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North London outfit Arsenal have experienced a gradual fall from grace.
Once regarded as one of the best clubs in Europe, the club recently failed to qualify for a European competition for the first time in 25 years. The club has had its fair share of success in the past, but has failed to match its achievements ever since 2004.
Arsenal fans will not forget their last Premier League-winning run in a hurry. The club last won the Premier League in the 2003-04 season, a feat that will forever be historic because the club went unbeaten the entire season.
Since then, Arsenal seem to have gone into a period of never-ending transition. The club went 10 years without winning a trophy, followed by a period where they won three FA Cups in four years.
Fans have seen several top players leave the club, some of whom are yet to be truly replaced. Let's take a look at five players Arsenal have failed to appropriately replace over the years.
#5. David Seaman
Arsenal have yet to replace David Seaman with a world-class goalkeeper.
David Seaman is a bonafide Arsenal legend. An Arsenal player for 13 years, Seaman made his debut in 1990 before leaving for Manchester City in 2003. He is widely regarded as one of the best goalkeepers in the history of the game.
Seaman has seen several successors over the years. Arsenal tried to replace him with several players, the likes of whom could never meet their expectations as their talisman in goal.
Arsenal have had several excellent goalies over the years. Although players like Petr Cech and Wojcech Szczesny did win multiple Golden Glove awards with Arsenal, they failed to achieve the level of consistency that was displayed by Seaman.
#4. Tony Adams
Tony Adams is synonymous with Arsenal Football Club.
The former captain and defender represented the club for the entirety of his career. Making his debut in 1983, Adams went on to spend 19 long and successful years with the north London outfit.
Adams was the club's rock at the centre of their defense. An intelligent defender, Adams went on to captain the English football team as well. He enjoyed great success with Arsenal, winning four league titles and three FA Cups.
Arsenal have failed to replace Adams properly, despite the Englishman retiring in 2002. While they did go on to remain unbeaten throughout the course of the 2003-04 season, many believe that the likes of Kolo Toure and Sol Campbell were not as good as Adams individually.
Players like Laurent Koscielny and Per Mertesacker have enjoyed successful periods with the club, but no one has come close to having the impact that Tony Adams had.
#3. Cesc Fabregas
Cesc Fabregas is one of the most influential players in the history of Arsenal football club.
The Spaniard was a long-term fan favorite at the club, even becoming the side's second youngest-ever Premier League captain at just 21 years of age. Fabregas spent eight years with the Gunners, winning one FA Cup and one Community Shield.
Fabregas displayed a sense of dynamism that has been missing ever since his departure from London. An extremely intelligent midfielder, Fabregas often controlled games all by himself in midfield.
While it can be argued that there aren't too many players around with the same skill set, it is a fact that Arsenal have not had any players who could match up. The likes of Mesut Ozil and Santi Cazorla did enjoy their own periods of success, but couldn't compare to the level of influence Fabregas had on football games.
#2. Patrick Vieira
Patrick Vieira is widely regarded as one of the best midfielders in Premier League history.
Vieira displayed a unique set of skills. He was adept at tackling and ball recovery and could contribute greatly to progressing the ball as well. Described by many as a complete midfielder, Vieira is one player Arsenal have not been able to replace.
The Frenchman was a born leader and could often be seen asserting his dominance in games from the heart of the midfield. His vocal nature and hard tackling made him one of the most fearsome players to line up against in the Premier League.
Arsenal have tried to replace Vieira ever since his departure in 2005. Fans have seen several players come in and try to replicate his contributions, but with little luck.
#1. Thierry Henry
Thierry Henry is widely accepted as one of the best footballers in Arsenal and Premier League history.
The French attacker is famed for his blistering pace and impeccable finishing ability. Representing Arsenal for eight years, Henry enjoyed great success: he won two league titles, two FA Cups and several individual trophies.
Henry certainly set the standard extremely high for his successors. He won the Premier League Golden Boot an astonishing four times, a feat that has yet to be topped by anyone else.
In the 14 years since Henry left, only two Arsenal players have managed to win a Premier League Golden Boot: Robin van Persie and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang. Henry's goalscoring numbers are unparalleled and will not be surpassed for a long time.
