Top 5 African players in Arsenal’s history

Ace Football presents a detailed list of the best African players to have featured for the Gunners.

Throughout their recent history, Arsenal have been blessed by having a host of top-class African stars in their squad. Some of them played for other nations despite their African origins, while others preferred to stick to their roots.

In this article, we will take a look at the best African players in the Gunners’ history. We have only included the players who have chosen to represent an African nation at the senior level.

5- Christopher Wreh

Wreh was part of the Arsenal team that won the domestic double in the 1997-98 season. The Liberian striker scored in the FA Cup semi-final against Wolves, securing a starting place for the Wembley final.

He joined Arsenal from the French side Guingamp in 1997 and stayed in north London for three years. Arsene Wenger initially used him as a substitute for Ian Wright and Nicolas Anelka. However, his versatility persuaded the French boss to even send him in as a replacement for Dennis Bergkamp.

Happy 44th Birthday to Christopher Wreh 🎉 #AFC pic.twitter.com/pbMuC6eg8N
— Fanzine (@Fanzine_com) May 14, 2020

Wreh found his way up the pecking order at Highbury after his first season. However, it did not take the likes of Davor Suker and Thierry Henry too long to limit his game time. Having contributed to Arsenal’s maiden Premier League trophy and an FA Cup, Wreh eventually left the club to join Al-Hilal.

4- Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang

Aubameyang is the only active player on the list, as his achievements make it impossible to ignore him. Having spent a brilliant spell at Borussia Dortmund, the Gabonese started his Arsenal journey by joining the club in 2018.

In his 163 matches for the Gunners, Aubameyang has scored 141 goals and provided 36 assists. The numbers become more impressive when you take into account Arsenal’s inconsistent form in recent years.

Mikel Arteta on Aubameyang excluded: “I don’t establish my authority by being dictatorial. I just ask for one thing, it’s respect and commitment. That’s all”. ⚪️🔴 #AFC

“If you don’t ask for that at this level, I think I pack my bags and I go somewhere else”. @sr_collings pic.twitter.com/7c2Sqk1IsQ
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) December 23, 2021

Arsenal finished their 2018-19 Premier League campaign in fifth place. But it did not stop the former Saint Etienne striker from winning the Premier League Golden Boot with 22 goals.

Mikel Arteta striped the striker from the club’s captaincy in December 2021 due to ‘disciplinary issues’. Aubameyang has already secured a place in the club’s history, even if the recent standoff ends in his departure. Until now, he has won an FA Cup and an English Super Cup at the Emirates.

3- Nwankwo Kanu

One of Nigeria’s greatest players of all time, Kanu won the Champions League as part of Ajax’s golden generation in 1995. After a three-year stint at Inter, the Super Eagles star joined Arsenal in January 1999.

Under Wenger, Kanu continued his impressive performances as an unpredictable striker. During his stay at Arsenal, the African star featured in 196 games, registering 44 goals and 29 assists. He slipped down the pecking order once Arsenal’s attacking unit started forming around Thierry Henry. However, Wenger still managed to use him as a super substitution several times in crucial games.

Kanu won two Premier League titles and three FA Cups at Arsenal. He also claimed one of his two African Player of the Year awards while he was playing for the Gunners.

2- Kolo Toure

Before all his controversies at Liverpool, Kolo Toure was commanding Arsenal’s defence for years. The Ivorian centre-back was one of Wenger’s signings from ASEC Abidjan academy.

Toure soon formed a unique partnership with Sol Campbell at the heart of Arsenal’s defence. The pair was crucial to Arsenal’s invincible league run, but it was not the end of Toure’s adventure at Arsenal.

Toure stayed for seven years at Arsenal, featuring in 225 matches for the Gunners. Having won a Premier League and two FA Cups, Toure left the club after seven years to join Manchester City.

He won another Premier League title with the Citizens before moving to Liverpool as his last English club. Toure holds the record for most Premier League games played by an African player with 354 appearances.

1- Lauren

Lauren gained attention from top European clubs as a member of Cameroon’s famous team in the late 1990s. The Indomitable Lions won back-to-back Africa Cup of Nations titles before winning gold in the 2000 Olympics. Lauren then moved to Arsenal, where he joined another iconic XI.

The Cameroonian right-back won the Premier League in 2004 as part of Arsenal’s ‘Invincible’ team. Lauren made a total of 241 appearances during his six-year stay at the club, winning two Premier League titles and three FA Cups. He left the club to join Portsmouth in 2007, where he added another FA Cup to his trophy cabinet.