As we continue to build Arsenal’s “Team of the Decade” from the last 10 seasons (2010 – 2019) it’s time to move on to one of the most crucial positions on the pitch – central defence.
If you have not yet voted in the goalie and fullback categories, you can find the links in the menu bar below.
Choose your TWO preferred CBs from the list and cast your votes accordingly. Results will not be revealed until the entire team has been compiled.
As a reminder, for simplicity we are going with a 4-3-3 formation so please make your choices with that in mind. Some players (such as Sol Campbell, who only had a handful of games in the decade in question, have not been included).
Centre Backs
Thomas Vermaelen
The “Muscles from Brussels,” our hard hitting Belgian, was not actually from Brussels, but the “Twerp from Antwerp” didn’t sound as good. Tommy V was with us for five seasons before leaving for Barcelona and was a mainstay for much of that time.
William Gallas
Scrapes in because he started 26 games in the 2009-10 season, but left the following year. Undoubtedly a capable player, but perhaps his best years were at Chelsea. He’ll always be remembered (not favourably) for sitting down on the pitch and going on strike in the game where Eduardo’s leg was snapped in half.
Laurent Koscielny
There were doubts about Kozzer when he first arrived but in time he became a very successful CB for us. His predilection for throwing his face in front of opposition players’ boots, knees and elbows was an additional source of entertainment.
Sebastien Squillaci
Arrived in the same window as Koscielny, but The Squid never established himself in the same way and was on his way after only 38 starts.
Johan Djourou
I have a theory that big Johan could have been a top player for us, but his reputation went down the pan when he was forced to spend an extended spell at right back due to an injury crisis among our fullbacks (sound familiar?). He was just not cut out for that role, and although he generally did well for us when playing central defence, he never recovered from his dodgy time at FB.
Per Mertesacker
The BFG arrived as a seasoned German international and World Cup winner and very quickly made us better. A great reader of the game and an excellent distributor from the back.
Gabriel Paulista
Gabriel got 53 starts in two-and-a-half seasons. He looked scary enough to frighten opposition strikers half to death and was not a bad player, but failed to cement a role as a first choice CB.
Rob Holding
It’s been a stop-start career at Arsenal for Rob. He did have an outstanding game when we won the FA Cup in 2017.
Shkodran Mustafi
Currently out of favour after recent blunders, but it wasn’t always that way for Mustafi. When he joined we went on a long run of games in which we were unbeaten whenever he played. He was a pretty consistent presence in his first three seasons, with 37, 36 and 38 starts respectively.
Sokratis Papastathopoulos
Sok gets in in the last season under consideration here (2018-19) with 39 starts. Big, solid and brave, he has been a fairly reliable presence without (I think it’s fair to say) ever fully convincing the supporters that he’s the answer to our defensive woes.
RockyLives
Arsenal News 24/7
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Sorry Rocky, I got tied up doing other stuff.
Thank you for the post, I’ll go back and read it now 😳
Great read once again…thanks
The list also shows that we didn’t really have world class CBs in the last decade. Koscielny had maybe 2 very solid seasons but then injuries and his partners in CB did not help him perform to his best and he was often acting like a fireman. He was solid but also made numerous errors initially. BFG did fine but he did not really help shore up our defense either. His partnership with Kos was the best we had in the last decade and I think it s great he has stayed on with the club but not a world class defender.
Still, they are the best of the list. I am sure that if Vermaelen was not so injury prone, he could have been in the top 2 but the point is that he did not play enough for us.
So far my team is: Cech – Sagna, BFG, Kos, Clichy –
Still have hopes for Rob Holding and Mavrapanos but injuries, Emery, and mind, have all been against so far. Shame!
Kos and the BFG for me.
Interesting sideline.
Players who have either come from Chelsea or gone to Chelsea from us. Would make an pretty talented team!
LBG – for sure BUT history will show that players that left AFC for Chelsea won more trophies than those who joined AFC from Chelsea. Latest example is, of course, Giroud.
Loved Koscielny, hated how he left us but had to vote for him.
Our BFG gets my other vote, he brought stability with his wise head. As I’m a bit of a defending geek, I loved watching him play although it was a bit scary when we played a high line. For his FA Cup performance alone he has to be in my team of the decade.
Arsenal-Chelsesa Revolving Door Eleven:
Cech
Diarra – Gallas – Luiz – Cole
Rocastle – Fabregas – Petit – Benayoun
Giroud – Anelka
Pretty good line-up…
You beat me Rocky.
Cech
Hollins Luiz Gallas Cashley
Rocastle Fabregas Hudson
Graham
Lawton Drake
This is fun.
Arsenal-ManU Revolving Door Eleven (a 4-2-4 formation with a bit of a problem at LB):
Rimmer
Anderson – Ure – Silvestre – Mkhitaryan
Graham – Platt
Van Persie – Cole – Stapleton – Welbeck
I think Arsenal/Chelsea would beat Arsenal/ManU despite the wealth of goalscorers in the latter line-up…
LBG
Some classy entries there – Hollins was a terrific MF and Drake one of the all-time greats by all accounts.
Arsenal-Spuds Revolving Door Eleven (bit of a cheat, I had to use George Graham in MF even though he was only at the Totts as a manager, not a player):
Jennings
Walford -Cambell – Young – Gallas
Bentley – Graham
Robertson – Cox – Adebayor – Brain
Right, no more revolving doors, I promise.
Cheers Rocky
Will be very surprised if this is not close to 100% again for both BFG and Kos, who were my nominations. As RC said it has not been a decade for shouting about our defence (more shouting at it) and we haven’t been blessed with world class defenders, but BFG and Kos were pretty decent.
Again if measured across a 30 year period rather than a decade I think only Sagna (from the lists and positions already done) would have a shout at getting in the team.
Unlike Peaches I am not too Geeky about defenders, but more so about midfield and attack, so Rocky if you would kindly let everyone know they have another hour to vote and comment on our defence over the last decade, then we can swiftly move on to the fun stuff 🙂
For the decade (from 2010 to 2019), in a 4-3-3.
Laurent Koscielny (from 2011 to 2019) & Per Mertesacker (from 2012 to 2018).
My team (continued):
GK. Petr Čech (from 2016 to 2019, 4 seasons)
RB. Bacary Sagna (from 2010 to 2014, 5 seasons)
LB. Nacho Monreal (from 2013 to 2019, 7 seasons)
CB. Laurent Koscielny (from 2011 to 2019, 9 seasons)
CB. Per Mertesacker (from 2012 to 2018, 7 seasons)
JM
Almost the same as RC, except he’s gone for Clichy rather than Nacho at LB.
I should warn that the MF positions (coming up in the next couple of posts) are going to be a real challenge…
Really why is mustafi and squillaci in the poll
Fred
In all the polls I have included every player who played any significant number of games for us during the decade in question.
I considered giving fewer options, but then I thought it wasn’t up to me to edit or mediate the choices, even though some of the options are clearly very long shots.
Having glanced at the results so far for the GK and fullback positions, you’d be surprised at the choices some individuals have gone for. Well, they surprised me, anyway 🙂
Naturally you don’t have to vote for the players who seem surplus to requirements.
Only Klopp won more points than Ancelotti since Ancelotti returned to the EPl. Ancelotti effect?
RC
Everton wont finish in top six though. IMO
Gibbs over clichy for me RC
The Revolving Door XI reminded me of……………………..Whoever`s idea it was to put a revolving door in the local dementia clinic was either a cruel bastard or a genius for getting the patients fit!
@LbG – will Everton finish above us? Both Tottenham and Everton were behind us when Emery was sacked, no?
kos and the big fucking german
Squillaci could have had sex with every inhabitant of Wuhan and still would not be able to pass anything on to his team mates!
RC
I think (hope), we now begin a new chapter. Stop opposition scoring, win games have some luck and start moving up the League. Dont think we will make top four, but yes will be above Everton ( and Manure).
RC.. Haaland failed to score tonight, you can relax now 😀 Did you see that worldie from Can?? Wow!!
@Sue – Dortmund will be tough to beat for PSG especially since Icardi is misfiring at tje moment and Cavani is yet to be Match fit. Marquinhos and Bernat are also a doubt 😥
Ramsey looking for a move from Juve, according to Italian media, despite his new four year contract.
Very few do better when they leave the Home of Football.
RC.. What about Mbappe and Neymar? Going to be a great game for the neutrals!!
LBG.. Doesn’t surprise me, didn’t play for very long last night, and they lost!
I didn’t think he’d walk straight into their line up though. I wish he’d stayed with us!
Ramsey needs to adapt to Saari football like Rabiot did.
Ramsey will probably end up back in the EPL. Chelsea?
It would be sad to see from an Arsenal perspective.
Apparently his first Juve season has been hindered by injury.
Morning all, shall we see who’s up next ……………
Just having a look in the cupboard
New Post ………………