Skip to content

Former Arsenal right-back Lauren reveals his #One2Eleven on The Fantasy Football Club

Lauren of Arsenal celebrates scoring from a penalty to take Arsenal 2-1 up during the FA Barclaycard Premiership game between Arsenal and Tottenham
Image: Lauren joined Max and Rachel on The Fantasy Football Club on Friday

Former Arsenal and Portsmouth right-back Lauren has revealed his #One2Eleven on The Fantasy Football Club.

The retired defender made over 240 appearances for the Gunners during six seasons at the club and was a member of the 2003/04 'Invincibles' squad that went an entire Premier League season unbeaten.

He picked up two league winners medals during his time in north London, as well as winning the FA Cup three times and the Community Shield twice. 

After leaving Arsenal, he spent three years at Portsmouth as well as spells with Mallorca, Levante and winning 24 caps for Cameroon. 

Lauren joined Max and Rachel on The Fantasy Football Club sofa on Friday, and named the best #One2Eleven he played with.

Lauren
Image: Lauren's #One2Eleven

GOALKEEPER: Carlos Roa

He was the kind of personality that made us win the Spanish Cup in Barcelona against the likes of Luis Figo, Xavi, Rivaldo and he was outstanding in the whole competition. Thanks to him, we also managed to get to the final of the Cup Winners' Cup against Leche so I have to choose him, but I still have plenty of respect for Jens Lehman and David Seaman.

RIGHT-BACK: Kolo Toure

Kolo Toure and Lauren in action with Chelsea's Joe Cole during the 2003/04 season
Image: Kolo Toure (left) joined Arsenal in 2002 and won the Premier League with the club

This guy came straight from Africa, he didn't have any idea about professional football and he managed to play in the Premier League with the pace of the league as competitive as it is and so far, he has been unbelievable. I thought about putting myself in but I can't do it.

Also See:

CENTRE-BACK: Sol Campbell

He is solid for a guy as big as he is and he was quick as well. He would cover all the spaces. You would think 'this guy is too big, how can he be quick?' but he was and he was unbelievable. On his good days, one of the best centre-backs for me.

Kolo Toure and Sol Campbell celebrate with Thierry Henry at the start of the 2003 season
Image: Sol Campbell was 'one of the best centre-backs', according to Lauren

CENTRE-BACK: Martin Keown

He doesn't get too much credit but if you cut him, he would bleed Arsenal. Sometimes you need these kinds of people who play for the flag, who play for the institution and I think he would be in my team all the way.

LEFT-BACK: Miquel Soler

I'm sorry again to not choose Ashley Cole but I have to take people from Mallorca. I chose Soler because he played for Real Madrid, Barcelona, Atletico Madrid and Sevilla - four of the biggest clubs in Spain.

When I was 22, he was doing the physical training with all of us and he was 36 - he was unbelievable. He could play ten games one after the other without getting tired. He has to be there.

RIGHT MIDFIELD: Freddie Ljungberg

Despite their disappointment, their Premier League campaign started perfectly, with 4 wins from 4 in August as Everton, Boro, Villa and City were beaten.
Image: Freddie Ljungberg makes it into Lauren's #One2Eleven

Freddie was unbelievable. I have a very good connection with him. He was the kind of guy who would come into the training ground, you would see him sleeping like 'this guy doesn't want to play', he was mentally away but in the real situation in the real games, he was always there. He was fantastic.

CENTRAL MIDFIELD: Patrick Vieira

For me, he was the real captain on the pitch and outside of it. He was a big example to everyone. If I had to be a player again, I would love to be like Patrick Vieira. He definitely had Arsenal in his blood as well and when he left, there was some controversy I don't know about but he loved the club.

3 May 1998:  Patrick Vieira of Arsenal lifts the championship trophy after the FA Carling Premiership match against Everton at Highbury in London.
Image: Patrick Vieira won 11 trophies during his time with Arsenal

LEFT MIDFIELD: Robert Pires

He was unbelievable. Technically, quality, he can play on his left and use his left foot, he can play on the right. One of the finest players I have ever played with.

Off the pitch, he was always quiet. If we won or anything, he always had his feet on the ground and I liked his personality, he was very down to earth.

FORWARD: Dennis Bergkamp

Dennis Bergkamp celebrates a goal for Arsenal
Image: Dennis Bergkamp is among one of the best players Lauren has ever played with, according to the former defender

Technically, he was one of the best player I ever played with. It was between him, Kanu and Pires.

Bergkamp had everything. If you saw him in the dressing room, you thought he's not in the game in terms of not showing emotions. Whether it was good or bad, he didn't show his emotions. That's why when he was one-on-one with the goalkeeper, he was always cool because he was unpredictable.

FORWARD: Samuel Eto'o

Cameroon striker Samuel Eto'o after his team defeated Tunisia in their World Cup clash
Image: Lauren and Samuel Eto'o were teammates for Cameroon

He was the opposite of Bergkamp, he showed emotion. He wants to be the best and show that he is the best. What I like about him is while he his talking to you in the dressing room, he would do the same on the pitch. The kind of guy that can talk with a big mouth but can back it up so he doesn't care.

We were always teammates with the national team, at the Olympics, we shared rooms and we were always challenging about who would be the best, who would score more goals in the tournament.

FORWARD: Thierry Henry

Lauren celebrates with Thierry Henry after scoring in a north London derby
Image: Lauren celebrates with Thierry Henry after scoring in a north London derby

Henry was the best player in our time. What I like about him is you might like it or not, he wants to be the best every single day of his life. In training, in the games, he never missed a game saying 'oh I've got an injury, I'm going to miss this one' or being on four yellow cards and getting a fifth to miss a certain game, he gave everything.

He put so much in himself that he wanted the best of the team to do the same. He was unbelievable.