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The 9 players from Arsenal’s 2008-09 Champions League squad still playing in 2025
Apr 29, 2025
Sixteen years have passed since Arsenal‘s last appearance in a Champions League semi-final, but a surprising number of players from Arsene Wenger’s squad that season are still playing today.
The big-name mainstays of that Gunners side who were ultimately well-beaten home and away by Manchester United have hung up their boots, from Theo Walcott to Alex Song, while Cesc Fabregas and Robin van Persie are already established coaches.
But there were several younger fringe players who are now seeing out the twilight years of their playing careers. We’ve checked in on the nine still playing today.
Lukasz Fabianski
One of the only players over the age of 40 contracted to a club in Europe’s five major leagues, Fabianski went on to have a respectably solid career after his seven years with an erratic reputation as a back-up at the Emirates.
The former Poland international notched over 150 appearances for Swansea City during their Premier League pomp and has since played over 200 times as a grizzled veteran for West Ham.
Alphonse Areola has won the battle to become the Hammers’ No.1 these days, but Fabianski did remarkably well to keep the Frenchman on the bench for a time.
Vito Mannone
Another one of Manuel Almunia’s deputies, Mannone joined Hale End from Atalanta’s youth ranks and featured intermittently amid a series of loans away.
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