Many African players have been celebrated at Arsenal over the past years. Many have proven their strength and capacity and have lived up to great expectations. Their contribution to the game is noteworthy and their fans never fail to cheer for them.
These players also have gained popularity outside of the games, making young boys and girls want to be like them. They are on their way to becoming icons in the world of Football.
The Arsenal Football Club is one of those football clubs loved by many fans around the world. They have consistently been among the top four of the Champions League, the only one in England who has done that in the past couple of decades.
Not to mention, the team has bagged several championships in different cups over the last few years. They're the team that's the most consistent in terms of standing even though they haven't bagged a championship in the Champions League in a while.
It's no wonder why people follow them every season, they have an excellent style of play and are considered one of the best football teams in the world.
Because of the club's popularity, it's no surprise that its players are also popular around the world with some of the best players in Africa dreaming of becoming a part of the football club. These are the top African players who are playing at Arsenal:
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang
Pierre is considered to be the best African goalscorer in all of Europe because of his pace and finishing moves as well as his off-ball movements. He is the captain of Arsenal and the Gabon National Team. Although he is mainly a striker, he can be assigned as a wide forward as well.
He began his career playing at a club in Milan and was loaned to France. His move to Ligue 1 team Saint Etienne made the team win the 2012-2013 Coupe de la Ligue and was even hailed as the team of the year. After his achievement with the team, he transferred to Borussia Dortmund, a Bundesliga club, where he became the top goalscorer for the year 2016-2017.
He signed up with the Arsenal team in 2018 with a whooping mount that made him one of the most expensive players of all time. Many are still following his career and is one of the most anticipated players in live arsenal streamings online. Although he is still an African because he is from Gabon, he was born in France and is of a Spanish mother.
He is eligible to play for the Spanish team because he also has Spanish nationality. He successfully led Gabon in several cups and captained the team for some seasons over the years. He is undeniably one great asset for both teams he is leading.
Nicola Pépé
He plays as a winger for two teams which are for the Premier League club Arsenal and the Ivory Coast National Team. He is a very talented player and is praised by his teammates for his contributions during their practices. He was born in France though he is of Ivorish ethnicity.
At only 24 years old, he started playing professionally as an outfield player in 2012-2013.
He has a long list of accomplishments in his young Football career and he has played for several teams before being signed up with the Premier League Club Arsenal, having an expensive club-record fee.
He is playing under the number 19 shirt and is known for as a fast and swift attacking winger wherein he is comfortable playing from both flanks. He was converted into playing as a striker by a former head coach making him more versatile than before.
Alex Iwobi
Alex is also playing for Arsenal, having been a member of the Premier League club since he was 8 years old. He found it hard how to juggle his time between studying and playing during that time.
He is of Nigerian descent but he moved to England at a tender age of four. He signed up for a long term contract with Arsenal at just 19 years old, it is the only team he's been with ever since.
His reputation in the game is distinguished as a great striker though he is also considered to be able to play any position required of him. Even though he is still young, he already has fans from all over the world. He is nicknamed as 'Big 17'
Nwankwo Kanu
Kanu is considered by a lot of people as the greatest African player to ever play for the Arsenal Football Club. He was named the African Footballer of the year several times. He is one of the most famous and most influential players hailed from Nigeria.
He was known for his scoring prowess because he was able to score on important games against heavy teams.
He has a trademark two-finger salute, attributing to their team's nickname Gunners, which is very popular among his fans.
He is a member of the team that won the 2003-2004 season of the Premier League undefeated called "Invincibles". His popularity still remains up to this day with people cheering him on whenever he appears during games.
Lauren
Laureano Bisan Etame-Mayer or more commonly known as Lauren is also a member of the "Invincibles" team which was the Arsenal squad that won undefeated in the 2003-2004 Premier League Season.
He is also an Olympic medalist in the Sydney Olympics in 2000. After retirement, he served as an Arsenal ambassador for the African continent helping people there and repaying all the support he's been given all throughout his career.
This role allowed him to travel around the world and facilitate in football clinics mainly for children.
These top African Players of Arsenal are not only great players of football but influential people to those who are aspiring to become great athletes themselves as well.
Looking into their careers, you could pick out strategies in winning games as well as important skills to learn in order to gain strength and endurance.
You may also learn that it is not just about winning all the time, as these players are doing it for the love of football.