Samir Nasri

Long touted as the 'new Zinedine Zidane' thanks to his upbringing in Marseille and Algerian heritage, Nasri was purchased by Arsenal in 2008 as a replacement for winger Alex Hleb. However, he has proved equally adept in the central role favoured by his illustrious compatriot and his versatility in midfield makes him an important player for Arsenal.

Beginning his career with Marseille aged just nine years old, Nasri began to play in Ligue 1 in the 2004-05 season where he made an impression at 17. He was involved in the French national set-up at Under-16, 17, 18, 19 and 21 level and has been part of the French national team system since the age of 14, even if he failed to secure a place in the squad for the 2010 World Cup.

In the 2006-07 campaign he was named Ligue 1's Young Player of the Year ahead of Karim Benzema and 12 months later joined Arsenal for a fee in the region of £15 million. His impact was immediate as the midfielder scored on his debut against West Brom and enjoyed a productive first season in England, famously scoring twice in a 2-1 win over Manchester United in November 2008.

Though a broken leg sustained in pre-season hindered his progress at the start of the 2009-10 season, Nasri continued to display his qualities either wide in a front three, in a withdrawn central role or tucked in behind a lone striker, proving a able deputy for captain Cesc Fabregas when required. A stunning goal in a 5-0 win over Porto was the exception rather than the rule but Nasri is already a key player for the Gunners.

Strengths: Nasri boasts formidable technique and his vision and his imagination make him an unpredictable opponent. His passing and movement is excellent and his versatility is a real asset.

Weaknesses: He could be more potent in front of goal and Nasri often appears reluctant to track back and help out in defence. He needs to be more consistent if he is to reach the level of Fabregas.

Career high: A quite brilliant goal against Porto in March 2010 when he cut in from the right wing, dribbled past four opponents and finished from a tight angle. The strike was named Arsenal's goal of the season.

Career low: His surprise exclusion from the France squad that travelled to the World Cup finals in 2010.

Style: Intelligent, creative, patient, a stylish playmaker.

Quotes: "It is annoying. The work we do is not getting the credit it deserves because we are not winning silverware. It is unfair because I think we have more merit as a club than those who have built their teams with millions of pounds whereas Arsenal have brought in young footballers, who have come here to play a certain kind of football and who have developed." Nasri on Arsenal's trophy drought, April 2010.

Trivia: Nasri's partner is French tennis player Tatiana Golovin.

Abou Diaby

It remains one of football's most perplexing mysteries why Abou Diaby is so frequently compared to his illustrious predecessor in the Arsenal midfield, Patrick Vieira. Since arriving at the club in 2006, Diaby has proved to be a very different kind of player to the former Gunners captain, and still has some way to go if he is to demonstrate the same consistent excellence as his compatriot.

After graduating from France's famous Clairefontaine academy in 2002, Diaby struggled for regular first-team football with Auxerre and joined Arsenal as a promising 19-year-old in January 2006. Though his arrival was somewhat overshadowed by those of Emmanuel Adebayor and Theo Walcott, amid an atypical flurry of transfer activity in North London, Diaby quickly settled into his stride.

That early promise was brought to a shuddering halt in May of 2006 though when he suffered a fractured dislocated ankle following a challenge from Sunderland's Dan Smith. The serious injury prevented him from playing in the Champions League final and resulted in an eight-month absence from first-team football. Arsene Wenger was so furious he threatened to take legal action.

Diaby eventually made his comeback in January 2007, although persistent fitness problems continued to afflict the dynamic midfielder, with a series of niggles and more serious problems restricting his impact over the next two seasons. However, the 2009-10 campaign would see Diaby enjoy a sustained run in the side as he impressed alongside Alex Song in the heart of midfield. After scoring six league goals and enjoying some consistency he travelled to the World Cup where he appeared in all three of France's group games.

He is at his best when afforded a central role alongside a ball-winner, but the versatile Diaby is also capable of performing out wide or in behind the striker. Vieira, for all his qualities, could never say the same.

Strengths: The Frenchman's touch is superb and his excellent close control means he is hard to get off the ball. Though adept at tackling, his real skill lies in the way he uses the ball, either dribbling past opponents or slipping passes to team-mates.

Weaknesses: Inconsistency. Diaby has a habit of disappearing for a number of games in succession and he can lack concentration, giving his performances something of an unpredictable air.

Career high: A 5-2 win away at Fenerbahce in the Champions League in October 2008. Diaby played in an advanced role and responded magnificently, scoring once in a fine team performance.

Career low: Diaby feared for his future in the game after being on the receiving end of a horrible tackle from Sunderland's Smith in May 2006. He was out of action for eight months and suffered persistent fitness problems for some time.

Style: Languid, elusive, athletic, an enigmatic midfielder.

Quotes: "This year in central midfield he has really stepped up and improved tremendously. He has become a very strong player." Arsene Wenger during the 2009-10 season.

Trivia: Diaby graduated from Clairefontaine alongside Marseille's Hatem Ben Arfa in 2002. During their time at the school the two kids were caught on camera by a documentary team having to be pulled apart during a prolonged physical confrontation.

Sofiane Feghouli

Sofiane Feghouli, was born on 26 December 1989. He is a French football player of Algerian descent who currently plays for Valencia CF in Spain. He primarily plays as an attacking midfielder and is more noted for creating goals than scoring them.

Sofiane Feghouli began his career with Grenoble, after French giants Paris Saint-Germain decline to sign him after a trial. For the latter portion of the 2006/07 season, he was promoted to the first-team squad and given the number 33 shirt. He made his highly anticipated debut, at the age of 17, for the club on 27 April 2007 in a Ligue 2 match against Reims appearing as a substitute. Grenoble won the match 1–0. He made two more appearances that season including his first start on the final match day of the season against Montpellier. Montpellier won the match 1–0 with Sofiane playing just 56 minutes before being subbed out. Following the season, he signed his first professional contract with Grenoble keeping him with the side until 2010.

The following season, he was handed the first-team number 8 and, despite being 17 years of age, was given a more important role in the squad. Despite having the pressure of being labeled the "new Zidane", his contribution to the squad was successful appearing in 26 matches and scoring 3 goals helping Grenoble achieve promotion to Ligue 1. His first career goal was against the club he made his debut against, Reims in a 4–3 victory.

Feghouli's first season in Ligue 1 was stable as he entered the season as a starter. The young midfielder started in 16 of the club's first 17 matches before being relegated to a substitute's role in December and the early part of January. He returned to the first eleven in mid-January and remained in the squad until 11 April 2009 following a 1–4 defeat to Marseille, in which Feghouli suffered an extensive injury requiring him to miss the rest of the season. Feghouli returned for the 2009–10 season making his debut on 29 August in an 0–1 defeat to Rhône-Alpes rivals Saint-Étienne. After appearing in five more matches, it was discovered by Grenoble officials that Feghouli had tore his meniscus in his right knee. The knee was successfully operated on in October. Following the surgery, Grenoble officials, most notably CEO Pierre Wantiez, were extremely critical of the player. Wantiez questioned Feghouli's long delay in returning to the team and the player's motives regarding a transfer as Feghouli would be out of contract in the summer and was already talking to several clubs, most notably Spanish club Valencia. Wantiez attributed Feghouli's recent moves to "bad advice" from the player's agent. On 20 May 2010, Feghouli completed his much anticipated move to Valencia signing a four-year contract with the club.

Sofiane is eligible for both Algeria and France. Sofiane has stated his preference is to play for France and has appeared on several France youth squads. On 12 November 2008, national team manager Raymond Domenech shortlisted the player for his pre-selection squad ahead of their friendly against Uruguay. Despite this, Algeria national team manager Rabah Saadane contacted Sofiane by telephone in an attempt to get the player to play for Algeria in their 19 November friendly against Mali. The team captain Yazid Mansouri contacted the player as well.

Sofiane is currently playing with the French under-21 squad. He made his debut for the side on 9 September 2008 against Bosnia and Herzegovina coming on as a substitute for Anthony Mounier. He would make another under-21 appearance on 19 November, this time against Denmark.