Thomas Vermaelen Bio

Signed by Arsenal in June 2009, Vermaelen captured the eye of Arsene Wenger after some impressive performances as captain of Ajax.

A natural leader, the Belgian international can play at left-back but plies his trade mainly in the heart of defence where his power and strength are an obstacle for most opposition players.

Although he began his career at Germinal Ekeren in Belgium, in 2000 he joined the academy of Dutch side Ajax.

Learning under some of the best coaches in Europe, Vermaelen made his debut for the Amsterdam side at the age of 18 and made 143 appearances for them as he worked his way up to become club captain.

He made his debut for Belgium in March 2006 and has cemented his place as a regular at international level, while also forging a reputation as one of the brightest, young defensive talents in Europe.

Choosing to join the Gunners in the summer of 2009, Vermaelen signed for an initial fee of €10m and will provide competition for the likes of Kolo Toure and William Gallas in the centre of Arsenal's defence.

Andrei Arshavin Bio

Andrei Arshavin finally won the move to a big club which he had craved for some time when signing for Arsenal on deadline day in February 2009.

It was a protracted "will he, won't he" move which went into extra-time before it was ratified by the Premier League.

Although he started his career as a right-sided midfielder he has emerged as an attacking, creative midfielder of supreme quality. Perhaps at his best playing just behind the strikers, Arshavin's time to play at the top level in European football seems long overdue.

Born in Leningrad, now Saint Petersburg, he signed for his hometown club as a youth but began his playing days at their "farm" club, Zenit-2, in the Russian second division. He was promoted to the first team in the 2000 season and made his debut, at this point a right-sided midfielder, against Bradford City in the InterToto Cup.

His international bow came in 200 2for Russia against Belarus, scoring his first goal the following year against Romania.

Arshavin was the Russian Footballer of the Year in 2006, the year before he helped them to their first Russian Premier League title since 1984, starting every game and scoring 10 goals along the way.

In 2008 he won the UEFA Cup with Zenit and was named Man of the Match in a 2-0 win over Rangers in Manchester. And a few months later he was part of the Zenit side which beat Manchester United in the European Super Cup.

It was at the European Championships that year that he really shot to prominence. He had been a vital figure in the side which ousted England to make it to finals in Austria and Switzerland but a red card picked up in the final minutes of the last qualifier against Azerbaijan threatened to derail his involvement as he was banned for the first two games of Euro 2008.

Arshavin was thrown straight into the side for the last group game against Sweden and was an inspiration, sealing victory in injury time, as Russia won 2-0 to make it into the quarter-finals. And if that performance was good then against Holland in the last eight he was world class, scoring one and creating another as they won 3-1 after extra-time.

Now with all eyes on Arshavin and talk of a move to Barcelona, he failed to shine in the semi-finals against Spain as Russia lost 3-0 and that seemed to end rumours of a move to the Nou Camp. The player was also strongly linked with Tottenham Hotspur but Zenit's demands of a transfer fee over £20m ruined his hopes of a move.

Zenit failed to shine in the Champions League, and in the 2008 Russian league season, as the player became increasingly disillusioned at the club and was desperate to leave. He insisted he would not play for Zenit in the 2009 season.

Arsenal declared their interest at the start of the January transfer window and after a month long chase they finally managed to get hold of a player who has the ability to unlock a defence with a killer pass. He will hope to adapt to life in England quickly.

Carlos Vela Bio

Vela was finally granted a work permit to play for Arsenal in the 2008/09 season, having first signed for the club in November 2005.

The Mexican youngster had caught the eye in the 2005 FIFA U-17 World Championships where he was named the top scorer of the tournament with 5 goals and claimed the Adidas Golden boot.

A striker 'in the Eduardo mould' according to Arsene Wenger, Vela agreed a £2.5 million switch from Guadalajara in 2005, signing a five-year contract. However, due to English work permit restrictions for non-EU citizens which prevented him from playing in England, he was quickly loaned out to Celta de Vigo in February 2006.

After failing to make much of an impression at Celta, Vela was loaned out for the 2006/07 season to UD Salamanca, in the Spanish second division.

During a good season, Vela scored eight and created many of the side's 53 goals. Bigger clubs showed an interest as he was still ineligable to play for Arsenal, and for the 2007/08 season he was loaned to Osasuna.

In the season he scored three goals and played a part in their successful battle against the drop and big things are now expected of the 19-year-old.

His return to Arsenal for 2008/09 saw manager Arsene Wenger confirm that Vela would be involved with the first team next season.

Robin Van Persie Bio

Robin van Persie was very much an unknown quantity when he signed for Arsenal at the end of the 2003/04 season.

Bought for just £3million from Feyenoord Rotterdam, Van Persie has proved to be one of the steals of recent years and claims he could become the 'new Bergkamp' may not be wide of the mark.

Van Persie started his career in the Excelsior Rotterdam and Feyenoord youth teams, being capped for the Holland Under-19 and Under-21 sides in the process.

In January 2002 he signed a three-and-a-half-year deal with Feyenoord and was drafted into the first-team squad because of injury problems at the age of 18.

Van Persie got his first taste of silverware in May when he played in Feyenoord's 3-2 UEFA Cup final victory over Borussia Dortmund at the De Kuip and his performances earned him the accolade of the Dutch PFA's Best Young Talent for 2001/02.

By 2005, Van Persie had emerged as a target for PSV Eindhoven, Werder Bremen and Sevilla, but it was Arsenal who won the race and he made his Arsenal debut in the Community Shield victory over Manchester United.

He continued to grow in confidence, but hit the headlines for the wrong reasons in February when sent off against Southampton after the red mist descended.

The player had more troubled at the end of the season when he was arrested upon suspicion of rape back in Holland, which resulted him spending time in jail while investigations were carried out. But no charges were brought against the star.

The young Dutchman went from strength to strength in the 2006/07 season and ended the season as the club's top goalscorer, despite being injured from February onwards with a broken metatarsal.

Following the departure of Arsenal star striker Thierry Henry prior to the 2007/08 season, Van Persie was expected to assume the role as the main striker of the club. However the Dutchman was injured played for Holland was ruled out for two months.

Failing to return to match fitness for the rest of the season, Van Persie's season was disrupted by injury, although he enjoyed a fairly successful time at Euro 2008 with the Holland side.

While his control and trickery have earned comparisons with fellow countryman Dennis Bergkamp and he continues to be thought of as one of the best prospects in the Premier League, Van Persie has yet to prove himself competent of playing an entire season injury free.

Luke Freeman Bio

Freeman was snapped up by Arsene Wenger after impressing at Gillingham in the 2007/08 season.

The young forward was Gillingham's youngest ever first team player and the youngest player ever to appear in the FA Cup when he played against Barnet aged 15 years and 233 days.

Having caught the eye of some top flight clubs, Freeman chose to move to Arsenal in the 2008 January transfer window.

He made his debut for the academy side and soon after played for the England under 16 team in the Montaigu Tournament in France.

Da Silva Eduardo Bio

Da Silva is a Croatian international striker of Brazilian descent who signed for Arsenal from Dinamo Zagreb on a four-year contract for a fee of around £8million.

He suffered a horrific compound fracture on his left fibula and a dislocated ankle from a foul by Martin Taylor in the match against Birmingham City in February 2008 and missed out on Euro 2008 with the injury.

The 24-year-old striker moved to Croatia at the age of 15 and took Croatian nationality in 2002.

Joining Dinamo Zagreb he initially took time to settle and was subsequently loaned to Bangu Atlético Clube and then to NK Inker Zapreaic who at the time played in the second tier of the Croatian football league.

He then made the return back to Dinamo where he established himself as a first team player in the 2003/04 season.

Da Silva has proved himself to be a prolific marksman during his time with Dinamo Zagreb and he has been voted Croatian Player of the Year in 2004 and 2006, and was the Croatian League's top scorer in both 2006 and 2007.

The 2006/07 season showcased his goalscoring talent, as he scored the most goals ever in a season of the Prva HNL, breaking a 13-year-old record set by former Dinamo striker Goran Vlaovic, netting 34 times in 32 games.

Eduardo made his Premier League debut with Arsenal on 19 August 2007 in the 1-1 draw at Blackburn Rovers and scored his first goal in the UEFA Champions League qualifier against Sparta Prague.

However, Eduardo suffered a broken left fibula and an open dislocation of his left ankle in the third minute of Arsenal's match against Birmingham City in February 2008, following a high tackle by Martin Taylor, for which Taylor was sent off.

His injury was so graphic that replays of the incident were not shown, and it was reported that he would be out for around 9-12 months. Although he he said he would return in time for the 2008/09 season.

After initially impressing, Eduardo's injury could not have come at a worse time and Arsenal's title challenge was derailed as the players struggled to come to terms with their team-mate's plight.

Still with a lot to prove, the striker will hope his injury does not affect his future performances for the club.

Nicklas Bendtner Bio

Young striker Bendtner signed for Arsenal in the summer of 2005, having come through the youth ranks of FC Copenhagen in Denmark.

He was spotted playing for the Danish Under-19 side in an international tournament.

It again showed Arsenal's policy of looking to sign-up the cream of young talent across Europe.

The Denmark youth international was a deadly finisher for the FC Copenhagen youth teams, although has failed to cement his place in the first-team squad at the Emirates.

Bendtner, a towering forward, appeared in the Arsenal 16 for the first team in the Carling Cup tie against Sunderland in October 2005. And he replaced Quincy Owusu-Abeyie in the 90th minute to make his bow.

In May 2006, the youngster was called up to the Danish U-21 squad and then got his first call-up to the full national side in August 2006, scoring in a win over Poland aged just 18.

Bendtner was also loaned to Birmingham City in the same month, until January 2007. Manager Steve Bruce has already iterated his desire to keep the striker at the club for a full season, after his spree of goalscoring in the first few games.

He has scored 4 goals in 8 games for the club and stayed for the rest of the 2006/07 season. Returning to Arsenal for 2007/08, Bendtner was given the chance to fight for a first-team place and signed a new five-year contract in May 2007.

Showing good aerial prowess, the young Dane got on the scoresheet a few times - most notably saving the game against against arch-rivals Tottenham with a headed goal.

With a great deal of potential at his feet, Bendtner's 2007/08 season will unfortunately be best remembered for his on-pitch scuffle with strike partner Emmanuel Adebayor against Spurs in the Carling Cup.

Emmanuel Adebayor Bio

Adebayor made the surprise move to join Arsenal from AS Monaco in January 2006 for a reported £7million.

The Togo international had been excluded from the Monaco team for repeatedly missing training and he had a difficult relationship with Monaco coach Francesco Guidolin.

Adebayor had burst onto the scene in France in 2001/02 with FC Metz, but he really impressed the following term when scoring 13 goals. It was that form, when still aged 17, which attracted the interest of Monaco.

But 21 goals and two-and-a-half seasons later Adebayor was on his way out of Ligue 1 bound for the Premiership.

Adebayor was also part of the Monaco side which reached the final of the Champions League in 2003/04, the same season he was named Togolese Footballer of the Year.

The striker fired Togo to the World Cup finals for the first ever time in 2006, bagging 11 goals in qualifying making him the leading scorer in Africa.

However, his troubles at Monaco spilled into the international arena shortly after he signed for Arsenal. He linked up with Togo for the African Nations Cup but was left out of the starting line-up for the opener against the Democratic Republic of Congo after a fall-out with coach Stephen Keshi.

Rows over bonus payments have blighted his international career, but Adebayor remains the best player to come out of Togo.

Though he appeared very raw at times in his early appearances there was enough to suggest he would become an asset for the north London club and his first season was relatively successful.

However, taking over the striking mantle of Thierry Henry, his second season exploded the Togo star onto the world stage. Named in the PFA Team of the Year, Adebayor netted 30 goals in the Premier League, but a summer of transfer talk appeared to unsettle him.

Despite signing a long term contract with the club in May 2007, Adebayor's head was turned by interest from AC Milan and Barcelona - although manager Arsene Wenger insisted that the player would not be sold.

Jack Wilshire Bio

Another exciting prospect to come out of the Arsenal academy, Wilshere announced his presence at the club with some eye-catching displays in the 2008/09 pre-season campaign.

The driving force for the Gunners' U18 side, the 16-year-old has been played one year above his age-level for the England U17 side and has done well.

Boasting excellent technical skills, a powerful shot and great vision, Wilshere is held in high esteem by Arsene Wenger and may get his chance to impress further in the Carling Cup.

Theo Walcott Bio

Walcott has yet to full showcase his skills, having spent much of career at Arsenal as an 'impact player' coming off the bench.

The youngster has long been heralded as the hope for English football and his remarkable rise hit its hieights at the end of the 2005/06 season when he was sensationally selected in England's squad for the World Cup finals.

It came only five months after he had moved from Championship side Southampton to Arsenal in a deal worth up to £12million. What made it even more startling was that he had not played a single minute of first team action for the Gunners in the remainder of the season, being an unused substitute on six occasions.

Walcott moved to north London for an initial fee of £5million, rising to a possible £12million, making him the most expensive 16-year-old in history. He had set the Championship alight with Southampton, showing awareness, composure, confidence and ability beyond his years.

With lightening pace, superb finishing and a brilliant footballing brain and good with both feet, Walcott possessed all the attributes for a striker in the modern game.

Walcott, first spotted playing for AFC Newbury, began to impress in September 2004 when, aged 15 years and 175 days, he became Southampton's youngest player to feature for the reserves in a match against Watford.

Walcott was promoted to the Southampton first team for the 2005/06 season, with the club relegated into the Championship. His professional debut came as a 73rd-minute substitute in a 0-0 draw against Wolves aged 16 years and 143 days - eclipsing Danny Wallace as the club's youngest ever player.

His meteoric rise in 2005 also saw him finish in the top three of the BBC's Young Sports Personality of the Year. By then the speculation over Walcott's future had begun in earnest, with both Chelsea and Arsenal strongly linked.

Walcott could not sign a professional contract with the Gunners until his 17th birthday on March 16 and as such initially signed as a scholar. It was expected he would be loaned back to the Championship for the remainder of the season, but Arsenal immediately handed him a squad number.

Often coming off the bench to impress with his pace and skill, Walcott was a good impact player, but was often overawed by the big stage and could not hold down a first team place.

He rounded off the season with a fantastic goal in a losing cause against Chelsea in the Carling Cup final, and then chose to undergo shoulder surgery to cure a long-term problem, missing out on the European U21 Championships in Holland.

Summing up his 2007/08 season, Walcott came on against Liverpool in the Champions League to make a terrific impact. Running the length of the field to square for Emmanuel Adebayor to score the equalizer, Walcott would still end up on the losing side as Liverpool fought back; but the youngster gave notice of his talent.

Comparisons with Thierry Henry won't go away either, given that he has taken the famous #14 shirt for 2008/09.

Jay Simpson Bio

Simpson has been an ever-present in Arsenal's youth set-up since he was aged 13.

The young midfielder, who can also play up front, excelled for the reserves by scoring six times in eight starts and also put in 23 appearances for the U-18's.

Having started as a goalkeeper, the attacker is also a youth international, having played for the England U-17 team.

In February 19, 2007 he made history by becoming the first player ever to score a hat-trick at Emirates Stadium, for Arsenal's U18 side in an FA Youth Cup match against Cardiff.

He then chose to go on loan to Millwall and won the PFA's League One player of the year award for 2008 after his initial six-month loan deal was extended.

Tomas Rosicky Bio

Arsenal signed this Czech Republic international in May 2006 for an undisclosed fee, believed to be in the region of £7million.

Rosicky, who was a target of Spanish side Atletico Madrid, is an energetic, attacking midfielder with a penchant for the spectacular and an impressive range of passing.

The midfielder was brought in after Robert Pires left the club at the end of his contract.

After he bagged a superb brace in the Czech Republic's opening game of the 2006 World Cup against the United States many were hailing the signing as Arsene Wenger's latest transfer coup, although an injury in his second season with the club curtailed his involvement with the squad.

Still, Rosicky had been a major name on the continental scene for many years, at one time being the most expensive Bundesliga signing after Borussia Dortmund bought him from Sparta Prague for £18million.

Rosicky made his professional debut for Sparta in 1998 and was an instant success. He earned the nickname 'the Little Mozart' in helping his hometown club win three successive league titles.

That led to interested from Europe's bigger leagues but it was Dortmund who smashed the German transfer record to complete the signing of one of the hottest young prospects in the game.

He was handed his international debut as a 19-year-old against the Republic of Ireland in 2000 and soon became an integral part of an exciting side.

Rosicky was part of a Dortmund team which enjoyed a fine run of success. They won the title in his first season and also reached the final of the UEFA Cup before losing to Feyenoord Rotterdam.

But Dortmund's fortunes took a downturn when they hit financial problems and they were no longer a force in the race for honours. As such, it came as no real surprise when the club - facing a second successive campaign without European competition - cashed in their chips with the player eager for a new challenge at Arsenal.

Rosicky took over the number 7 shirt which was formerly worn by Frenchman Robert Pires and scored his first goal for the club with a long range strike against Hamburg in the Champions League.

Only hitting the net three times in 2006/07, though, the Czech failed to follow in Pires' footsteps. An injury in his second season saw the midfielder limp off the pitch after nine minutes of the FA Cup tie with Newcastle at Emirates Stadium in January, and he did not reappear for the rest of the season.

Also missing out of Euro 2008, a fit Rosicky is an exciting prospect for Wenger and company, although he has yet to regain the kind of form which made him such a coverted signing two years ago.

Mark Randall Bio

Randall is a highly rated midfielder who made appearances for the reserves while still a schoolboy.

Scoring twice for the U-18s, Randall played in both games of the 2006/07 pre-season tour of Austria, and featured in the 3-0 win over AZ Alkmaar.

Randall signed his first professional contract for the club in February 2007 and made his first start for Arsenal in the Carling Cup quarter-final against Blackburn Rovers.

The midfielder signed for Burnley on a loan deal at the end of January. The youngster made his Premier League debut against Sunderland in the final match of 2007/08 and had a goal disallowed.

Aaron Ramsey Bio

Ramsey became one of the most sought-after young players in Europe after impressing with Cardiff during the 2007/08 season.

Hot on the trail of the young Welshman were Manchester United, Arsenal and Everton, and the player himself had personal meetings with all the interested parties in a bid to make a decision over his future.

Ultimately he chose to develop his career under the watchful eye of Arsene Wenger at Arsenal and took the number 16 shirt of the departed Mathieu Flamini.

Beginning his career at Cardiff, who beat off competition from Newcastle United to sign the youngster as an eight-year old for their youth academy, Ramsey worked his way through the system to eventually make his debut in the 2006/07 season.

In doing so, Ramsey became the youngest player to ever play for Cardiff City, aged just 16 years and 124 days.

Everton were the first club to try and lure Ramsey away with a £1m offer, although the deal was to start with a payment of £200,000 and rise depending on his future achievements.

That was rejected and Ramsey impressed against Chasetown in the FA Cup. He got his chance and made several more starts in the Cardiff side. His first full season of professional football saw him play in five of the club's six FA Cup matches, including the final and as soon as the season ended he was linked with a move.

Man Utd reportedly offered £5million for him, but the deal included a loan option for Cardiff to take him back next season. Ramsey was keen to develop his career and when his club accepted an offer from Arsenal which had no such clause, he accepted the move.

Fran Merida Perez Bio

Mérida is a very talented young player able to play in central midfield or on the left-side of midfield.

He followed in the footsteps of fellow Spaniard Cesc Fàbregas by signing for Arsenal, after failing to sign a professional contract with FC Barcelona, and he was spotted by Arsene Wenger's scouts playing in youth team competitions.

Mérida was ordered by the courts to pay a fee around ¬3.2million - which is being appealed - to FC Barcelona as compensation for his "failing to meet the terms of a personal pre-contract" with Barcelona.

Arsenal's 2-0 victory over Newcastle in the League Cup third round gave him his debut and he then joined Real Sociedad on loan for the second half of the 2007/08 season.

In April 2008 Mérida extended his deal with Arsenal by signing a long-term contract.

He continues to impress in the reserves and has been tipped to have a big future in the game with Wenger quoted as calling him 'an absolutely amazing player'.

Denilson Pereira Neves Bio

Denilson is currently the captain of the Brazilian national side at U-19 level.

Starting his career at Sao Paulo, Denilson played 12 games as a defensive midfielder before catching the eye of Arsene Wenger at Arsenal.

Signing for the Gunners on the last day of the August transfer window for £3.4 million (US$6.5 million), Wenger strengthened his midfield options after the release of Pires and Bergkamp in the summer of 2006.

Potentially the replacement for Arsenal's current Brazilian holding midfielder, Gilberto Silva, Denilson was named in Arsenal's squad for their third Champions League match against CSKA Moscow; but showed that his passing skills were more similar to team-mate Cesc Fabregas.

Although he was ever-present in Arsenal's 2006/07 Carling Cup campaign, he only made his Premiership début for Arsenal as a substitute on December 30, 2006 in a 10 defeat against Sheffield United at Bramall Lane.

Denilson secured a new contract with Arsenal in October 2007 and has impressed when given the chance to showcase his skills. However, with Gilberto and Cesc Fabregas ahead of him, the youngster has a lot to do if he is get himself into first-team contention on a regular basis.

Samir Nasri Bio

Hailed as 'the new Zidane' for the past few seasons, Nasri impressed during his time at Marseille, earning himself a place in the French squad for Euro 2008 and a summer transfer to Arsenal.

Scouted by Arsene Wenger for some time, the 21-year-old can play as a central midfielder, but will most likely replace the departing Alex Hleb on the wing.

Beginning his career with Marseille aged just nine years old, Nasri began to play in Ligue 1 in the 2004/05 season where he made an impression at 17.

Involved in the French national set up for a long time, progressing through the Under-16s, 17s, 18s, 19s and 21s, he was member of the France national under-21 football team and has been part of the French national team system since he was about 14.

With a growing international reputation, Nasri helped Marseille to UEFA Cup qualification in the 2006/07 season and was also awarded the French Ligue 1 Young Player of the Year trophy ahead of Jimmy Briand and Karim Benzema. He was also voted Marseille's player of the year by the fans.

The 2007/08 season saw Nasri cement his place as one of the best young talents in the French game and despite picking up a meningitis-like virus at the start of the season, he recovered to showcase his skills against Liverpool in the Champions League.

At the end of a disappointing season for OM, Nasri played his part in the French Euro 2008 campaign although was given the dubious honour of being a substituted substitute after Franck Ribery's injury and Eric Abidal's sending off forced Raymond Domench to change his hand in the 2-0 defeat to Italy.

With talk of a transfer to Arsenal rearing its head before the tournament, Wenger expressed hope that the deal could be completed and, after France's early exit, Nasri officially signed for Arsenal for an undisclosed amount on the 11 July 2008.

Henri Lansbury Bio

Henri has been at Arsenal since he was nine years-old and is one of the longest serving players in the academy.

One of the brightest prospects around in the midfield area, he recently captained England at under-16 level alongside team-mates Moses Barnett and Rhys Murphy.

Landsbury has spent a few matches on the bench for the club, but finally made his first team debut on 31 October 2007, in Arsenal's 3-0 League Cup win over Sheffield United.

Alan Smith, a former Arsenal striker, described him as having 'huge potential' and on July 1, 2008 Henri signed his first professional contract.

Kieran Gibbs Bio

Gibbs joined Arsenal from Wimbledon when their academy disbanded and they became MK Dons. He can play either central midfield or wide on the left and made eight appearances for the Under-18s in 2006/07, scoring once.

Although he has spent time on loan, Gibbs made his first-team debut for the club when he started a League Cup match against Sheffield United. He went on to play against Blackburn in the quarter-finals and signed a professional contract with Arsenal in September 2007.

In January 2008 he decided to go on loan to Norwich City until the end of the 2007/08 season and returned to Arsenal in April to go back into the reserves again.

Francesc Fábregas Bio

After emerging into English football through Arsene Wenger's tried and tested route of the League Cup, Fabregas has become one of the most highly-rated youngsters in the world.

Supremely skilful and with composure which belies his young years, Fabregas' performances when filling in for the injured Patrick Vieira, Edu and Gilberto Silva for much 2004/05 led to him becoming a fully fledged member of the first team squad earlier than planned - but there was no way the Gunners' coaching staff could have held him back.

Eventually filling the boots of Vieira after his departure to Juventus in 2005/6, Fabregas cemented his place in the Arsenal midfield and has often been described as 'the heartbeat' of the Arsenal attacks.

'Cesc', as he prefers to be known, first made history in October 2003 when he became the youngest player to turn out for Arsenal, in a League Cup tie against Rotherham United.

The Spaniard, who moved to Highbury in the summer of 2003 from Barcelona for a measly fee of around £500,000, was aged just 16 years 177 days when he took to the pitch for the Gunners for the first time.

He was welcomed fully into the first team squad for the 2004/05 season, playing the whole of the Community Shield victory over Manchester United.

And the midfield starlet kept his place for the 4-1 victory at Everton on the opening day of the Premiership season. He had a hugely influential first month of the season, although the return to fitness of Vieira curtailed his involvement.

The midfielder had also begun to make waves on the international scene. He was handed his debut for Spain when starting the international friendly against Ivory Coast - and playing the whole match - to become Spain's youngest cap for 70 years.

Fabregas was one of the few bright spots of a hugely disappointing season for the Gunners in 2005/06. With Vieira having left for Juventus, Fabregas became the focal point of the midfield and looked like a seasoned pro rather than a youngster starting out in the game as he approached 100 club appearances.

The key to Arsenal's creativity, Fabregas signed one of the longest contracts in history when he signed a new deal at the club, until 2014. He ended the 2006/07 season with several individual honours, including being named in the 2006 UEFA Team of the Year, and getting nominations for both PFA Players' Player of the Year and PFA Young Player of the Year.

Fabregas began the following season in an uncertain position after Thierry Henry's departure to Barcelona and speculation over Wenger's future with the club. But the youngster stepped up to the challenge and firmly established himself as one of the best in the world.

Scoring 13 goals, Fàbregas was nominated for the PFA Player of the Year and PFA Young Player of the Year awards for the second year running; he was later crowned the winner of the latter, and named in the PFA Team of the Year

Ending 2007/08 on a high, Fabregas was also one of the players of the tournament (despite only making a few starts) in Euro 2008. Providing assists and goals for Spain's march to the title.

Many would say Fabregas has fulfilled his obvious potential already, although still only 21, Gunners' fans can expect a lot more to come from the talented midfielder.