Biggest Waste of Talent in Wenger Era

[1989]

Seeing Bendtner's latest off the pitch antics got me thinking whom out of all the supposedly big potential youngsters that Wenger promised us would rule the footballing world failed to deliver the most? Super Nick was a really promising forward in the youth set up but lost his way later mostly due to inexplicable arrogance and delusions of grandeur about his own ability. There's the English boys like Walcott and Ox who joined from Southamption and were both meant to have massive potential, and although they did have some degree of success while at us, didn't quite deliver or live up to the expectations that were formed as a result of their apparent potential. The likes of Jack and Diaby showed loads of potential earlier in their Arsenal careers but factors such as injuries quite clearly halted their development. Other names include but are not limited to Vela, Szczesny, Senderos. Who was the biggest waste of talent in the Wenger era?

[DB10GOONER]

Has to be Podolski for me. One of the most clinical finishers in the game and the best finisher of that latter Wenger era tbh. He would have thrived playing off Giroud in a 4-4-2 and Wenger played him as a winger. When he played him.

We should have and could have gotten so much more from Podolski. AA23 as well. Superb technical player wasted out wide by Wenger.

[Henry Norris 1913]

wheres ozil

i had to vote diaby, many of those players in the poll had no real discernable talent, some, but not bucketloads (denilson, bendy, vela) diaby had it - he probably displayed it more than any other player in the poll and was absolutely decimated by injuries.

walcott imo did very well out of what he had (200 apps ) i agree with podolski being unfulfilled potential in the PL, but would also put forward eduardo for similar reasons to diaby. that winter/spring of 2008 when we were gearing up for the final run in was hugely decided by that injury in brum - if that didn' happen he would have been our overmars in 98 or ljunberg in 02

[CloakedGooner]

Arshavin for me

[goonertone]

Jose Reyes is worth a shout

[xgtdec]

Poor Bendtner, My memory is a bit hazy but i think it was v Portsmouth where wonga had Bendtner out on the right for the last 20 minutes crossing balls in for the towering arshavin while the Portsmouth defenders pissed themselves.

[Jock Gooner]

Poor Bendtner, My memory is a bit hazy but i think it was v Portsmouth where wonga had Bendtner out on the right for the last 20 minutes crossing balls in for the towering arshavin while the Portsmouth defenders pissed themselves.

Just because we don't understand such managerial genius doesn't give us the right to mock it

[augie]

Arshavin for me

Abso-fcuking-lutely. Tbh no other candidate comes close for me cos this guy was a genius who was destroyed by the french cock, and dropping him for the semi-final against the chavs was one of the most bizarre/shocking/ridiculous decisions in world football's history

[LeftfootlegendGooner]

Sanogo all day long

[robbo10]

Lets be honest it could be all of that list,plus probably 8 more,depending on whether you think they actually had talent to start with,but the list is criminal,how many players in Wenger's later years played in their preferred position,Arshavin,tons of talent,played out of position,the reason he looked lazy was because he wasnt the sort of player to track back,just give him the ball and let him play,I know for a fact I'd have Arshavin over lazy bollocks Ozil,

Not sure if we can blame Wenger for Walcott,he had no talent but was still given loads of opportunity
Ox was injury prone,as was Jackie and Sir Abou Diaby,
Senderos had no talent ever,same for Denilson,

Whatever happened to Zelalem,the Wenger PR people wanked about him but what I saw of him he was bang average,

Serge Gnabry was one person I'd love to have seen given a chance,he looked decent the times he got a game,

[herbert]

Bit harsh to have Diaby in a failed to deliver list ,the young fella got his leg broken in half and never recovered

Before the injury he was showing signs of becoming a top top player

[northbank123]

Other than Szczesny and Wilshere - who both looked great players at 18/19 - I don't think there is a tremendous amount of talent on that list. Not at the top level anyway.

Looking at the biggest wastes of talent I would have to look at the players who arrived here with big reputations and having been fantastic players before joining. Arshavin, Ozil and then Podolski.

To be honest I would even include a few left-field suggestions like Adebayor - who could have been a better striker than Drogba for me if his attitude didn't stink - as more of a waste of talent than the likes of Denilson and Bendtner, who had little talent.

[Nos89]

Other than Szczesny and Wilshere -who both looked great players at 18/19 I don't think there is a tremendous amount of talent on that list. Not at the top level anyway.

Looking at the biggest wastes of talent I would have to look at the players who arrived here with big reputations and having been fantastic players before joining. Arshavin, Ozil and then Podolski.

To be honest I would even include a few left-field suggestions like Adebayor - who could have been a better striker than Drogba for me if his attitude didn't stink - as more of a waste of talent than the likes of Denilson and Bendtner, who had little talent.

Is that a prediction for this season on those two?

[Nos89]

Jose Reyes is worth a shout

The Neville brothers and scholes saw off Reyes not Wenger

[Nos89]

Has to be Podolski for me. One of the most clinical finishers in the game and the best finisher of that latter Wenger era tbh. He would have thrived playing off Giroud in a 4-4-2 and Wenger played him as a winger. When he played him.

We should have and could have gotten so much more from Podolski. AA23 as well. Superb technical player wasted out wide by Wenger.

Arshavin and Podolski for sure. I would've said Walcott but he had enough opportunities to play through the middle but didn't take them.
Always thought he got rid of Merson too early.