1 – Nacho Monreal
You’d be forgiven to think that the £8million arrival of Monreal on the final day of January 2013 was nothing short of a panic buy from Wenger, but we’ve been proven wrong!
Sure, he’s not exactly the type of player to be on everyone’s bedroom wall whilst they were growing up but Monreal has done a job to the best of his ability this season.
With Koscielny’s ankles playing up, an unreliable Mustafi and two young centre backs in Chambers and Holding, it’s taken someone like Monreal to steady the ship across our backline.
As well as making his 200th appearance for the club earlier this season, the 32-year-old has bagged himself four Premier League goals, including one that was followed up by two assists before he was subbed off after just 34 minutes against Crystal Palace.
Monreal has certainly been the kind’ve guy that’s managed to get better with age, and as he slowly transitions into a centre back there have been glimpses that he’s still capable of doing the important bits down the wing.
Having wrestled his place back from summer signing Sead Kolasinac, it looks as if the Spaniard could now begin to pass on his knowledge to the next generation.
Ainsley Maitland-Niles and Kolasinac are both eager to get more game time this season but with the clock running down they’ll have one eye on staking their claim during the summer.