After 22 years at the helm at Arsenal, Arsene Wenger called time on his managerial career at the club in 2018 to forge a new path.
The Frenchman had guided the team to Premier League titles, FA Cup triumphs and within a whisker of a Champions League trophy.
By the end of his time at the Emirates Stadium though, there were concerns that the side was not pushing forward.
In the 2017/18 season, Arsenal finished sixth and missed out on a top-four place, with Wenger’s last game meaning very little to the state of the table.
An away trip to Huddersfield Town was the final stop for the legendary manager, where a 1-0 win was picked up courtesy of a Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang strike.
So with that said, here’s a look at the final lineup of the Wenger era and where those players are now.
David Ospina – Goalkeeper
Starting in goal for Arsenal in Wenger’s final game was David Ospina, the experienced Colombian shot-stopper.
That clash with Huddersfield was also the goalkeeper’s final game for the Gunners as he joined Napoli in the summer on a loan deal that was made permanent.
The 36-year-old is now playing for Atletico Nacional in Colombia, following a spell at Al Nassr in the Saudi Pro League.
Hector Bellerin – Right-back
Hector Bellerin was seen as the future at Arsenal, signing a long term deal in 2016 and looking to cement his place in the side.
While he was much-loved, he had loan spells elsewhere after he fell out of favour at the Emirates Stadium before making a permanent switch to Barcelona in the summer of 2022.
Six months later, Bellerin left the Blaugrana for Sporting CP, a side he also only spent six months at before re-joining Real Betis.
Shkodran Mustafi – Centre-back
In his five years at Arsenal, Shkodran Mustafi struggled to hit the heights as he left in February 2021 to join Schalke on a free transfer.
That move only last six months as he then joined Levante shortly after – a move that lasted two years in total.
Mustafi retired in June 2024 after going a full year without playing competitive action at the top end of the game.
Rob Holding – Centre-back
Defender Rob Holding was a promising young option when Arsenal signed him from Bolton in 2016, though he wasn’t able to kick on.
The centre-back spent seven years with the Gunners before he left in 2023 to join fellow London side Crystal Palace.
Holding has been banished from the Crystal Palace first-team since, having only made a handful of appearances.
Sead Kolasinac – Left-back
Arsenal signed Sead Kolasinac from Schalke in 2017 as a free agent, looking to land a bargain with the left-back.
The defender had some mixed moments for the club before he left in 2022 to join French outfit Marseille.
That spell only last one year before he joined Atalanta, where he helped the club win the Europa League for the 2023/24 season.
Arsenal faced off against Kolasinac in the Champions League over the 2024/25 season, with the encounter ending in a 0-0 draw.
Aaron Ramsey – Central midfield
A cult hero, Aaron Ramsey was a player that could change a game for Arsenal but unfortunately had some injuries get the better of him at times.
The midfielder spent one more year at the club after Wenger left but went on to join Juventus, where he struggled to impress.
A loan at Rangers came before a permanent switch to OGC Nice but the Wales international couldn’t quite find a place to call home.
That was until he got the call to join Cardiff City once again, re-joining all those years after he moved to Arsenal.
Granit Xhaka – Central midfield
Midfielder Granit Xhaka had something of a topsy-turvy career at Arsenal as he moved between hero and villain.
By the time he left in 2023, the Wenger signing was a hero after helping the club reach the upper echelons of the league again.
Xhaka joined Bayer Leverkusen, where he helped the side win the Bundesliga and end Bayern Munich’s dominant streak.
Alex Iwobi – Central midfield
Coming through the Arsenal academy, Alex Iwobi was touted as one of the next big stars to feature for the team.
He could play a variety of positions, including on the wing or in central midfield, eventually making 149 appearances for the club.
In 2019 the Nigerian international joined Everton before making a switch to his current club Fulham in 2023.
Henrikh Mkhitaryan – Right-wing
In Wenger’s final transfer window at Arsenal, he pushed through a swap deal involving Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Alexis Sanchez.
The pair swapped Manchester United for Arsenal and vice-versa as they looked to forge a new start elsewhere.
Mkhitaryan struggled for the Gunners though, eventually leaving to join Roma in 2020.
The Armenian international then joined Inter Milan in 2022, where he has been key to their Serie A success.
While he was played on the wing by Wenger, the experienced star is often seen in midfield dictating games these days.
Alexandre Lacazette – Striker
Starting up front for Arsenal in Wenger’s final game was Alexandre Lacazette, who had something of a mixed career for the club.
At times he looked unstoppable and others he struggled, scoring 71 goals in 206 appearances for the club.
The striker left in 2022, joining his old club Lyon, where he has been made captain since.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang – left-wing
To say that Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang divides opinion at Arsenal is something of an understatement after an interesting few years.
The striker was electric at times for the Gunners but a fallout with manager Mikel Arteta saw his contract terminated in 2022.
A free transfer to Barcelona followed before he joined London rivals Chelsea the following summer to bolster their ranks.
The forward only spent one year at Stamford Bridge though, joining Marseille and then his current club Al-Qadsiah in the Saudi Pro League.
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