Here are the five best players who have played for both Arsenal and Liverpool in the Premier League.
Liverpool and Arsenal are not rivals, but they have managed to manifest plenty of unerasable moments in the Premier League. Many players have demonstrated their individual quality in this fixture, including the famous four-fer from Andrey Arshavin in Anfield.
Through the fierce competition, the Reds and Gunners have always promised goals in this fixture. Over the last decade, 82 goals have been scored from just 21 games, which is a breathtaking stat as the defence of these two sides always goes to walk in this fixture, irrespective of the quality available at stake.
Since business between these two clubs has always been smooth, few players have switched allegiances since the Premier League kicked off in 1992. We shall look at the top five players, who have donned from one red to another in the Premier League.
#5 Nicolas Anelka:
Nicolas Anelka has featured for six Premier League teams, including Liverpool and Arsenal. The French striker began his career with Paris Saint Germain before managing to feature for the first team at the age of 16 in 1996.
The striker showed glimpses in his early days with the French side – enticing Arsene to table a bid for him. Anelka was signed a year later since he made his debut for PSG for a measly fee of £500,000 by the Gunners. He spent two years with the club, managing to clinch the Premier League and FA Cup under the management of Arsene Wenger.
He managed to find the back of the net 28 times in 90 appearances for the Gunners. During the summer of 1999, there was a total change of event in Highbury which saw Thierry Henry sign for Arsenal, while his compatriot Nicolas Anelka joined Real Madrid for £22.3 million.
Anelka was a flop in Santiago Bernabeu and signed for his old club PSG in 2000. Since the Frenchman developed issues with the head coach, he was loaned back to Liverpool during the latter part of the 2001/02 season. He appeared 20 times for the Reds, scoring four times in the process.
His goalscoring prowess kicked off with Manchester City in the successive season, before moving to Fenerbahce, Bolton Wanderers, Chelsea, and West Bromwich Albion. He also featured for Asian clubs Shanghai Shenhua and Mumbai City FC.
#4 Jermaine Pennant:
Jermaine Pennant was tipped to be one of the best talents, but the Englishman struggled to match the expected output from him throughout his career. The 36-year-old is currently without a club after lastly featuring for a sixth tier club named Billericay Town in 2017.
The winger spent five years with Notts County before a move to Arsenal materialized soon at the age of 15. He made his Gunners debut at the age of 16, coming on as a substitute against Middlesborough in the League Cup. He sent out on loan to Watford, Leeds United, and Birmingham City. During his six-year stint under Arsene Wenger, the English International made just 12 appearances in all competitions.
Birmingham City bought him for £3 million in 2005. He had an impressive spell with the Blues, but couldn’t save the club from relegation. Following the drop to the Championship, Liverpool made £6.8 million bid for Jermaine Pennant a year later. His early blitz came to fruition, but he faded away in Anfield. He made 55 appearances in three years and was part of the side which finished runners-up to AC Milan in the Champions League 2007.
He featured for Real Zaragoza, Stoke City, Wolverhampton Wanderers, Wigan Athletic, and Bury. Pennant also played for Tampines Rovers, a professional football club based in Singapore, and the Indian Super League franchise Pune City FC.
#3 Yossi Benayoun:
Arguably the best Israeli player, Yossi Benayoun played in England for more than nine years. The winger was part of the Ajax setup, but he preferred moving to Israel club Hapoel Be’er Sheva in 1996. He spent a year with the reserves and made his debut for the club in the successive season.
His impressive performance caught the attention of the top Israelian club Maccabi Haifa. Benayoun spent four years with the club, before a call from the Spanish club Racing Santander proved too hard to resist. In 2005, English club West Ham signed Yossi Benayoun for £2.5 million.
His delightful displays came into light and Liverpool were the first team in the queue for the forward. The Reds signed for £5 million on a four-year contract. The Israeli was more than a useful player for Rafa Benitez – making 134 appearances and bagging 29 times during his three-year spell in Anfield.
Chelsea was his next stop, but his performances were not up to the mark at Stamford Bridge. He decided to force out after making just 10 appearances during his first season with the Blues. Arsenal secured a year-long loan deal for Yossi Benayoun in 2011. He made 25 appearances and scored six times for the Gunners.
Later, he spent a year on loan with West Ham United, before featuring for Queens Park Rangers, Maccabi Haifa, Maccabi Tel Aviv, Beitar Jerusalem, and Maccabi Petah Tikva. Benayoun hung up his boots in April 2019.
#2 Kolo Toure:
Kolo Toure held an exceptional reputation with the Ivorian club ASEC Mimosas. Arsenal gave a trial in 2002, in which he ended up tackling Arsene Wenger! His work ethic and never-say-die attitude impressed Wenger, who handed the defender a long-term contract.
The Ivorian was part of the famous Invincibles side, which went undefeated throughout a Premier League season. Additionally, he also managed to bag FA Cup twice during his famous seven-year stint with the Gunners. A bid worth £14 million from Manchester City proved too tough for Arsene Wenger to turn down.
Kolo was part of the rebuilding phrase under Mark Hughes and Roberto Mancini and fulfilled his four-year contract with the Citizens. He managed to win Premier League once under the Italian manager.
At the age of 32, former Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers signed him on a free transfer in 2013. Knowing he would only play second-fiddle to others, he was an inspirational figure off-the-pitch. He managed to make 71 appearances during his three-year spell with the Reds, before becoming invincible with Celtic. He’s currently with Leicester City as backroom staff.
#1 Alex-Oxlade Chamberlain:
Alex-Oxlade Chamberlain is an academy graduate of Southampton. Before turning 18 years of age, the English International managed to make 43 first-team appearances for the Saints. Arsene Wenger was quick to raid Southampton once again, this time for the teenager.
Chamberlain was gradually slotted into the starting eleven under Arsene Wenger, where he spent seven years. He had several injuries during this period, but he did not show signs of slowing down at any time and managed to win three FA Cups.
The 26-year-old received a host of offers from various clubs in 2017 summer and opted to sign for Liverpool. He joined the Reds because of the promise made by Jurgen Klopp to play him in the midfield three. It was initially tough for Oxlade Chamberlain to break into the starting lineup, but he slowly started fitting into Jurgen Klopp’s system.
He was in and out of the starting eleven until Philippe Coutinho left to Barcelona in January 2018. Once the Brazilian left to Camp Nou, Chamberlain’s game time increased and performed up to scratch. He ruptured his knee against Roma in the Champions League Semifinal 2018. He sat out for a year and made his comeback against Huddersfield Town last April.
