Arsenal's Forgotten Genius | The Alexander Hleb Mystery

[@iykeharrison9161]

What a player. I was devastated when he left to join Barca. I have never seen a player that always had the ball glued to his feet. Odegaard sometimes reminds me of him

[@hafizur91]

He was both footed. And so selfish. Destroying man utd in 1 game. Best dribbler in the game

[@charles9489]

Odegaard doesn't have the dribbling, footwork or athleticism of Hleb. Martin is a better passer though.

[@tgmartin]

@@iykeharrison9161 Odegaard is streets ahead of Hleb in every single way.

[@iykeharrison9161]

@@tgmartin That's your opinion

[@mpproductions2770]

💯 I swear he literally would never lose the ball

[@aleksabenovic6046]

Rosicky, Fabregas, Hleb. What a dream of a midfield.

[@TheKh65]

This era of arsenal was so frustrating. Had so many ballers in the squad but no steel

[@Ltasty]

We came close in 07-08 but a lot of frustrating times indeed.

[@tgmartin]

​@Ltasty we overachieved in that season. No serious title contenders have attacking midfielders who don't score goals or give Eboue game time.

[@siberianTiger639]

​@@tgmartintoo many injuries in the second part of the season. We lost Van Persie im the middle of the season, Rosicky too, then Eduardo got injured a bit later... A few other smaller injuries. Was very hard to completw with United and Chelsea who had one of the best squads in the Europe with all those injuries.

[@tgmartin]

@siberianTiger639 Yes, they had the best squads and ours was inferior, hence why I said Arsenal overachieved. Hleb was lacking in end product and the fact that Almunia and Eboue played as much as they did sums up just how inferior our squad was compared to United and Chelsea

[@siberianTiger639]

@@tgmartin Our squad was fine if they just managed to stay fit.

[@adeshas83]

One of my Best players ever. A joy to watch

[@awdkjfd6618]

You must be a bot

[@adeshas83]

@@awdkjfd6618 with a name like that and no pic???? yeah im the bot. lol

[@mariozvan9782]

It wasn't just Hleb: following Henry's departure, Wenger assembled an incredible team for the 2007/08 season: Hleb, Fabregas, Nasri, Abu Diaby, van Persie, Rosicky, Adebayor, Flamini, Eduardo ....... forgotten how talented they were.

[@oisin5684]

☆ Loved that side of 07/08. That was by far my favourite time being an Arsenal supporter in terms of the electric style of football that we used to play. The football that season going forward with the likes of Fabregas, Rosicky, Hleb, Diaby, Walcott, Eduardo, Van Persie & Adebayor was absolutely scintillating. The precision of those intricate & incisive one touch/two touch sharp & snappy interchanges, movement off the ball, and build-up play in the final third at times was utterly breathtaking. Just a shame we couldn't get over the line and reward all that exceptional free-flowing attacking football with a Prem title at the end of it: ● Going into that Birmingham game, which Eduardo broke his leg in, we had the opportunity to go 8 points clear as it was an early Saturday K:O on the 27th G/W before everyone else played. ● Including the Birmingham draw, we drew 5, lost 2, and won just 1 of our 8 league games in that period, which ultimately cost us the title. ● Finished on 83 points (4 points off Man Utd). The 2 we lost were 6 pointers against Man United and Chelsea, respectively, as well to make it even more painful. Even if we'd just managed to beat United during that horrific run of results it would have hypothetically meant that we would have won the league in hindsight if the 3 points went the other way although obviously I appreciate the entire dynamic of the run in would have been altered by those chain of events. Fine margins. We completely imploded from gameweek 27-34. What could have been 😔.

[@FootkerSnooball]

​@oisin5684 No it wouldn't have because Chelsea were only given a win against ManUtd at Stamfordbridge late in that season because the PL likes the race to stay a little interesting and ManUtd could afford to lose it but at 1-1 ManUtd should've had a pen but then Chelsea were given their customary soft late pen to win it. Plus Ronaldo didn't start because ManUtd were in that sort of position to rest him (just like they did in the 4-0 win against Arsenal in the FAcup that season). Arsenal fans always do this never look at what goes for them or against other teams, only what goes against themselves. Every team could do that (ManUtd can do it more so in 2009/10 & 2011/12 and if we go back further 97/98 which Arsenal won by absolutely nothing ManUtd had loads of injuries and mainly because they played ChampionsLeague while Arsenal were hardly in Europe at all and that title was so important for Wenger) but Arsenal should've lost at home to ManUtd in 07/08 nicked a scrappy late equaliser at the end which kept them with ManUtd for longer (not to mention the PL game Arsenal lost at OldTrafford Adebayor scored with his hand and you act like you were so close). ManUtd thrashed Arsenal just days before Eduardo's injury in the FAcup and Arsenal should've had 4 red cards but only got 1. You're telling me if Gallas, Flamini and I think maybe Adebayor was the other, are all suspended for a few games after that it wouldn't have had as much of an effect or worse than just Eduardo being out who'd scored 4or5 goals that season?? Arsenal used up so much luck by then they'd taken loads of points in the first part of that season from losing positions even starting from the very first game behind at home for like 83mins vs Fulham and nicked a win they constantly fell behind they tired themselves out but then again it was either that or they don't pick up the points they just weren't quite as good as ManUtd who were competing strongly in multiple competitions and had a bigger squad where they could afford to rest players or have injuries if you're honest Arsenal had well overachieved to still be in the race but I never thought Arsenal would win even before the Eduardo injury. ManUtd were the best team in the World (proving that in PL & CL winning the latter in invincible style). Heard an Arsenal fan also saying if if Arsenal kept v.Persie in 2012 they would've won the PL instead of ManUtd. I know the signing made ManUtd favourites ahead of City that season but in regards to themselves & Arsenal, ManUtd could've easily finished above Arsenal with someone else not quite as good as v.Persie and with him still at Arsenal who had him the previous season he scored all those goals and yet you only just scraped 3rd miles behind the top2. You also had him for 7 other seasons but you think Oh but next year, oh but next year. Definition of insanity...Arsenal fan did what you did and looked at the fact ManUtd "finished" 11 pts infront of 2nd and counted his goals and added them to Arsenal's tally instead without thinking about adding any ManUtd goals for whoever ManUtd would've bought instead, plus ManUtd were going for the record PL points that season and eased off a lot towards the end but everyone knew ManUtd were winning that title by January. It was 11pts even "after" losing at home to 2nd & 3rd near the end and dropping other silly points like when 2-5 up vs WestBrom etc... That season ManUtd were still in with a good chance of winning the treble until March 6th after an unlucky red that cost ManUtd the tie and then the double still on until April 1st threwaway the FAcup so I thought at least the PL points record was guaranteed but ended up 7pts short of it it was an anti-climax really but ManUtd still comfortably won the PL and Arsenal wouldn't have, they weren't as good of a team. I never took Arsenal seriously in 2010/11 either when they were top because of loads of extra games played (similar to Liverpool 2 years earlier). Arsenal are still even doing it now but it's really bad they keep missing their chances so I have no reason to think Arsenal are winning it any time soon. Got it right 2 seasons ago when people thought & said they were "running away with it"...um, awkward....and I wanted to be wrong last season more than City winning 4 in a row which ManUtd were robbed of in 2009/10 but Arsenal keep failing even when playing at their best.

[@sonsofbiscuits1]

They didn't have Nasri in 07/08 season, I think it was the season after this.

[@radonspace2098]

I marvelled whenever I saw him play. They sure don't make 'em like that anymore.

[@aokijiiceage9589]

One of the best dribblers I’ve seen

[@shashidharan5046]

he was the best passer and a creative genius arsenal ever had... We used to have over 15 chances per game during that time

[@millionaire9122]

Hleb, Rosicky, Carzola, those were scary players at Arsenal.

[@tgmartin]

@@millionaire9122 Dribbly McNogoals is nowhere near those two genuine legends

[@izraa24]

i swear Arsenal would have won the league if Eduardo wasnt injured.. we had carlos vela, andrei arshavin, samir nasri, aaron ramsey.. we had a crazy genius attacking power.. and eduardo was the key finisher..

[@Tony-dv5fs]

2007/08 - What a team. It's a shame it was dismantled so quickly.

[@oisin5684]

☆ Loved that side of 07/08. That was by far my favourite time being an Arsenal supporter in terms of the electric style of football that we used to play. The football that season going forward with the likes of Fabregas, Rosicky, Hleb, Diaby, Walcott, Eduardo, Van Persie & Adebayor was absolutely scintillating. The precision of those intricate & incisive one touch/two touch sharp & snappy interchanges, movement off the ball, and build up play in the final third at times was utterly breathtaking. Just a shame we couldn't get over the line and reward all that exceptional free-flowing attacking football with a Prem title at the end of it: ● Going into that Birmingham game, which Eduardo broke his leg in, we had the opportunity to go 8 points clear as it was an early Saturday K:O on the 27th G/W before everyone else played. ● Including the Birmingham draw, we drew 5, lost 2, and won just 1 of our 8 league games in that period, which ultimately cost us the title. ● Finished on 83 points (4 points off Man Utd). The 2 we lost were 6 pointers against Man United and Chelsea, respectively, as well to make it even more painful. Even if we'd just managed to beat United during that horrific run of results it would have hypothetically meant that we would have won the league in hindsight if the 3 points went the other way although obviously I appreciate the entire dynamic of the run in would have been altered by those chain of events. Fine margins. We completely imploded from gameweek 27-34. What could have been 😔.

[@Tony-dv5fs]

@@oisin5684❤

[@FootkerSnooball]

​@oisin5684 No it wouldn't have because Chelsea were only given a win against ManUtd at Stamfordbridge late in that season because the PL likes the race to stay a little interesting and ManUtd could afford to lose it but at 1-1 ManUtd should've had a pen but then Chelsea were given their customary soft late pen to win it. Plus Ronaldo didn't start because ManUtd were in that sort of position to rest him (just like they did in the 4-0 win against Arsenal in the FAcup that season). Arsenal fans always do this never look at what goes for them, only what goes against. Every team could do that (ManUtd can do it more so in 2009/10 & 2011/12 and if we go back furthr 97/98 which Arsenal benefited from and was so important for Wenger) but Arsenal should've lost at home to ManUtd in 07/08 nicked a scrappy late equaliser at the end (also scored with Adebayor's hand at OldTrafford) ManUtd thrashed Arsenal just days before Eduardo's injury in the FAcup and Arsenal should've had 4 red cards but only got 1. You're telling me if Gallas, Flamini and I think maybe Adebayor was the other, are all suspended for a few games it wouldn't have had as much of an effect or worse than just Eduardo being out who'd scored 4or5 goals that season?? Arsenal used up so much luck by then they'd taken loads of points in the first part of that season from losing positions even starting from the very first game behind at home for like 83mins vs Fulham and nicked a win they constantly fell behind they tired themselves out but then again it was either that or they don't pick up the points they just weren't quite as good as ManUtd who were competing strongly in multiple competitions and had a bigger squad where they could afford to rest players who have injuries if you're honest Arsenal had well overachieved to still be in the race but ManUtd were the best team in the World (proving that in PL & CL winning the latter in invincible style).

[@zakmorris6332]

The Arsenal team from Hleb's era played the best football I'd ever seen in the PL.

[@SirAntoniousBlock]

I'm an Arsenal fan of over 50 years, this was by far the worst era, I actually wouldn't have minded if we got relegated just to get rid of Wenger and his rotten team and style of play. Thank god we have a proper pragmatic manager now.

[@oisin5684]

☆ Loved the side of 07/08 especially. That was by far my favourite time being an Arsenal supporter in terms of the electric style of football that we used to play. The football that season going forward with the likes of Fabregas, Rosicky, Hleb, Diaby, Walcott, Eduardo, Van Persie & Adebayor was absolutely scintillating. The precision of those intricate & incisive one touch/two touch sharp & snappy interchanges, movement off the ball, and build-up play in the final third at times was utterly breathtaking. Just a shame we couldn't get over the line and reward all that exceptional free-flowing attacking football with a Prem title at the end of it: ● Going into that Birmingham game, which Eduardo broke his leg in, we had the opportunity to go 8 points clear as it was an early Saturday K:O on the 27th G/W before everyone else played. ● Including the Birmingham draw, we drew 5, lost 2, and won just 1 of our 8 league games in that period, which ultimately cost us the title. ● Finished on 83 points (4 points off Man Utd). The 2 we lost were 6 pointers against Man United and Chelsea, respectively, as well to make it even more painful. Even if we'd just managed to beat United during that horrific run of results it would have hypothetically meant that we would have won the league in hindsight if the 3 points went the other way although obviously I appreciate the entire dynamic of the run in would have been altered by those chain of events. Fine margins. We completely imploded from gameweek 27-34. What could have been 😔.

[@kshitizjha]

@@SirAntoniousBlock What a fan you are, Sir! 👏🏻 Start watching NFL.

[@SirAntoniousBlock]

@@kshitizjha A better fan that you, because I stuck with the team through 10 years of garbage football, hating most of the players and despising the manager and his boring style of play.

[@kshitizjha]

@@SirAntoniousBlock 😂😂😂😂 Okay I get it.

[@JuanDorta]

Hleb is a prime example that not everything is on the stats in football! Amazing playmaker for attacking build-up!

[@harrycarr4267]

I haven't forgotten Hleb. I loved watching him. He and Rocastle were the club's two great dribblers of the past 40 odd years. I was gutted when he left for Barca, and I was sad that things went south for him from there football-wise.

[@tgmartin]

@harrycarr4267 Hleb is in no way fit to be mentioned in the same breath as Rocky. Rocky had end product and steel, two things that Hleb was severely lacking in

[@harrycarr4267]

​@@tgmartin I simply wrote that they were the two great dribblers Arsenal have had in the last 40 years. I made no other comparison between them. I was also gutted when Rocastle's knee injury ruined his career at Arsenal and afterwards.

[@tgmartin]

@@harrycarr4267 Fair enough. It just annoys me when people try and compare Hleb with genuine Arsenal legends like Rocky, Cazorla, etc.

[@alvinsusanto2413]

my favorite player ever. it's very hard to stop him back then. i dont know how, but he really did some magic with the ball. he can pass and dribble to his liking, as if he can see the future on where the opponent would go

[@benhicks9481]

That 2007-08 season was a case of 'what if' if not for horror Eduardos leg break. Hleb, Rosicky, Flamini with Fabregas, such brilliant football.

[@BlackAdam1076]

He broke my heart

[@Bomberboybrad]

Nasri and Van Persie leaving for competitors broke mine

[@aundraejordine8654]

He was an excellent player. Was sad to see him go. Real quality

[@jahsmarramoutien8588]

I love him. He was soooo clean and tidy

[@victorkinyanjui7153]

My favorite all time arsenal player...he was unbelievable

[@andrewcilliers9269]

Great Vid, although a poor finisher, he was a brilliant dribbler and overall underrated

[@mrusydan8324]

A definition of underrated

[@lionezrsik]

Flamini was also great, and diaby had glimpses of greatness, shame about injuries.

[@Arsenal1508]

No Flamini was never great. He was Arsenal Darren Fletcher. Legend for scoring 2 goals vs Spurs.

[@oisin5684]

​@Arsenal1508 Flamini wasn't on the same level technically in comparison to the others, especially in that 07/08 side that only finished 4 points off of Man Utd, but in terms of his overall contribution throughout the season he was an absolute stalwart going on memory off of the top of my head. Had to do a shift at full back for a good portion of the season when we had an injury crisis at the back and performed quite impressively if I'm not mistaken. He actually ended up winning our Player of the Season Award for his performances that season which is made all the more impressive by the fact that he was playing in a side, which I would certainly say was the most technical & free flowing attacking Arsenal side since I've started supporting the club, which as I've mentioned previously, wasn't what his game was based on at all. He must've been doing something right to, as I've already said, have won the club's 07/08 Player of the Season Award & for AC Milan who had won the Champions League only a little over 12 months previously to have signed him that summer.

[@rickydawson7388]

My favorite Arsenal player ever. Hleb single-handedly made me fall in love with the beautiful game and Arsenal.

[@baliksupper6043]

You’re favourite player ever?!?did you see Berkamp or Henry?!C’mon!

[@za.307]

When I used to go, he was the player that was a joy to watch. Just for his footwork and control. Just like Santi Cazorla. He reminded me a little of Luis Figo with his control and footwork.

[@tgmartin]

@@za.307 Cazorla was 10 times the player Dribbly McNogoals was

[@rosemerimaarlo3656]

Ssnti was the perfect midfielder. Hleb had a long way to go to match him.

[@theomatthew5286]

Hleb was one hell of a player who would have gone onto achieve legend status had he not succumbed to the Spanish siren song that effectively put his trajectory into reverse, just like Anelka before him.

[@Someone_you_know124]

I started supporting Arsenal when Henry was on his last year's at arsenal but the first names that comes to my mind on my first arsenal teams are Alexander Hleb, Fabregas and co. He is genuinely one of the first name I can remember when I started falling in love with My First love Arsenal!

[@jakeansell5408]

Hleb was very good, he would do all the hard very well but would be scared to shoot for some reason. He was denied a stonewall penalty against Liverpool in the champions league quarter final 2008

[@ilyasmremi100]

For sure I loved this guy😭...

[@ilyasmremi100]

Always appreciated him and Rosicky....

[@SamuelOji-v3l]

Same with Sanchez; he became unrecognizable after leaving Arsenal

[@DREAMS_OF_SUCCESS]

He was so disciplined, a great talent that added flair and joy to the Arsenal. I believe it wasn't totally his fault, he was tempted and Arsenal couldn't do much to keep him. The club was struggling financially thus couldn't counter predatory offers from big clubs. It was a painful period then when Arsenal had become a fishing pond for big clubs like City, Man Utd, Chelsea and Barcelona which even dented Wenger's reputation towards his days at Arsenal making him look like he wasn't doing enough as a manager. I'll never forget the time Man City and Chelsea took the best of our talents and used them against our own progress. Gael Clichy, Sagna, Patrick Vieira, Kolo Toure, Alexis Sanchez, Alex Hleb and even the King himself Thierry Henry left due to some circumstances by their personal desire to stay. In their hearts, they loved Arsenal save for a few rats like Robin Van Persie, Ashely Cole and perhaps, Cesc Fabregas. Thanks for the video. I really enjoyed watching it.

[@traductionscultureen-arver2307]

Fabregas loved arsenal too. Had he not left, Nasri and Clichy would have left anyway.

[@DREAMS_OF_SUCCESS]

​@@traductionscultureen-arver2307 Yes he did even up to now but he loved Barcelona more. He chose to go and warm the bench in Cataluna when he was like a god at the Emirates. Arsene Wenger cried tears during an interview when asked about Ces when he was leaving. I still credit Mesut Özil for choosing to play for Arsenal in the most difficult times when he could've chosen to play elsewhere.

[@traductionscultureen-arver2307]

@@DREAMS_OF_SUCCESS I agree that the players that sticked with Arsenal in its most difficult times have a particular merit at the club. The best example for me is Koscielny. Stayed there and played with battle the entire period. 2010-2017. It's the fight of that period who brought us our current period. It's because the club maintained top 4 and CL that it stayed a good club, not a top 8-10 club.

[@DREAMS_OF_SUCCESS]

​@@traductionscultureen-arver2307 I totally agree with you

[@traductionscultureen-arver2307]

@@DREAMS_OF_SUCCESS I don't know if you understand french but Clichy and Nasri did separatly an interview with "Zach", 1hour and half each. They speak in details about what they did, their time in Arsenal, details that English players usually never go into, specially Nasri. You should watch it you'll understand better the period. Nasri said that in 2010, he got offered a new contract, he asked Wenger to have a release clause in case Arsenal didn't win a trophy so that he can go. Wenger said no. Many interesting stories. By him and Clichy that you'll never hear from english players

[@gungrave10]

Hleb is may favorite player. He showed up everytime he is on the pitch, doesn't matter who is in front of him. I certainly feel that he can flourish with Barcelona system if Iniesta wasn't there. Too bad, Iniesta never get injured thus preventing Hleb from showing what he is capable of

[@Ps_Arnold]

I believe some players are best suited for a particular club, style, manager. Hleb being one of those. That's why the moment he left, it fell apart for him

[@cursebreaker1188]

Loved Hleb. When he first came I called him Clegg because I couldn’t remember his name. My mate pissed himself laughing. From that day on we always called him Cleggy for our amusement.

[@trevorlewatle1886]

What a good player we had.

[@ImYourHuckleberry_29]

The years after we left Highbury were the weirdest. We bought Hleb Flamini ×2 Eduardo..who made a comeback but have no idea why he left Rosicky was always injured. Man...those were some weird years as a Gooner. Oh...Vermalean.

[@morpheus1603]

What a great player Lets not forget him and memories

[@fanamlawuli6761]

He was just awesome, one of my all time favorite Arsenal

[@chrisedwards4403]

Hleb is the Russian acronym for ‘no end product.’

[@oisin5684]

@chrisedwards4403 Only because his goals & assists numbers weren't prolific in this "stats obsessed microdata analysis age of football" isn't to say that he had "no end product". He very often broke opposition lines by threading passes/through balls in behind for teammates & provided the pre-assist in attacking build-up play by performing the decisive action in an attack to open up a defence whether it be by weaving his way past one or two opposing players to unlock the door for the opportunity to score or by attracting & enticing the opposition defence towards him which in turn freed up space on the pitch for teammates for him to offload the ball to. Lazy comment.

[@awdkjfd6618]

@chrisedward4403 it’s not a lazy comment. Your trying to act like you’ve got some superior football take here but the king and short was his end product was hopeless. Half his highlights here are him missing chances. He was lightweight and did not live up to expectations at all. This is coming from an arsenal fan who really thought this guy was going to be special. He is another Arshavin

[@UBZUKki]

Such a quality player

[@zothanzothanpuia5074]

As a fan of an Arsenal, we never forget him, he leaving before his prime and joining top clubs which he couldn't play 1st is his mistake... As an Arsenal fan we never disown him

[@TheOfficialQuestion]

Zaha with palace is a prime example of player perfectly fitting the club and appreciating it

[@yeryer316]

He is remembered as an Arsenal legend. One of the best midfielders the league has had

[@FootkerSnooball]

Would've thought a legend would've won something with the club.

[@yeryer316]

@@FootkerSnooball yeah. he just joined at the wrong time

[@danymuembo9238]

Hleb, Fabregas, Henry, Alexis Sanchez among the few who regretted leaving Arsenal

[@oktoberfilms5498]

I still have some Hleb videos on my phone..to learn moving with the ball n his skills are pure mind tricks "Messi level"

[@housinauthority5258]

The most frustrating player I have ever seen for Arsenal

[@mrstandupguy]

I remember when he went to Barca. All came crashing down

[@jamesonkashika8213]

This guy was a genius.

[@bigavel165]

I love this guy football abilities, he was extremely talented football player. Arsenal_For_Life Baby

[@ace-paidinfull5240]

2:24 still got that kit till this day. From year 10/11 till big adulthood lol #redarmy

[@penguinp403]

He was a magician plain and simple

[@LambrettaFunk]

That picture with Fab/VanP/Hleb/TH14, it blows my mind that we won nothing with them. 😞

[@gladiatorscoops4907]

Hleb was extremely talented. What is rarely mentioned about him was how good an engine he had and how he would be attacking one minute, then running the full length of the pitch to help out with defending. There was a period where Arsenal were looking absolutely solid because they had Hleb on one wing, Rosicky on the other wing and as good as they were in attacking they covered their fullbacks as well and both could run all day. Add in Flamini who was really starting to find his feet in the DM role and Arsenal were becoming a very very good team and it was so hard for teams to beat us in that period. But alas - Rosicky started to pick up injuries and Hleb and Flamini went to Barca. I feel if were able to have kept playing that 3 along with the other talent we had we could have won another title.

[@snapperbread5589]

One of the best dribblers I have seen at Arsenal

[@VenusReturn]

Hleb 👏

[@siakakane3750]

The transfer that hurt me the most I almost cried when he left

[@SirAntoniousBlock]

😂 Give your head a wobble, he was garbage.

[@falayyou]

Brilliant player

[@Daswaggermasta]

He was the pre assist king.

[@joe7397]

Baller 🥶

[@zenorexx]

Midfielder trio at that time. Fabregas, Hleb and Flamini. Very enjoyable to watch

[@augustinegeorge6574]

Alex Song, Diaby when fit Denilson

[@jamallaaib2286]

His tragic story should be a reminder for every Arsenal player, especially Saliba, never leave Arsenal for La Liga

[@Pakos-Terimos]

I loved this player he played in BIG Barça if i remember ! Don't forget Arshavin too, but i think it's impossible lol. Enjoy !

[@Tomifella]

My legend

[@siberianTiger639]

As a dribbler he was as good as it gets, but even beyond his poor finishing, I thought he was a pretty sloppy passer, for a higly rated attacking midfielder. He often passed to no one, or made bad decisions, his play syle was a bit wild, chaotic and erratic.

[@matthewmartin1182]

Aha! Someone else who actually saw him play 😊👍

[@oisin5684]

@siberianTiger639 Bit harsh. Obviously, he wasn't the most decorated of finishers, but that's not what his game was centred around. I'm surprised to hear you say that he was a sloppy passer of the ball. I was only 10 when he left for Barcelona, but I always remember him as being such an elegant baller who was top drawer technically. His balance, close control, vision, disguise, feints, snappy footwork & swift drops of the shoulder when suddenly changing direction when dribbling with the ball at his feet were great to watch. From memory & also from having rewatched compilations/highlights from his time at Arsenal, I was always of the opinion that his timing and weight of pass were excellent, which is why I say I'm surprised at your comment. He was never a long-range passer of the ball but in terms of threading intricate & incisive 10-30 yard passes in behind opposition back lines in the final third & breaking lines for the "pre-assist" of an attacking play by providing the decisive act in an attack to open up the opponent I thought he was second to none. I also remember him as being brilliant at creating space to free up teammates by drawing opposition players towards him when he was in possession of the ball before either leaving them for dead or offloading it to one of them as well as being very honest & industrious in getting up & down the line to help out & support his full back in his defensive duties.

[@siberianTiger639]

@@oisin5684 he was able to play a great through ball at times, but generally his passing was quite inconsistent and frustrating I'd say. Obviously on the highlights and compilations you won't see his bad passes and he was making those quite often. Often he just didn't know what to do with the ball and would just attempt a pass to no one.

[@BebasKahwinAgama]

One two king

[@Daswaggermasta]

Hleb, Rosicky, Cesc and Flamini should have won the the league and CL.

[@Daswaggermasta]

Big fxts

[@OG-Macho]

Ok vid, but it didn't really go into his play style, the positions he played, the turning points in his Arsenal career etc. You could have answered more questions I feel.

[@Soledoubt]

Good video, nice critique.

[@aundraejordine8654]

The faulty assumption that "underscores" this video is that scoring lots of goals is the marker of great players. He was not a striker he was a creative midfielder. His runs and passes create space and opportunities for others. Assists and pre-assists are just as important as goals. The only way for a team to get goals without assists and lead up work is when you have players like R9, Henry, Ronaldinho and Messi. Hleb like 90% of great players is not an R9 type. Stats do not tell the whole story and goals are not the only thing that make players great. Maldini and Davids being perfect examples.

[@GrahamGoughFilmGumbo]

I wish you didn't include the footage of the tackle on Eduardo1

[@OSAGIEIDEBANERIA]

He was arsenal's j.s park of man united.

[@TelexToTexel]

Like a Spurs player at Arsenal, all about flair and flamboyance

[@Cesco_S]

Hleb was a genius, I regret he left for Barca and never fulfilled his purpose

[@JizzleMcDizzle]

This is not a shock to most Arsenal fans, he never f***ing shot!

[@MrMallum]

We never won anything whilst he was there. Had we won the CL in 2009 or 2006, I think he would be more revered. All true Gooners remember his quality tho....

[@thandomvimbi1558]

This guy was superb, one of those whose career was killed by Barcelona after leaving Arsenal with Song, Vermuelen and Petit

[@oteplaygrounds]

I'm love him so much

[@Seablast14]

If only Hleb stayed at Arsenal for one or two more seasons it might of made him an Arsenal legend.

[@randyparera6639]

good player

[@scramharoldinho]

that team we had was underrated,hleb's choice to join barca was a mistake,tactically first he operated for us like a 4 4 2 winger or sometimes in the hole behind the striker,while barca was 4 3 3 and had elite guys as wingers already and hleb was not a cm

[@chuckefunn8624]

Jesus, he was a great player

[@BigManDogg]

Alot of our most talented players became disillusioned at arsenal around this time cuz of the move to emirates no investment etc. they all jumped ship and regretted it most of em. Hleb was our best player at one point thought he could do better at barca and was way off LOL. Sad really.

[@redeyedmonster5946]

4:06 random picture of denmark lol

[@agungwidinugroho554]

He should have stayed in Arsenal

[@rishavsharma2349]

He was good for one season and then he went to Barca and vanished. He only had a single trick, dribble to the edge of the pitch and make a low cross.

[@radonspace2098]

More than 1 season.

[@arsenalm16g]

@@radonspace2098look at these fake Arsenal fans don’t talk rubbish if you didn’t watch games during this era

[@matthewmartin1182]

Give over. He had good technical ability with the ball at his feet, but the reason his stats weren’t better is because he wasn’t quite good enough. He wasn’t that creative, he didn’t like to shoot. It was a mystery why Barcelona were in for him, but then they also bought Alex Song around that time

[@arsenalm16g]

He wasn’t creative what are on he was the most creative player best dribbler ever to play for Arsenal

[@procasemalvern6963]

Hleb would pass on the Goal Line

[@JamesTurrell21]

A great, underrated player but this I remember!

[@JBC02]

🤣🤣🤣🤣 this was the comment I was looking for - you think ozil is bad at this until you come across this guy

[@inimfonafia5600]

Forgot him? No, please.

[@ehinowhen]

Imagine Hleb in the LCM role n rice in the RCM role in MIKEL’s arsenal today. He’d be dribbling and setting gabi in behind and the amount of delayed and first time crosses from our corner kicks crossers Rice N Saka to target man Havertz or someone better like gyokeres 👌

[@luqmanmohd2737]

looks like a skinny Gareth Bale, but with twice the dribbling acumen.

[@jajabinx35]

He was to me as good as pires before pires got that bad injury (and no disrespect to pires as he was still amazing after injury)

[@johannesvonsaaz3987]

He went to Barca and met Iniesta from memory.

[@rexbaba1671]

We called him RAZOR

[@jimbojimbo6873]

This man useto GLIDE like inesta

[@overpluto85]

He forgot to create and score. I was waiting for two things that never came . 1 him bulking up 2 him being more direct

[@awdkjfd6618]

People have a short memory. His end product was hopeless

[@InvisibleGunner]

writz plays like Hleb

[@sanniidris8150]

Hleb hleb always dancing shakira shakira with ball on is feet ,hips like rubber

[@yussufhassan2820]

What is the comparison between Alex hleb vs lee Henry ?

[@mr__OK]

He got what he deserved. Who told him to leave arsenal…. Did he really think he would get ahead of xavi and inesta

[@andyb150]

The guy who slagged off living in leafy Hampstead and then later came back to mighty Birmingham City with his tail between his legs, never again having lived up to his heights at Arsenal

[@somethingofascientistmyself]

Willem Dafoe in disguise