ARSENE WENGER once hailed his Arsenal class of 2008 as his best-ever group of youngsters.
Wenger’s teenage Gunners were supposed to be the next big thing after a 6-0 demolition of Sheffield United in the Carling Cup that year.
What happened to Arsene Wenger’s top teens of 2008?Credit: PA:Press Association
But where are they now?
And did they go on to have successful careers?
Here, SunSport takes a look at Arsenal’s talented teens of 2008.
KIERAN GIBBS
Kieran Gibbs is still playing in the Championship with West BromCredit: Getty Images – Getty
THE left-back joined Arsenal from Wimbledon in 2004 and went on to play 230 times for the Gunners, winning two FA Cups in the process.
Gibbs, now 30, also won ten England caps, was eventually shipped off to West Brom in 2017 and remains a Baggies player.
However, he has featured just five times this season as they look to win promotion back to the Premier League.
MARK RANDALL
Mark Randall is playing in Northern IrelandCredit: Rex Features
STARTING his Arsenal career in 2001, the midfielder only ever made a total of 13 senior appearances for the Gunners.
Randall left in 2011 after loans at Burnley, MK Dons and Rotherham, playing for the likes of Chesterfield, Ascoli, Barnet, Newport County, Crawley Town and Hemel Hempstead.
He now plays for Larne in Northern Ireland, and his sole piece of silverware came at Chesterfield with the 2012 Football League Trophy.
HENRI LANSBURY
Henri Lansbury is battling for Prem survival with Aston VillaCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
THE midfielder was signed by the Gunners in 1999 and enjoyed loan spells at Scunthorpe, Watford, Norwich and West Ham.
Despite being an England U21 regular, Lansbury only played eight times for the Gunners.
However, he made a huge impression in the Championship with Nottingham Forest and is now in his fourth season with Premier League strugglers Aston Villa, playing 14 times so far this term.
AARON RAMSEY
Aaron Ramsey joined Juventus on a free transfer last summerCredit: Getty Images – Getty
THE Wales international started at Cardiff City before joining Arsenal at the start of the 08/09 season.
Ramsey went on to be a huge hit at the Emirates, playing 369 times and winning three FA Cups.
However, Arsenal allowed him to leave on a free transfer last summer and Ramsey is now plying his trade for Italian champions Juventus, clocking up 24 appearances in his debut season.
FRAN MERIDA
Fran Merida is back in Spain with OsasunaCredit: Getty – Contributor
POACHED from Barcelona’s academy in 2005, big things were expected of the playmaker after a successful loan at Real Sociedad.
But Merida made just 16 appearances for Arsenal and was shipped off to Atletico Madrid in 2010.
Merida went on to play for Braga, Hercules, Atletico Paranaense, Huesca and Osasuna, where he has remained since 2016.
FRANCIS COQUELIN
Francis Coquelin is a regular in midfield for ValenciaCredit: EPA
JOINED Arsenal’s academy in 2008 before taking in loans at Lorient, Freiburg and Charlton Athletic.
The defensive midfielder was a popular player at Arsenal, making 160 appearances and winning two FA Cups.
But he was shipped off to Spanish giants Valencia in 2017 and still plies his trade at the Mestalla.
JACK WILSHERE
Jack Wilshere has been hit by injuries at West HamCredit: PA:Press Association
ENGLISHMAN linked up with Arsenal in 2001 and made 197 appearances while landing two FA Cups.
Wilshere won the PFA Young Player of the Year and Arsenal’s Player of the Year in 2011.
But his progress was severely halted by injury, resulting in a loan spell at Bournemouth before being moving on a free to West Ham in 2018, where he has made just 16 appearances.
CARLOS VELA
Carlos Vela is starring in the MLS with Los Angeles FCCredit: Getty – Contributor
LEFT Mexico for Arsenal in 2005 and ended up making 62 appearances while also taking in loans at Salamanca, Osasuna, West Brom and Real Sociedad.
He joined the Spaniards permanently in 2012 and went on to score 73 goals in 250 appearances.
Vela is now in his third season at MLS side Los Angeles FC, where he has netted 57 times in 71 games and is widely considered to be the best player in the country.
JAY EMMANUEL-THOMAS
Jay Emmanuel-Thomas ended up playing in ThailandCredit: Twitter
STARTED off at Arsenal in 2008 but only ever made five senior appearances.
He ended up representing Blackpool, Doncaster Rovers, Cardiff, Ipswich, Bristol City, QPR, MK Dons and Gillingham before going off the radar in 2017.
Emmanuel-Thomas then re-emerged last year with Thai side PTT Rayong.
ABU OGOGO
Abu Ogogo is now a regular at Bristol RoversCredit: Getty – Contributor
MIDFIELDER left Wimbledon for Arsenal in 2004 but never made a senior appearance despite featuring on the bench twice in the League Cup.
He ended up starring for Dagenham & Redbridge, making 253 appearances before playing at Shrewsbury Town and Coventry City.
Ogogo is now in his second season at Bristol Rovers.
EMMANUEL FRIMPONG
Emmanuel Frimpong retired last yearCredit: Getty Images – Getty
STARTED at Arsenal in 2001 and played a grant total of 16 times while also enjoying loans at Wolves, Charlton and Fulham.
He had a brief spell at Barnsley before spending time in Russia with Ufa and Arsenal Tula.
Frimpong also turned out for Swedish side AFC Eskilstuna, and his last club was Cypriot outfit Ermis Aradippou in 2017 before retiring in March 2019.
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Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
