By The Arsenal Addict
Let’s get one thing straight:
Winning trophies elsewhere doesn’t cleanse your Arsenal sins.
In fact, if anything – it deepens the wound. Because we know, deep down, they could’ve lifted those with us.
But they chose to walk.
So let’s open the dusty vault and drag out a few more names that make my blood pressure spike and my pint foam over.
Thomas Hleb
- Left for: Barcelona
- Won: La Liga, Copa del Rey
- Verdict: SNAKE LEVEL: DELUSIONAL MAGICIANS
Hleb was the king of the “almost assist.” Beautiful to watch. Like a violinist with a twisted sense of humour.
Then what? Jumped ship to Barca – couldn’t even make the bench.
Yeah, he got a medal or two. But ask any Barca fan about him and you’ll get silence followed by “who?”
At Arsenal, he was special. Elsewhere, he was lost.
Legacy: Ruined.
Emmanuel Adebayor
- Left for: Man City, Real Madrid
- Won: Spanish Cup, hit the jackpot with wages
- Verdict: SNAKE LEVEL: SITH LORD
This man ran the entire length of the pitch just to celebrate in front of us.
That’s not just betrayal. That’s war crime territory.
He could’ve been a cult hero. Instead, he’s just a meme.
Was he talented? Yes. Was he consistent? Absolutely not.
And every time he scored against us, he looked like he was exorcising demons.
No love. No thanks. No legacy.
Alex Song
- Left for: Barcelona
- Won: La Liga
- Verdict: SNAKE LEVEL: BRIEFCASE MERCHANT
Another who thought he was world-class after a decent season.
He went from pinging passes to van Persie to pinging parking tickets on the Barca bench.
Did he win silverware? Sure. Did he play enough to earn it? Debatable.
He actually said in an interview that he knew he wouldn’t play at Barca but went for the money.
Respect: Zero. Greatness: Absolutely none.
Aaron Ramsey
- Left for: Juventus
- Won: Serie A, Italian Super Cup
- Verdict: SNAKE LEVEL: BITTERSWEET BARD
This one’s tough. Because Ramsey gave us moments. FA Cup finals. Comebacks. Goals in big games.
But then he ran his contract down, pulled a classic Bosman, and waltzed to Juve.
Did he win? Yep.
Did he play? Barely.
Do I miss peak Ramsey? Yes.
Do I call him an Arsenal great?
On the edge. One toe in the door, one toe in the Juve treatment room.
Wojciech Szczęsny
- Left for: Roma (loan), then Juventus
- Won: Serie A titles galore
- Verdict: SNAKE LEVEL: GROWN-UP GOONER
Okay. Cards on the table – this one breaks my heart.
Szczęsny was one of us. Kissed the badge. Gooner to the bone.
But the smoking-in-the-showers moment, the clangers, the Wenger discipline… it all added up.
We let him go.
He grew up in Italy. Became a real keeper. Won everything Buffon left behind.
But guess what? He still talks about us. He still loves the club.
Not a traitor. Just a mismanaged son.
Thomas Vermaelen
- Left for: Barcelona
- Won: La Liga, Copa del Rey, Champions League
- Verdict: SNAKE LEVEL: GHOST WITH A MEDAL
Our old captain. The Verminator. Had the aura of a warrior but the hamstrings of a pensioner.
Barcelona snapped him up and he became the footballing version of a decorative vase – pretty, fragile, and never used.
Sure, he has a Champions League medal. But he didn’t earn it in blood and thunder.
At Arsenal, he was a decent centre-back.
Elsewhere, he was… well… there.
Kolo Touré
- Left for: Manchester City
- Won: Premier League
- Verdict: SNAKE LEVEL: PASSIVE BETRAYAL
This one stings less, but still counts.
Kolo was an Invincible, for heaven’s sake. The man was Arsenal DNA.
Then he went to City and helped them build their trophy empire.
I get it. Career, money, timing. But still – when I see him in that sky blue kit, I flinch.
Is he an Arsenal great?
Yes. But one that faded faster than he should’ve.
Gervinho
- Left for: Roma
- Won: Some dignity back
- Verdict: SNAKE LEVEL: MEH
Okay, this one’s a palate cleanser.
Gervinho flopped at Arsenal, then somehow rediscovered form in Italy.
I’m not mad. Just confused.
No real betrayal. No greatness either. Just vibes and missed sitters.
FINAL VERDICT
These players all tasted silver.
But not with us.
And for that alone – they’ll never know the full warmth of being a true Arsenal legend.
You can win ten trophies elsewhere.
But if you leave before the storm clears, don’t expect to be written into our sunshine.
You’ll always be a side note.
A whisper.
A traitor in technicolor.
