SHKODRAN MUSTAFI has been Arsenal’s best defender of the decade, according to the stats.
WhoScored.com have released their Gunners best XI for the 2010s – with some real shocks.
Arsenal’s Team of the Decade, based on average rating on WhoScored
Every Arsenal player of the last ten years have been rated and slated – and it makes for shocking reading for Gooners.
After all, the team of the 2000s would no doubt include the likes of Robert Pires, Thierry Henry, Patrick Vieira and the rest of the Invincibles.
But fast forward ten years and it’s a series of flops and cases of wasted talent.
Check out who’s made the XI based on their average score out of ten – with Aaron Ramsey and Olivier Giroud shock exclusions.
GOALKEEPER
Petr Cech was Arsenal’s best goalkeeper of the 2010s, say the statsCredit: PA:Press Association
Petr Cech – 6.91
THE former Chelsea stopper played 115 times for Arsenal following his 2015 move.
Cech averaged 3.1 saves per game and kept 43 clean sheets during his days at the Emirates.
But competition for the starting spot in this XI was hardly stiff, with the likes of Manuel Almunia and Wojciech Szczesny for company.
DEFENDERS
Shkodran is a shock name in Arsenal’s Team of the Decade, along with KoscielnyCredit: Getty
Bacary Sagna – 7.08
Shkodran Mustafi – 7.22
Laurent Koscielny – 7.21
Thomas Vermaelen – 7.08
WITH a rating of 7.22, blunder-prone, out-of-favour German Mustafi is technically Arsenal’s best defender of the decade.
He’s joined by former icon turned object of fan hatred Koscielny in the XI – with injury-prone Vermaelen at left-back.
Sagna takes the right-back spot over Hector Bellerin after three impressive seasons before joining Manchester City in 2014.
MIDFIELDERS
Ozil and Cazorla are both part of the Team of the Decade, say the statsCredit: Getty
Santi Cazorla – 7.51
Alex Song – 7.38
Mesut Ozil – 7.26
ALL season Arsenal fans have been cursing what could have been regarding Cazorla – whose renaissance at Villarreal has been nothing short of inspiring.
How the Gunners could do with the Spaniard in their squad now, who are in desperate need of a beating heart in midfield.
At first glance, Song is a surprise name in the team – but he ranks No1 for combined tackles and interceptions for Arsenal this decade at 5.9 per game.
Ozil may be set to leave the Gunners as his staggering decline continues, but he rightly finds a home in this team after once being dubbed the “assist king” for his sensational playmaking since his 2013 move from Real Madrid.
FORWARDS
Alexis Sanchez was the best player of the decade, according to the statsCredit: Getty
Samir Nasri – 7.32
Robin van Persie – 7.71
Alexis Sanchez – 7.73
NASRI just sneaks into the team of the 2010s with 70 appearances in the Premier League and Champions League.
His 7.32 rating is more than respectable, but eclipsed by fellow forwards Van Persie and Sanchez.
RVP is a no-brainer to make the XI but Arsenal fans are still frustrated with his decision to quit and join Manchester United with their simmering rivalry still going strong in 2012.
Incredibly, Sanchez – who struggled to buy a game at Arsenal and Manchester United combined in recent season – boasts the highest average rating in the team of the decade.
At a sky high 7.73, Sanchez can fall back on his 69 goals in the Prem and Champions League – while earning 32 Man of the Match awards in his 144 games.
Mikel Arteta has decided to keep Freddie Ljungberg on his coaching staff at Arsenal
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
