Offensive-orientated wingback Gaël Clichy is another player to have proven that its not always best to be the same sized fish in a far bigger pond. Despite leaving after a 2010/11 which was defined by a League Cup loss to Birmingham City in which Arsenal conceded the goal which cost them the much coveted silverware in the 89th minute, the Frenchman arguably would have been better served staying at the north London club. However, when Premier League juggernauts Manchester City came calling in July 2011 armed with a reported £7 million transfer fee and a generous weekly salary, Gaël had to bid adieu to the Gunners. The left-back's pace, willingness to burst forward and unrivalled stamina were enough to get him numerous first team appearances in the 2011/12 and 2012/13 seasons but later found himself playing second-fiddle to Serbian Aleksandar Kolarov. Though sticking it out until 2017 for City, Clichy would've been in a better position to showcase himself at Arsenal, where making the first-team wasn't such a tall order.
Hailing from South East London, Sam Heard is an aspiring writer and recent graduate from the University of Warwick. Sam's favourite things include energy drinks, late nights spent watching the UFC with his girlfriend and annihilating his friends at FIFA.
