Sanchez, Henry, Vieira and more: My top 10 international Gunners

It’s the international break, so it means one thing… a list!

I’m looking at all past Gunners who have played for their nation and made my top 10.

To clarify, this is not based on ability or club form but on how they performed for their country.

I have not included those who represented the Three Lions, as I wrote about them the other day. Once again, I’m only including the Premier League era.

Lukas Podolski – Germany – 2014 World Cup

One of the few players in the history of the sport who can claim he was better at international level than he was for his club. Usually, it’s the other way around.

While respected everywhere he played, it is with his country where he had his most iconic moments.

Never a prolific scorer domestically, only two men have scored more for Germany.

The universe was introduced to the 21-year-old’s powerful left foot when Germany hosted the 2006 World Cup and had their attacker named Young Player of the Tournament.

That and the Euros two years later was the striker at his best.

Robin van Persie – Netherlands

If Bert van Marwijk’s tactics in the 2010 World Cup Final were different, Van Persie might be higher on this list.

For over a decade, no Dutchman scored more goals for his country than our former captain.

The Netherlands are considered one of the greatest footballing nations never to have been world champions. The irony is Van Persie led the attack of less talented squads than the ones who came before him.

The striker scored in three consecutive World Cups, with a runners-up medal and a bronze medal to show for his efforts.

His flying header against Spain will be shown in every montage every four years.

World Cup winners and international icons

Gilberto Silva – 2002 World Cup, 2007 Copa America

There are many examples of players being signed based on an international tournament and the club regretting their purchase.

Silva is the exception to the rule, in the space of a month going from a mostly unknown midfielder to a future Invincible.

A DM in 2002 wasn’t a sexy position; a sign you were doing a decent job was not being noticed at all.

When you have Ronaldo, Rivaldo and Ronaldinho in front of you, all you have to do is the basic stuff and give the ball to them.

The Brazilian magazine Veja famously summed it up by writing:

“Gilberto carried the piano for Ronaldo and Rivaldo to play their tunes on.”

Bear in mind he was only playing because Emerson got injured, yet went on to play every second of the 2002 World Cup.

Brazil have not lifted the trophy since.

Emiliano Martinez – 2022 World Cup, 2021 and 2024 Copa America

The way he celebrated with his Golden Glove held on his crotch and his mockery of Mbappe, the keeper did everything possible to ruin his legacy at the 2022 World Cup – sandwiched between two Copa Americas.

Yet part of Argentina’s footballing DNA is thinking it’s them against the world, and at the end of the day, that’s whose opinion he cares about.

In penalty shootouts against both the Dutch and France, he did everything to put off his opponent.

Some will say he crossed the line; his nation will love his mindset to do anything to win.

The irony is, talk to him away from the pitch and he’s actually very humble.

Emmanuel Petit – 1998 World Cup, Euro 2000

Few in football can call one of their best-ever displays being in the World Cup Final.

Petit was everywhere, starting in midfield, assisting the opener with a corner, filling in as a centre-back when France went down to 10 men, and then making a late run to score the third goal.

Being set up by Vieira meant the two had gone full circle. This was the midfield that lifted the Double at Arsenal and now they were world champions.

Was this the greatest season a partnership would have in the history of the Premier League?

The double act was at Euro 2000 as well, two of 49 players to win the World Cup and Euros consecutively.

Cesc Fabregas – 2010 World Cup, 2008 and 2012 Euros

No Gunner can match his international list of honours, and the only reason Fabregas isn’t my first choice is that between 2008 and 2012 he wasn’t always starting in Spain’s midfield.

That is no disgrace, as that Spanish team is considered one of the greatest to ever live.

In fact, our ex-captain deserves credit because instead of complaining about not being first choice – how can you when the competition is Iniesta and Xavi? – Fabregas always found a way to make an impact.

The Como manager can claim he made the winner in a World Cup Final, while at Euro 2012, Del Bosque was happy at times not to play a striker so he could get Fabregas into his starting XI.

The Gunners who became national-team legends

Mesut Ozil – 2014 World Cup

If this list was based on an individual performance, the midfielder’s displays in the round of 16 and quarter-finals of the 2010 World Cup would put him near the top.

No player assisted more goals than the German at that tournament or two years later at the Euros.

Later in his career, he would be accused of becoming overly obsessed with always creating, often passing when he could have taken a shot, but when he broke onto the scene, few had his vision.

Given he’s a World Cup winner, it’s a shame he felt the need to retire from international football at the age of 29 due to social and political pressure.

In the man’s own words:

“I am German when we win, but I am an immigrant when we lose.”

Patrick Vieira – 1998 World Cup, Euro 2000

The other half of one of the greatest midfield partnerships to play in England.

While assisting the third goal, he was a substitute in the 1998 World Cup Final.

Yet by the time of Euro 2000, our future captain was viewed as one of the best box-to-box midfielders in the universe.

While most remember the 2006 World Cup Final as the game Zidane got sent off, that often overshadows that many in France feel the actual turning point was Vieira being forced off injured.

That’s how good a tournament he had.

Thierry Henry – 1998 World Cup, Euro 2000

Another Gunner who has a World Cup and Euros as part of his medal collection.

For 15 years, no Frenchman had scored more times for Les Bleus.

Despite this, the Arsenal legend isn’t universally loved in his country like he is in England.

The striker became so caught up in the Highbury DNA that the French media often viewed him as arrogant, his mannerisms British and as forgetting his roots.

While his sporting achievements are no doubt respected, he wasn’t adored in his nation like a Zidane.

As one of the senior players who went to South Africa in 2010, that World Cup didn’t help his image politically.

Alexis Sanchez – 2015 and 2016 Copa America

When Sanchez was first capped, Chile had never won a major honour.

Now 37, no man has played more or scored more goals for his country and, most importantly, the nation has lifted consecutive Copa Americas.

While other names on this list also won major honours on the international stage, the majority played with fellow superstars.

Sanchez didn’t just have the pressure of providing the stardust for the team; his pressing was crucial to the whole tactical setup.

While he hurt his Arsenal legacy with how he left North London, few Gooners would deny the man’s work rate off the ball.

His Panenka penalty to end a 99-year wait for success cemented his godlike status.

Dan Smith

So, who makes your top 10 international Gunners? Would you have Sanchez at number one, and which former Arsenal player has Dan left out in your opinion? Let us know in the comments below.
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