvellous. Arsenal are lucky that Togo failed to qualify for the Africa Cup of Nations.

December

Four goals for the Premier League’s leading marksman in December. Ade began with a stunning header in the win at Villa Park and a sublime volley four days later away to Newcastle. The Togo striker continued his fine goalscoring record against Tottenham before finishing the month poaching the third of four goals against Everton.

November

After a barren October, Emmanuel got back on the goal trail with a fine strike at Reading, having hit the post earlier in the game. He featured in all but the final game of the month, starting three times.

October

Emmanuel experienced mixed emotions in October. His form continued to be good despite not scoring. On the international scene however, Togo failed to qualify for the African Cup of Nations. He featured in all of Arsenal’s game, being substituted only once, against Slavia Prague.

Gael Clichy

Name Gael Clichy
Born July 26, 1985
Toulouse
France
Position Defender
Squad Number 22
Previous Club(s) AS Cannes
Joined Arsenal August 04, 2003
Arsenal Debut Rotherham United (h)
Carling Cup 3rd Round
October 28, 2003,
Drew 1-1. Won on pens


22. Gael Clichy


Gael has put all his injury problems behind him and become one of the most consistent players in the Arsenal side. He became the youngest player to win a Premiership winners’ medal in 2004 at the age of 18. But it is worth remembering that in the two years since that, the former Cannes left back has suffered a couple of serious stress fractures.

Once settled into the side, his pace made him difficult to beat defensively and difficult to stop offensively. He played 40 games in 2006/07 and it is hard to remember a poor one.

At the start of the current campaign he was awaiting his first Arsenal goal and his first French cap. Surely both will have arrived by the end of the season.

                                                    My Year

April

There seems to be no stopping Gael as he continued his record of featuring in every Premier League game. He was also on song in Europe and moved closer to a full French cap with a man of the match performance at Old Trafford.

March

Gael suffered a nasty gash to the head in the draw with Middlesbrough but his late withdrawal from that game was the only time he missed any action for the Gunners in March. His most telling contribution came in the match with Aston Villa - his perfect cross leading to the equaliser. Gael was also included in the France squad late in the month, but did not play.

February

Gael’s only missed one game - at Old Trafford, when he was an unused substitute. The Frenchman was handed an international debut with his country's 'B' team — just reward for his sterling performances at club level all season.

January

Gael continued his run of being the only Gunner to play in every Premier League game this season. The Frenchman remains solid at the back and weighed in with two assists when he went forward.

December

Another stellar month for Gael as the Frenchman registered a number of assists from left-back. The Frenchman played every minute of Arsenal’s league campaign as they ended the year at the top of the table.

November

Missing through injury in the final game of the month, Gael was otherwise an ever-present. His fine form continued and he proved to be a valuable outlet on the left, but also steadied the ship in defence.

October

Gael shows little sign of slowing after a frenetic start to the season. The left-back continues to be a hugely impressive aspect of the Arsenal team, playing all but the final 16 minutes of October’s Premier League and Champions League games. He is yet to score but came incredibly close against Steaua when his deflected cross appeared to cross the line.

Vito Mannone

Name Vito Mannone
Born March 02, 1988
Desio
Italy
Position Goalkeeper
Squad Number 24
Previous Club(s) Atalanta
Arsenal Reserves
Joined Arsenal July 01, 2005


24. Vito Mannone


Former Atalanta youngster Vito enjoyed a fine second season with the Gunners, proving the popular choice of reserve-team coach Neil Banfield.

The goalkeeper spent the first three months of the 2006/07 campaign gaining valuable experience on loan at Championship side Barnsley. Although not the first choice during his time at Oakwell, Vito did make four appearances for the Tykes.

After returning to Arsenal the stopper made eight starts for the second string. The highlights of his season included a superb performance in a 2-2 draw with Reserve League South champions Reading and a fine penalty save in a 1-0 defeat to Watford.

                                             My Year

September

Vito was named in the Carling Cup squad against Newcastle but did not come on. He was also in good form for the Reserve team, playing every minute of their campaign.

Lukasz Fabianski

Name Lukasz Fabianski
Born April 18, 1985
Kostrzyn Nad Odra
Poland
Position Goalkeeper
Squad Number 21
Previous Club(s) Lech Poznan
Legia Warsaw
Joined Arsenal May 26, 2007
Arsenal Debut Newcastle United (h)
Carling Cup 3rd Round
September 25, 2007,
Won 2-0


21. Lukasz Fabianski


Polish international goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski is a new signing having joined Arsenal from Legia Warsaw on a long-term contract for an undisclosed fee.
Fabianski, 22, won the Polish league championship with Legia Warsaw in 2005/06 and his consistent performances earned him a place in the Poland squad for the World Cup in Germany last summer.

As well as making four appearances for the full Polish national team, Fabianski was also a regular at Under-21 level for his home country and has notably been voted the best goalkeeper in the ‘Ekstraklasa’ (the Polish Premiership) for both 2006 and 2007.

Lukasz made his Arsenal debut as a second-half substitute in the 2-0 friendly win at Barnet in July before travelling with the squad to Austria for their pre-season training camp.

                                              My Year

April

Lukasz performed well in his only appearance in April, the defeat of Derby in the month’s final fixture.

March

Lukasz did not feature for the Gunners but was named in Poland’s squad for their friendly with the United States - a match the Americans won 3-0.

February

Lukasz did not play for Arsenal during February.

January

Lukasz was the Gunners’ Carling Cup keeper in January and played in both legs of the Semi-Final against Spurs. He made some important saves in the first leg at Emirates Stadium but was beaten five times at White Hart Lane.

December

Lukasz guided Arsenal into the Semi-Final of the Carling Cup with a fine performance in the win at Blackburn, producing a string of top saves. It was his only appearance in December.

October

Lukasz was an unused substitute until the return of Jens Lehmann midway through October but got 90 minutes under his belt in the Carling Cup tie with Sheffield United. The Polish keeper made a couple of decent saves and kept a clean sheet.

September

Summer signing Lukasz made his first-team bow in the 2-0 win over Newcastle in the Carling Cup. Keeping a clean sheet, dealing confidently with crosses and making a vital save from Obafemi Martins saw the Polish stopper become an instant hit with the fans. In the absence of Jens Lehmann he was also named in the squad for each of Arsenal's fixtures during September.

Johan Djourou

Name Johan Djourou
Born January 18, 1987
Ivory Coast
Position Defender
Squad Number 20
Previous Club(s) Etoile Carouge FC
Joined Arsenal August 01, 2003
Arsenal Debut Manchester City (a)
Carling Cup 3rd Round
October 27, 2004,
Won 2-1


20. Johan Djourou


Johan returned to the Club in January after a loan spell at Birmingham City.

The Swiss youngster had an extremely impressive start to the 2006/07 campaign and ended up with 30 Arsenal appearances under his belt. The centre back made his debut in the 7-0 victory over Middlesbrough at Highbury in January 2006 and, that summer, became one of the youngest players on show at the World Cup in Germany. At the start of the season he had 11 caps.

Although he is now an established centre back, he played in central midfield in his early days. He has been used in that position by Arsène Wenger as well as at full back on either side. Strong, fast and blessed with a solid technique, Johan has a bright future ahead of him.

                                            My Year

April

Now fully fit, Johan spent a lot of time in the first-team squad in April. The Swiss defender appeared on the bench twice, coming on for the final 12 minutes against Derby.

March

Injury continues to blight the return of Johan, but the road to recovery is getting easier as he featured twice for Neil Banfield’s reserves.

February

Johan spent February still recovering from a groin problem that has restricted him to just 45 minutes of football in 2008.

January

Johan returned to the Club after his loan spell at Birmingham came to an end. The Swiss centre-back played for just 45 minutes in the Carling Cup against Tottenham before suffering an injury that kept him sidelined for the remainder of the month.

May

Johan Djourou’s breakthrough season ended with a full 90 minutes in the goalless draw at Portsmouth. The Swiss international helped the Gunners keep a clean sheet but saw his team-mates draw a blank at the opposite end. Johan ended the season having made 30 appearances.

April

A very quiet month for Johan as he made no first-team appearances for the Gunners. The Swiss international was named on the bench for the visits of Manchester City and Fulham but was not used. The 20-year-old did make one appearance for the Reserves, heading the only goal in a 1-0 win at Fulham.

March

March was a mixed month for Arsenal and so it proved to be for Johan. The Swiss defender played a full 90 minutes in the wins over Reading and Aston Villa but had to settle for a place on the bench for the Champions League exit at the hands of PSV Eindhoven. The 20-year-old was not in the squad for the defeats at Everton and Liverpool. He did feature twice for his country however in friendlies against Jamaica and Colombia.

February

Johan appeared twice for Arsenal in February and was on the winning side on both occasions. The young Swiss defender managed 51 minutes of the 2-1 comeback victory over Wigan at Emirates Stadium and 92 minutes of the 3-1 FA Cup replay win at Bolton’s Reebok Stadium. He was also an unused substitute for three matches, including the Carling Cup Final defeat in Cardiff. Johan picked up an ankle knock at the end of the month but it was not thought to be serious.

Alexandre Song

Name Alexandre Song
Born September 09, 1987
Douala
Cameroon
Position Midfielder
Squad Number 17
Previous Club(s) Bastia
Joined Arsenal August 12, 2005
Arsenal Debut Everton (h)
Premiership
September 19, 2005,
Won 2-0


17. Alexandre Song


Alexandre returned to the Club following a successful loan spell at Charlton Athletic last season.

The Cameroonian youngster joined the Addicks in January on his return from the Under-20 African Cup of Nations in Congo. But despite a string of impressive performances Alex couldn’t save Alan Pardew’s team from relegation to the Championship.

The young midfielder arrived at Arsenal in the summer of 2005 after a successful trial. He had caught the eye of Arsenal’s scouts while helping former club Bastia win the Under-18 national French Cup, known as the Gambardella Cup.

Alex, who can operate in midfield or defence, has made 16 appearances for the Gunners in his fledging career but will be hoping to cement a regular place this season.

                                             My Year

April

Alex enjoyed a positive month in the Gunners set-up, starting the last three games in central defence. The Cameroonian performed admirably against Manchester United, Reading and Derby.

March

Alex was unable to feature for the first team because of injury but did play, and score, in a reserve fixture late in March.

February

Alex returned from the Africa Cup of Nations a beaten finalist but with a place in the tournament’s Best XI - a fitting tribute to his excellent performances in Ghana. However an injury in the closing stages of the competition prevented him from featuring for Arsenal on his return.

January

Alex did not play for the Gunners due to his international commitments. The versatile youngster earned a first cap for Cameroon as they went down in their opening Africa Cup of Nations fixture. He impressed coming off the bench and was handed starts in their next two game — a 5-1 victory over Zambia and a 3-0 win against Sudan.

December

Continuing his redevelopment as a centre-half, Alex excelled in both the Carling Cup and Champions League in December. The Cameroon star finished the month by celebrating a first international call-up ahead of the African Cup of Nations.

November

Alex was restricted in his first-team appearances, only featuring for 90 minutes in Prague. The Cameroonian is adapting to life as a centre-half this season and will be hoping for further chances to impress as he looks to make the his country's squad for the upcoming African Cup of Nations.

October

Alex was sidelined for much of October with an ankle injury but did feature once for the Reserves in a phase of his recovery. He was then instrumental in shutting out Sheffield United in the Carling Cup victory at the end of the month.

Aaron Ramsey

Name Aaron Ramsey
Born December 26, 1990
Caerphilly
Wales
Position Midfielder
Squad Number 16
Previous Club(s) Cardiff City
Joined Arsenal June 13, 2008


16. Aaron Ramsey


The Wales Under-21 international Aaron Ramsey signed for the Gunners in June 2008 from Championship side Cardiff City, on a long-term contract for an undisclosed fee.

Although still only 17, Aaron has already represented his country at Under-21 level and became the youngest player ever to represent Wales at this level in August 2007, in a 4-3 victory over Sweden Under-21s. He was also recently called up to the full Welsh squad for their friendly international matches in Iceland and Holland, but was an unused substitute on both occasions.

Young midfielder Ramsey progressed through the youth ranks at Cardiff City and also became the youngest ever player to represent the Bluebirds, coming on as a substitute in the League match against Hull City on April 28, 2007, at just 16 years 124 days, breaking the previous record set by John Toshack.

Since making his debut for Cardiff City in the 2006/07 season, Ramsey went on to make a total of 22 appearances for the Welsh side, including a substitute appearance in last season’s FA Cup Final against Portsmouth at Wembley Stadium.

Denilson

Name Denilson
Born February 16, 1988
São Paulo
Brazil
Position Midfielder
Squad Number 15
Previous Club(s) Sao Paulo
Joined Arsenal August 31, 2006
Arsenal Debut W.B.A. (a)
Carling Cup 3rd Round
October 24, 2006,
Won 2-0


15. Denilson

The Brazilian midfielder progressed perhaps more than any other Arsenal player last season. He arrived virtually unnoticed on transfer deadline day because of the swap deal concerning William Gallas and Ashley Cole but, in only his sixth game, he was stepping out at the Millennium Stadium, Cardiff to take on Chelsea in the Carling Cup Final.
Later that season, he was named in the full Brazil side for the first time. He has captained his country at every age group between Under-15 and Under-19. Denilson was also part of the Sao Paulo side which beat Liverpool to lift the World Club championship in 2005.
Perhaps he does not possess the tricks of many of his famous countrymen but his quiet efficiency and clinical distribution last season saw him move from a Carling Cup hopeful to a Premiership contender in Arsène Wenger’s estimations.
                                             
                                          My Year

April

Denilson enjoyed a fine end to April as he seemingly put his injury worries behind him. The Brazilian was a late addition to the field against Reading and then played throughout the dismantling of Derby, giving an assured and confident performance in the heart of midfield.

March

Denilson’s only action in March was the final 11 minutes of the draw at home to Aston Villa. The Brazilian was part of the squad that travelled to Italy for the memorable win in the San Siro.

February

A brief cameo appearance at St Andrews for Denilson ended a month of frustration as he returned from a hamstring injury.

January

Denilson returned from suspension at the start of the month but suffered another disappointment when he was withdrawn midway through the defeat at White Hart Lane with a hamstring injury. The manager revealed it would likely keep him out for a month. Denilson had played a part in the FA Cup success at Burnley and the Semi-Final first-leg draw with Spurs.

December

Denilson’s three appearances in December came midway through the month against Middlesbrough, Steaua Bucharest and finally Blackburn where a red card in the dying minutes led to a three-match suspension.

November

Denilson finished November strongly with three full games deputising for either Cesc Fabregas or Mathieu Flamini. He certainly proved capable in that department and his performances will have left an imprint on the mind of the manager.

October

Denilson did not feature in the league for the Gunners but was an unused substitute against Steaua Bucharest. He finished the month by grabbing the final goal of the 3-0 Carling Cup win against Sheffield United.

Theo Walcott

Name Theo Walcott
Born March 16, 1989
Middlesex
England
Position Attacking Midfielder
Squad Number 14
Previous Club(s) Southampton
Joined Arsenal January 20, 2006
Arsenal Debut Aston Villa (h)
Premiership
August 19, 2006,
Drew 1-1


14. Theo Walcott


One of the most exciting talents at the Club. Bought in January 2006 from Southampton to a fanfare of publicity, the winger went on to be chosen for England’s World Cup squad for Germany that summer without having represented his new club.

Theo’s Arsenal debut eventually came on August 23, 2006 against Dinamo Zagreb. He put in some lively cameos at the start of the campaign and famously grabbed his first goal in the Carlling Cup Final against Chelsea.

Last season, he continued to make an impression on the international stage. He became the youngest player to represent England at 17 years 175 days and the youngest player to score for the Under-21 side.


                                                My Year

April

‘That run’ against Liverpool was undoubtedly the highlight of Theo’s April. Running from one box to the other, leaving four Liverpool players in his wake, he eventually set-up Emmanuel Adebayor for the simplest of tap-ins in front of the away fans. Elsewhere he continued to develop into a terrifying wide man, scoring against Derby and appearing in every game. He capped the month off with the Arsenal.com Player of the Month award.

March

Theo enjoyed another successful month with the Club as he registered an assist in the win over Milan and made match-saving impacts in several other fixtures during March. The youngster also earned a recall to the England squad days after his 19th birthday.

February

An explosive end to the month for Theo with two goals at Birmingham, his first strikes in the Premier League. An injury prevented the 18-year-old from featuring until the final minutes of the draw with AC Milan, where he nearly unlocked the visitors defence with a stunning cross that was headed against the crossbar. He was handed a starting berth at St Andrews and seized the opportunity with both hands.

January

Theo Walcott grabbed the equalising goal in the Carling Cup Semi-Final First-Leg against Spurs. He featured in six other games as he continued to grow as a player both through the middle and out wide.

December

An injury-hit month for Theo meant the youngster featured just three times. Illness put pay to his involvement over the Christmas period but after a strong start to the season, he can look forward to 2008 with much excitement.

November

Theo continued his footballing education with a selection of starts and substitute appearances in November. He played a part in the last-gasp equaliser against Manchester United and started twice.

October

Theo enjoyed one of his best months in an Arsenal shirt. The youngster scored twice on his first Champions League start and had previously made game-changing impacts from the substitutes bench against Sunderland and Bolton — setting up Robin van Persie and Rosicky respectively. He played twice for England Under-21s as they continued their unbeaten start to the European qualifying campaign.

Carlos Vela

Name Carlos Vela
Born March 01, 1989
Position Striker
Squad Number 12
Previous Club(s) Guadalajara
Osasuna
Celta Vigo
Joined Arsenal January 01, 2008


12. Carlos Vela


Mexican whiz kid Carlos signed permanently for Arsenal at the beginning of 2007, but he will continue to play his football on loan in Spain this season.

He starred for Spanish second division side Salamanca last term, scoring eight times as they finished comfortably in mid-table. This year he will play for top flight side Osasuna, A Mexican Youth International, Carlos shot to prominence in 2005 when he helped Mexico win the FIFA U-17 World Championships, top scoring with five goals in the tournament to win the Golden Boot. It was Mexico's first world title at any level.

In the summer he represented Mexico at the FIFA U-20 World Cup in Canada, he played in all five matches but they were knocked out at the Quarter-Final stage by eventual winners Argentina.

Carlos began his career with Deportivo Guadalajara, in the Mexican League, but left for Celta Vigo in Spain before representing the first team. Carlos' older brother Alejandro plays for Mexican top flight side Jaguares de Chiapas.

Robin Van Persie

Name Robin Van Persie
Born August 06, 1983
Rotterdam
Netherlands
Position Striker
Squad Number 11
Previous Club(s) Feyenoord
Joined Arsenal May 17, 2004
Arsenal Debut Manchester United (n)
Community Shield
August 8, 2004,
Won 3-1


11. Robin Van Persie


"He is a top, top class player," said Arsène Wenger of Robin van Persie shortly after signing him in the summer of 2004. The Arsenal manager has been proved right ever since.

Robin shone in the first half of last season, scoring a breathtaking left-foot volley from the edge of the area against Charlton and netting six times in seven games at the turn of the year. That run culminated with the equalising goal in the win over Manchester United but it was Robin's last act of the season after breaking a metatarsal in the act of scoring. He still finished as Arsenal's top scorer with 13 goals but would surely have managed a lot more had he stayed fit.

Robin can make amends this season. Assuming greater responsibility in the wake of Thierry Henry's departure, the Dutchman was back to his best in pre-season, scoring the goals which won the Emirates Cup and the Amsterdam Tournament.

One of European football's most exciting talents, Robin has excellent close control, a powerful left foot and the ability to change a game with one piece of magic. He's a dab hand from free kicks too. Now, with Henry gone, the stage is set for Robin to become Arsenal's new talisman.

                                       My Year

April

Another mixed month for Robin as injury problems continued to wreak havoc with his match time. He completed just one game, at home to Reading, but did score a sublime goal away to Derby in April’s final fixture.

March

The long-awaited return of Robin came against Wigan. The Dutchman continued to ease his way back into Premier League life and slammed home his first goal since October in the win at Bolton. It was his second staggering comeback in a matter of days - he had played throughout Holland’s extraordinary win over Austria, a match they trailed 3-0 before winning 4-3.

February

A troublesome season showed no sign of respite for Robin as he failed to feature for the Club.

January

Same old story, just a change of month. Robin thought he had put his injury nightmare behind him when he returned to action against Tottenham at Emirates Stadium, but a recurrence of his muscle problem saw him withdrawn at half-time. He subsequently missed the rest of the month.

December

Robin returned to action midway through December featuring against Steaua Bucharest and Chelsea, but a slight knock meant he was sidelined for the remainder of the month.

November

Robin was sidelined with a knee injury for all of November.

October

Robin looked to be hitting top form before October’s international break. The Dutchman scored the winning goals against Steaua Bucharest and Sunderland, as well as a net-busting free-kick against Roy Keane’s men. The striker though sustained a bad injury to his knee playing for his country and looks set to miss much of November too.

William Gallas

Name William Gallas
Born August 17, 1977
Asnières
France
Position Defender
Squad Number 10
Previous Club(s) Caen
Marseille
Chelsea
Joined Arsenal August 31, 2006
Arsenal Debut Middlesbrough (h)
Premiership
September 9, 2006,
Drew 1-1


10. William Gallas


William Gallas will captain Arsenal this season, replacing Thierry Henry who has left the Club to join Barcelona.

The deal which saw William swap places with Ashley Cole last summer could prove to be something of a coup for Arsenal. The former Chelsea star has bags of experience and has proved himself time and again at the highest level.

Injuries hampered William's first season at Emirates Stadium. He missed three months with a thigh injury and, like Thierry Henry, suffered something of a hangover after helping France reach the World Cup Final in Germany.

William showed signs of his best form towards the end of last season. His partnership with Kolo Toure is gradually blossoming and has the potential to be the best in the Premiership. William's versatility is a plus - he filled in at left back early last season - and he pops up with the odd goal too.

If William stays fit, his experience and undoubted quality will be a real asset to Arsène Wenger's young squad this season.
                                          
                                              My Year

April

There was a succession of captain’s performance from William as he didn’t miss a minute throughout April. He led the side through their rough patch and helped them finish the month strongly.

March

The Club captain’s goal against Bolton was impeccable in its timing and delivery. Volleying home at the far post, William set Arsenal en-route to a stunning comeback. He had earlier featured in all the games that the Gunners played in March. The Frenchman was also involved in his country’s win over England.

February

William adapted comfortably to life alongside Philippe Senderos and led the team throughout the month, not missing a minute. The Frenchman helped keep World Player of the Year, Kaka, quiet, and ensured Arsenal remained on top of the Premier League pile.

January

William was typically resolute during January. Featuring six times, the Frenchman continued to grow as a leader. He admitted that, after the Carling Cup defeat to Spurs, he needed to call on all his leadership skills to pick the team up.

December

Captain fantastic William Gallas tormented his former club in what was his highlight of December — scoring the decisive goal against Chelsea. The Frenchman nodded home what was his only goal of the month, but also continued to impress both defensively and as a leader.

November

Being rested for the final game of the month was just reward for the captain after an outstanding run of form for Arsenal. William scored two goals, and produced some sterling defensive performances. His never-say-die attitude and exceptional leadership skills shone through and led to comparisons from Kolo Toure to great captains like Tony Adams and Patrick Vieira. William won the O2 Arsenal.com Player of the Month award with 57 per cent of the votes.

October

William returned to domestic and international action in October, joining up with France for their games with the Faroe Islands and Lithuania, before donning the red and white of Arsenal for the first time since August. He played every minute of the games against Bolton, Slavia Prague and Liverpool, making a superb tackle to deny Steven Gerrard right at the death.

Eduardo

Name Eduardo
Born February 25, 1983
Rio De Janeiro
Brazil
Position Striker
Squad Number 9
Previous Club(s) CBF Nova Kennedy
Bangu Atletico Clube
Inter Zapresi
Dinamo Zagreb
Joined Arsenal July 03, 2007
Arsenal Debut Blackburn Rovers (a)
Premiership
August 19, 2007,
Drew 1-1


9. Eduardo


Arsenal created a hatful of chances last season but struggled to kill teams off. Could Eduardo be the man to apply the finishing touch they need?

The Brazilian-born striker moved to Croatia at the age of 15 and took Croatian nationality in 2002. By the start of the 2007/08 season Eduardo had netted seven times in 12 internationals, including a goal against England in the Euro 2008 qualifiers.

He is even more prolific at club level, scoring 73 goals in 104 appearances for Dinamo Zagreb and winning two Croatian league titles before moving to Emirates Stadium on a four-year contract in July 2007.

Arsène Wenger is a big fan of Eduardo. "He has great qualities and will integrate very well into our style of football," said the Arsenal manager. "He is a very good finisher and although he is predominantly a striker, he is a very adaptable player."

Eduardo demonstrated his finishing ability with the winner against Lazio in the Amsterdam Tournament in August. And he knows all about scoring at Emirates Stadium after netting the first European goal there when Arsenal beat Dinamo on aggregate in the Champions League qualfiers in 2006.

                                           My Year

April

Eduardo continued his rehabilitation from the injury sustained at Birmingham City in late February.

March

At the end of March it was revealed that Eduardo was making ‘satisfactory progress’ in his bid to recover from a broken leg and dislocated ankle.

February

A sickening end to another profitable month for Eduardo. His horrific leg/ankle injury sustained away to Birmingham came after four consecutive starts that yielded one assist and the sumptuous volley at the City of Manchester Stadium.

January

Just 70 seconds of Arsenal’s January fixtures had elapsed when Eduardo struck a stunning volley to set the Gunners on the road to victory over West Ham. The Croatian subsequently appeared in every game of the month, registering one more goal and an impressive six assists.

December

Eduardo finished December with an impressive four goals having grabbed match-winning braces against Blackburn in the Carling Cup and Everton in the Premier League. The Croatian international’s adaptation into English football is continuing and should he reproduce the form he showed this month then the process may well be quicker than expected.

November

As he continues to adapt to life in England, Eduardo had a profitable month in the red of Arsenal. He featured in some capacity four times for the Club and scored in the defeat in Sevilla. An outstanding performance for Croatia against England would have aided his confidence. He was described by Arsène Wenger as his 'secret weapon'.

October

Eduardo continued to adapt to life in London and, having suffered from an ankle injury early in the month, made his only league appearance of the season against Bolton. The Croatian international was in action for his national side, scoring the only goal of their win against Israel. He ended the month with two superb goals in the 3-0 win against Sheffield United. .

Samir Nasri

Name Samir Nasri
Born June 26, 1987
Marseille
France
Position Midfielder
Squad Number 8
Previous Club(s) Marseille
Joined Arsenal July 11, 2008


8. Samir Nasri


French international midfielder Samir Nasri has agreed to join Arsenal from Olympique Marseille on a long-term contract for an undisclosed fee.

Nasri (21), who made two appearances for France in Euro 2008, was voted as the French Ligue 1 'Young Player of the Year' for 2006/07 and was also Olympique Marseille's Player of the Year for 2007.

Nasri, has made twelve appearances (scoring twice) for the French national team, making his debut for his country in March 2007 in the 1-0 friendly win over Austria. He was also a French Under-21 international and part of the French Under-17s who won the European Championships in 2004.

The young attacking midfielder made 145 appearances (scoring 11 goals) for Olympique Marseille, during which time he won the UEFA Intertoto Cup in 2005, was a French Cup runner-up in 2006 and 2007 and helped his side into third place in Ligue 1 last season, thus securing a UEFA Champions League place for next season.

Manager Arsène Wenger said: "We are delighted to be signing Samir Nasri. He is young, quick and technically an outstanding player. He has shown great potential with his performances for Marseille and the French national team over the past two seasons and he will add great quality to our squad."

Nasri added: "I'm very happy to become an Arsenal player, it means such a lot to me. This is a very important step in my life as a football player because Arsenal is a massive club. I really hope everything will go well for me here. I will my best for Arsenal and its fans and I am honoured to be part of such a great football club."

Samir Nasri is due to join up with his new Arsenal team mates for pre-season training on 21st July.

Tomas Rosicky

Name Tomas Rosicky
Born October 04, 1980
Prague
Czech Republic
Position Attacking Midfielder
Squad Number 7
Previous Club(s) CKD Kompensory
Sparta Prague
Borussia Dortmund
Joined Arsenal May 23, 2006
Arsenal Debut Dinamo Zagreb (a)
Champions League
August 9, 2006,
Won 3-0


7. Tomas Rosicky


Tomas enjoyed a promising first season at Emirates Stadium. He wasn't a regular on the scoresheet but his goals were certainly worth waiting for - a stunning long-range effort against Hamburg in the Champions League and two classics in the FA Cup win at Liverpool.

The Czech star also netted in three of Arsenal's last five home games last season, suggesting that he is capable of contributing more goals now he has found his feet in the Premiership.

Quick and skilful with a powerful shot and an eye for a pass, Tomas has been mainly deployed on the left of midfield but is just as happy in a central position, a role he fills for his country.

Tomas made his international debut aged just 17 and represented his country at the 2000 and 2004 European Championships, plus the 2006 World Cup. He scored two superb goals in the group stages in Germany but the Czech Republic failed to advance to the knockout stages.

Tomas has a wealth of top-level experience from his time with Sparta Prague and Borussia Dortmund, winning domestic titles with both clubs. Now he hopes to add a Premiership medal to his impressive haul.
                                               My Year

April

As expected, Tomas was ruled out for the remainder of the season, following an injury suffered in January.

March

Tomas sat out all the fixtures in March with a tendon injury and has been unable to put a realistic time frame on when he will return.

February

Injury prevented Tomas from donning the Arsenal shirt throughout February.

January

Tomas was just getting into his stride when injury again frustrated him. Withdrawn 10 minutes into the FA Cup win over Newcastle, the Czech had appeared twice in January, scoring against Fulham.

December

A strong month for Tomas ended with a goals haul of two. Scoring against Middlesbrough and Everton, the Czech star also weighed in with several assists in the seven games in which he appeared.

November

Tomas fortunately stayed injury free in November and became a very useful weapon for Arsène Wenger. He started three times, scoring once against Wigan, and also found the back of the net while with the Czech Republic.

October

Tomas returned to action for the Club against Bolton, coming off the bench for the final half-hour. Having been absent since mid-September with a hamstring injury, the midfielder capped his return with the second goal in a 2-0 win. He later featured against Slavia Prague and Liverpool.

Philippe Senderos

Name Philippe Senderos
Born February 14, 1985
Geneva
Switzerland
Position Defender
Squad Number 6
Previous Club(s) Servette
Joined Arsenal June 01, 2003
Arsenal Debut Manchester City (a)
Carling Cup 3rd Round
October 27, 2004,
Won 2-1


6. Philippe Senderos

Philippe still has a scar over his left eyebrow from the 2006 World Cup. He got it scoring the all-important goal against South Korea that clinched the Swiss side’s passage through to the knockout stages. It is perhaps the ultimate example of his tenacity and will to win.
The tournament was a massive learning curve for the centre back. Unfortunately he came back with a shoulder injury that kept him sidelined for the first few months of the 2006/07 season but, once fit, he displayed the maturity we have come to expect.
He racked up 25 appearances and deputised well for William Gallas when the Frenchman was injured over the winter.
It is easy to forget that Philippe is still a young player. Perhaps that is because he broke into the Servette side at 16, captained the Swiss under-17s to the European Championships in 2001/02 and has represented them at every level from Under-15s upwards.

                                             My Year

April

The domestic stage eluded Philippe in April, but he did feature in both legs of the Champions League tie with Liverpool, completing 90 minutes in both games.

March

Unfortunate against Villa when he directed a cross beyond Manuel Almunia, Philippe was simply superb as Arsenal dispatched of AC Milan a few days later. He continued his fine run of form with the Club featuring, in some capacity, in every game. An international appearance rounded off a profitable month for the Swiss defender.

February

February was arguably Philippe’s finest month for the Club this season. Featuring in all five games, the Swiss star effortlessly slipped into a centre-back partnership with William Gallas. The defender even grabbed a goal in the defeat of Blackburn and oversaw shut-outs against Rovers and European champions AC Milan.

January

Stepping into the void left by Kolo Toure is no easy task, but Philippe filled in effectively. The Swiss was part of a defence which was impenetrable in games against Burnley, Fulham and twice against Newcastle. He also played on two other occasions but missed the Carling Cup defeat at Spurs through injury.

December

Just two appearances for Philippe in December. The Swiss star did though lead the side in the memorable 3-2 Carling Cup victory over Blackburn, having previously featured against Steaua Bucharest in the final group match of the Champions League.

November

Philippe Senderos returned from injury in November, starting against Sevilla. The Swiss star will be hoping for more chances in the upcoming month as he looks to stake a claim for a starting berth when Kolo Toure is at the African Cup of Nations.

October

Philippe started October in a very positive manner, keeping a clean sheet in Bucharest and scoring his first goal of the season against Sunderland. The Swiss star then joined up with his country but returned with a back injury that kept him sidelined for the remainder of the month.