The 20 players who played just one Premier League game for Arsenal

Arsenal have always been willing to give opportunities to young players – but establishing themselves at the club is an altogether different challenge.

Arsene Wenger was particularly renowned for giving prospects a chance to shine in the first team, although earning an appearance in the Premier League was always trickier than getting a run-out in one of the cups.

We’ve taken a closer look at the 20 players to appear just once for Arsenal at the Premier League, excluding the likes of Perry Groves, who were Gooners for a number of years prior to the competition’s rebranding.

Iceland international Runarsson remains on Arsenal’s books – he’s currently away on loan at Belgian outfit OH Leuven – but we’d be majorly surprised if he returns to the Emirates to add a second Premier League appearance for the Gunners.

The 27-year-old goalkeeper made a handful of appearances as Bernd Leno’s back-up in the cup competitions during the 2021-22 campaign, whereby he received plenty of criticism for his shaky-looking displays between the sticks.

His one Premier League appearance came with a 20-minute cameo against Wolves after Leno received a red card, back in December 2020. Arsenal lost 2-1, although neither of the goals conceded came while Runarsson was on the pitch, while Runarsson wasn’t a million miles off a dramatic assist for a late equaliser.

Runar Alex Runarsson's late freekick against Wolves.pic.twitter.com/glL9mZrC7U

— Harry (@RunReissRun) February 4, 2021

“I found myself in a Roy of the Rovers-type story, which was just being in the right place at the right time,” Harper told us in 2018. “I started in non-league at Eltham Town, where I asked then to sign for Sittingbourne after playing against them.

“The next thing, Arsenal