With the start of the Group Stage of the World Cup in South Africa drawing nearer and nearer it’s time for us to take a look at some of the Arsenal players in the World Cup. The 12 Arsenal players in the World Cup this summer is a testament to the ever expanding North London club. Here I’m going to take a look at some of the players who made their squads and how they’ll impact their teams chances at world glory. But to start off, let’s take a look at one player who astonishingly didn’t make the 30-man cut, Samir Nasri.

Nasri: Arguably one of the most important players for the gunners this year. He has shown that he can pick himself up after getting injured during pre season training in Austria and perform at his best. France is really losing a great player who would have added great skills to the midfield. He has great technique, speed and excellent vision which allow him to roam freely in the park. Why didn’t France decide to include him the squad? Because Domenech lacks “tact” and “class” according to Patrick Vieira. If there was a moment for Nasri to shine for his country, it would have definitely been this moment. Domenech has made a big mistake and will be fired after the World Cup due to his own mistakes.

Clichy: He’s a great player but hasn’t really proved that he can be great quality for Arsenal. Let us not forget that he did have a 3 month layoff due to a back injury but he also has competeition from Evra and Abdial who are also great players. I don’t think that Clichy would beat out Evra for a spot on the team but he can beat Abidal because he hasn’t really had a great season also. Clichy would provide speed and great attacking schemes on the left side for France but I really don’t think he will receive many starts mainly because Evra has been amazing this season.

Gallas: Coming off a really great season with the help of Vermalean, Gallas is facing a fitness test that Domenech has been heavily imposing lately. If he does make the squad, he will do great. Many players who come off great club seasons end up having great international performances. Gallas is a great leader for the defense and he is the face of toughness for France. Many people say that he has an atittude issue but its mostly because he loves his team and teammates and he hates seeing his team go down so he will always give 100% which is something France needs.

Diaby: I will constantly say this, he is the next Vieira. Size, skills and aggressiveness, he has it all. France needs this guy and it is good that they will have him. He can play nearly every offensive position on the pitch and he can do it well. My prediction is that after this World Cup he will prove why he deserves a starting spot on Arsenal and why Wenger made a good choice by signing him.

Sagna: Seeing him running up and down the right flank made him the most consistent player on Arsenal. He is always consistent and never gives you a bad performance. He has the mentality of a winner and is never scared to back down. He will offer great support for the right flank of France. With his attitude of serving the team, France can really use him since Domenech can’t serve the team.

Fabregas: Coming back from his performance against Barcelona, he will offer a threat for Spain. A player like Fabregas, who is described by Wenger as “4 years ahead, mentally” and “an expert in passing” by Messi, will have a great World Cup experience. This will give him the chance to take over the midfield position in the future for Spain. His techniques and vision will make Spain revolve the game around him. Spain is known for using every player when it comes to building up a great play. Fabregas will get the most touches for Spain this summer.

Senderos: A great player that hasn’t impressed Wenger which explains the loans that he has been on. He is a great addition for Switzerland mainly because he has Serie A and EPL experience which is probably the best thing on his CV. I can’t really say much about him because he really hasn’t been getting much playing time while on loan this season. The only positive note is his height. He will get the nod and it will be his last chance to show Wenger why he is worthy to be a gunner next season.

Van Persie: Prior to his injury, he was in amazing form. After he came back from his injury, he continued to perform great. He will get the nod to start for Holland this summer and he will continue his great form this summer. He has great and very quick technique which makes him hard to cover. With his speed, Holland have a real threat and if they use him correctly, they can go very far in the tournament.

Vela: A great player who has great potential but hasn’t been able to get a whole lot of playing time for the gunners. He has great skills and amazing patience when he plays the game. Mexico won’t go too far in the tournament and Mexico won’t be able to play enough games so Vela can get one start in. He will probably be used as a sub and will probably not be used because of his lack of experience.

Walcott: He will be used in the same way Arsenal uses him. With his blazing speed, England will deploy him in the right side 60 minutes into the game. He doesn’t have many skills that will make him a regular and he faces much competition from his fellow English teammates which is going to make it hard for him to start. After being used as a substitute against Barcelona in the Emirates, Capello knows how to use him for the World Cup.

Song: With the help of his uncle who was also called up, Song will perform and hold the midfield for Cameroon. He has great tackling abilities which make him a threat. After this season he has built the confidence that players need in order to perform at the top level and will show why Wenger has been so patient with him. He does lack on the number of goals he has scored this season but he does not need to score to play great. All he needs to do is to hold the midfield and hold his ground so he can win tackles.

Bendtner: After filling in the Van Persie role for Arsenal, he will do great for Denmark even though they won’t get too far this summer. The only thing he lacks is speed and quickness. He has great vision and size which are both a threat but he is too slow when it comes to passing the ball and giving it to another player. He needs to develop better quickness so he can become a real threat and become the next Van Persie. This summer he will do average mainly because the players around him will also do average this summer.

Eboue: Ivory Coast will always need a player like Eboue. With their star studded lineup, Eboue offers speed, great technique and a positive attitude that every team wants on their team. He will probably play in the right back position but if they feel that they can use him on the offensive positions of football then they have a great choice by picking him up. With his skills, he can play anywhere in the park and he will always give 100% no matter where he plays even if he is on the bench through his great attitude.