Nacho Monreal, a three-time FA Cup winner with Arsenal, reflects on the players he believed possessed extraordinary potential but ultimately didn’t fully blossom in North London. His seven-and-a-half years with the club, under Arsene Wenger and briefly Unai Emery, provided a unique vantage point to observe talent rise and, sometimes, fade.
Monreal now works as a football agent, drawing on his extensive experience, but he keenly follows Arsenal’s progress, particularly with fellow Spaniard Mikel Arteta at the helm. He’s impressed by the recent influx of academy graduates into the first team – Myles Lewis-Skelly, Ethan Nwaneri, and Max Dowman – but this success sparked a thought: were there promising players who slipped through the cracks during his time at the Emirates?
Chuba Akpom is the first name that springs to mind. Monreal remembers a player who, even as a young reserve, possessed a remarkable ease and natural talent in training. “He scored goals for fun,” Monreal recalls, “and just had something different.” Despite reaching a “very good level” with Ajax and now Ipswich, Monreal felt Akpom was capable of even greater heights.
Akpom’s talent was undeniable. Tall, fast, and seemingly unfazed by playing alongside established stars, he exuded a special quality. Yet, as Monreal acknowledges, football is unpredictable. Sometimes, a player destined for greatness doesn’t quite reach that pinnacle, and Akpom, in Monreal’s view, was one of those cases.
Matteo Guendouzi also stands out in Monreal’s recollections. He arrived with a significant price tag and high expectations, making a strong initial impact with 48 appearances in his debut season. However, Monreal believes Guendouzi’s timing was off, joining a club navigating a difficult period.
Guendouzi was a dynamic, energetic midfielder, but his youth and inexperience proved challenging in a team under pressure. Monreal suggests his attitude, while typical for a young player, wasn’t always fully understood. He ultimately sees Guendouzi as “the right guy, just in the wrong moment” for Arsenal.
Ignasi Miquel, a Spanish centre-back who came through Arsenal’s academy, is another player Monreal remembers with a sense of surprise. He possessed the physical attributes and technical skills to become a top defender – aggressive, strong, and comfortable on the ball – yet never truly established himself in the first team.
Miquel’s career has continued in Spain’s second division, but Monreal firmly believes he had the potential for a much more prominent career. It’s a testament to the difficult path young players face, even those with considerable talent.
Despite reflecting on these players, Monreal expresses immense pride in his own Arsenal career. He consistently strived to be competitive and available, regardless of the team’s fortunes. He cherishes the memories of winning three FA Cups, but two moments still linger with regret.
The 2016 Premier League title, which ultimately went to Leicester City, feels like a missed opportunity. Monreal believes Arsenal should have capitalized when their rivals faltered. The failure to close out the season haunts him, a painful reminder of what could have been.
The 2019 Europa League final defeat to Chelsea is another source of disappointment. It was the first season after Arsene Wenger’s departure, and Monreal felt the team had performed well until a late-season slump. Losing the final felt like a significant setback, a chance to end the season on a high note that slipped away.
Monreal also recalls a personal challenge early in his Arsenal career. Initially thrust into the team due to Kieran Gibbs’ injury, he played well but found himself back on the bench upon Gibbs’ return. Learning to accept a supporting role was a difficult but valuable lesson.
He acknowledges the unique demands of the Premier League, a physically demanding competition that tests players from around the world. He’s proud to have competed at that level for so long, navigating the challenges and proving his resilience.
