Andrey Arshavin said two Arsene Wenger sales were a ‘catastrophe’ for Arsenal, they were ‘irreplaceable’

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Arsene Wenger made several history-making signings at Arsenal, but the manager also facilitated some controversial exits.

Some of Wenger’s signings at Arsenal went on to become North London icons, Thierry Henry and Sol Campbell, to name a few.

The Frenchman saw sensational hits and absurd misses in the transfer market during his 22-year tenure as Arsenal manager.

Aside from purchases, Wenger also orchestrated some questionable sales, with his final heartbreak being Alexis Sanchez’s 2018 exit to Manchester United. 

• READ MORE: Arsenal’s most expensive transfer sales of all-time ranked including four £25m exits

Andrey Arshavin was shocked by two Arsenal transfers

Watching Sanchez join Man United mid-way through the season was mindblowing, but it was a sour exit that Arsenal fans had become accustomed to. 

Robin van Persie made the same move to see his legacy in N5 ruined, and he wasn’t the only one to shatter his relationship with supporters. 

Samir Nasri’s exit to Manchester City also induced pain, as did Cesc Fabregas’ move to Barcelona and then Chelsea. 

2011 was a tough time for the Gunners, as both Nasri and Fabregas left in the same window, a decision that two members of the Arsenal squad at the time were shocked at. 

In an interview with Russian outlet Sport-Express after the summer transfer window that year, Andrey Arshavin revealed a conversation he had with Nicklas Bendtner about the duo leaving simultaneously. 

“At the moment, losing Fabregas and Nasri is a catastrophe,” Arshavin said.

“Watching the Udinese match, I said to Nicklas Bendtner that now we have no one so comfortable with passing the ball to Robin van Persie or who ideally utilises the qualities of the other forwards.

“He smiled and replied, ‘Yes, the only player who could properly replace Cesc is probably Xavi’.”

Arshavin, who made 144 appearances for Arsenal, went on to share his belief that Fabregas and Nasri were ‘irreplaceable’ at the time.

“I’m very glad that I was able to play in the same team as Fabregas – he is a truly class footballer.

“When people say no one is irreplaceable, I don’t agree. With Mikel Arteta or whoever replaces those who have left, we will play different football, not as we played with Cesc and Samir.”

Cesc Fabregas and Samir Nasri’s controversial Arsenal exits

Ironically, it was Mikel Arteta who filled the void in the midfield, but the current Arsenal manager wasn’t up to the standard of Fabregas and Nasri, as Arshavin suggested. 

Though the pair were missed on the pitch, their exits both left them with no relationship with Arsenal fans.

Before signing for Barcelona, Fabregas was pictured in a Barcelona shirt, forced upon him by his international teammates, while Nasri joined Premier League rivals Man City.

The Frenchman won the Premier League in his first season at the Etihad to really rub salt in the wounds, and Fabregas went on to join Chelsea.

Arshavin made it clear that the double exit was costly, but for fans, the pair were quickly replaced with regard to legacy.