We usually represent England quite well with our players but we don't have any in the starting 11 and only one on the bench, OXO. From all the "potential" that our English players were suppose to have, they've not delivered for either club and now country. Even our most talented player Wilshere is looking like a flop. He's 25 and at his peak, but is currently loaned out to Bournemouth but not doing much there either. His figures return - 25 played, 0 goals and 2 assists, which is frankly pants. Was this suppose to be the future of England? But one thing i have to commend is the marketing department and Wenger, they've hyped these average over paid Premiership players into something special. If any of these guys left, they will play for mid/lower end Premiership teams, no top teams will look at them.
While not English... the same happened with Bendtner, Denilson, Eduardo, Hoyte, Almunia, Djourou, Traore, Senderos, Eboue, Chamakh and to a lesser extent Nordtveit, Merida, Miyaichi etc etc... The ones on the top line were all STARTERS for Arsenal, for years on end, with many, many, SCREAMING they werent good enough, and they all ended up playing for mid table / bottom half teams or worse after they left. This is one of the worst problems at Arsenal - we just arnt cut throat enough. None of those players would have lasted a year at any other top club. (though it was while we were paying off our stadium) I have no doubt that Ramsey, Gibbs, Monreal, Gabriel, Jenkinson, Coquelin, Elneny, Iwobi, Sanogo, Chambers would all be playing for teams mid table / lower half teams. very tempted to add Chamberlain and Wilshere to the list, but they are english and could see them maybe making City or Pools Reserve side to make up the home grown quota. We need to release these players faster, and more importantly, find better ones to begin with.
Walcott a bit unlucky not to make the squad, he has scored a decent amount of goals this season, Wilshere can't even get into the Bournemouth team at the moment so he can't complain, Welbeck when fully fit will make the England squad and Gibbs is crap.
Monreal has been quality - better than City's, Spurs and possibly Uniteds LB. I would add Chamberlain to that list - not Wilshere though he would make it at a top club with better Physio/Strength and Conditioning.
Not sure what the laugh is for, Monreal has been very good for Arsenal and one of the best LB's in the league. He has relegated Gibbs to the bench for 2 seasons now.
Good grief, another over rated English player mate. He resembles a sprinter than a real footballer. I'll give him another season before he disappears like the rest.
OVER-RATED Another Dawson, Huddlestone, Jeans, Mason, Caulker.. much hyped English Spurs player who will disappear into relative obscurity.
Rose is a quality player, at first I thought he was just a pace merchant, but in the last two seasons he has proven that he is the real deal, streets ahead of Monreal.
Finally someone with more honesty than pride 3 seasons ago, most of us would've happily seen Rose sold. Fast forward 2 seasons under Poch and the player is unrecognisable. Tough as nails defensively and deadly going forward. Same can be said for Walker - the pair have flourished into probably the best wing-backs in the country. The fact that there are people on here comparing Rose to Caulker and Mason is frankly hilarious. Would be the equivalent of me coming on here pronouncing Sanchez as 'the next Chamakh'. Get a grip guys, Monreal is decent but he is currently part of a back line that is well on course to deliver Arsenal's worst defensive record since 2011.
I'm not being dishonest. I genuinely think he's a mediocre player. We can finish above you year upon year and have genuine talents like Bellerin get only a fraction of the praise that English players like Rose get. Wait and see which one ends up at Real,Bayern or Barca. Its not going to be Rose. (bad for Arsenal) - But it's the reality.
I made the Monreal comparison. He's been solid for us for a while. Of the Spurs fullbacks I rate Walker much higher than I do Rose.
They've both been superb for us over the last couple of seasons, while we've conceded relatively few goals. I don't think that the same can be said of Monreal, who I've heard plenty of Arsenal fans complaining about. He's been very vulnerable to pace and doesn't contribute enough going forward, by all accounts.
Monreal isn't a bad player, I would happily take him as a squad player. The problem is he's our starting left back and really isn't of the quality we should be aiming for at Arsenal.