Arsenal's From Brilliant To Bobbins XI - Part 1

Central Midfield

DENILSON Pereira de Neves

Denilson's signing occurred very much under the radar on deadline day in the summer of 2006, with the entire spotlight homed in on the Cole – Gallas and Reyes- Baptista swap deals. Denilson was the captain of Brazil's U-20 side having captained at every other junior level. It was difficult not to be excited.

He started out with some promising Carling Cup displays, but his first team opportunities increased in the summer of 2008, when Gilberto Silva and Mathieu Flamini left the club, with Lassana Diarra having exited six months earlier. In 2008-09, Denilson became Arsenal's first choice defensive midfielder and acquitted himself very well. Wenger described him as "a mix between Gilberto and Rosicky", high praise indeed.

During 2009-10, Denilson suffered a painful vertebrae injury which appeared to affect his mobility, his career low point arriving when he was famously out sprinted by the referee as Manchester United counter attacked their way to a 3-1 victory at the Emirates. Denilson's confidence was damaged and he never seemed to have the mental resilience to repair it again. He was loaned out to São Paulo in 2011 for two years, before the move was made permanent in 2013. He is still playing regularly for his hometown club.

Stephen HUGHES

Everybody loves an academy graduate in their first team and as such, we tend to look at them through rather avuncular eyes. In a George Graham side that was slowly dismantling the flair elements of its squad, word began to break that there was a kid in the youth team that was being compared to Liam Brady. That Hughes was a left footed midfielder from the Arsenal academy was where the likeness began and ended in truth, but Arsenal fans were starved of a creative midfielder and excitement fomented.

Hughes made a good start under Wenger's stewardship and began to break into the first team as a serious understudy to Emmanuel Petit. He scored twice in a 2-0 win over Chelsea at Highbury in February 1998 and, that summer, his squad number was upgraded from 28 to 16- which emphasised his increasing role. But for reasons that are difficult to identify, Hughes' progression just seemed to freeze in time.

He had a short loan spell with Fulham in 2000, before an unsatisfactory season at Everton. He became something of a journeyman with spells thereafter at Watford, Charlton, Coventry and Walsall. Hughes called time on his playing career in 2009, aged only 33. He now works for Arsenal TV as a pundit and co commentator.

Who would make your roll of shame?

Check back tomorrow for wingers, forwards and honourable mentions.

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