Premier League players you didn't realise would be at the World Cup: Arsenal

Players Under The Microscope / Jaymes Monte / 05 March 2010 / Leave a comment Free £25 Bet

Alex Song displaying his native colours whilst looking typically composed on the ball in the heart of the Arsenal midfield.

Over the coming weeks and months Jaymes Monte will give a rundown of Premier League players that you perhaps didn't realise would be at the World Cup, week one begins with Arsenal...

"Song has made a significant impact at international level and has been named in the team of the tournament at the past two African Cup of Nations."

Johan Djourou - Switzerland

Born in Ivory Coast but raised in Switzerland by his adopted mother Johan Djourou is now, when fit, a fully fledged member of the Swiss first team squad. He made his debut against Scotland on 1 March 2006 and has since made a further 20+ appearances for the first team.

Djourou is a classic Arsene Wenger signing. Plucked from the realms of obscurity when playing as a defensive midfielder for Swiss 1.Liga (the third tier of Swiss League football) team Etoile Carouge F.C., he has since been remoulded into a central defender by trade but can play at full back on either side and in midfield. At 6ft 4in he is a towering presence no matter what position he plays in, he is comfortable with the ball at his feet and has the pace which could make him a top-class defender if he can stay out of the treatment room in the years to come.

The official Arsenal website claims that Djourou was one of the "success stories of pre-season" but an injury picked up whilst away on international duty in August has kept him out of action for the whole season to date. It has been a long road to recovery for the 23 year old but the good news is that he is expecting to be back in contention by the end of April and if he can get a few games under his belt before the season ends, he could become an important part of Ottmar Hitzfeld's World Cup squad.

Switzerland find themselves in the tough Group H along with Spain, Chile and Honduras. They are [13.0] to win the group, [2.5] to qualify to the knockout stages and a massive [330.0] to win the World Cup.

Alex Song - Cameroon

Alex Song is another one of Wenger's youngsters come good, the likes of whom have become his trademark signing since his arrival in north London. As the nephew of Cameroonian legend Rigobert Song there was always going to be interest surrounding the youngster when he broke into the first team at French club Bastia, but despite interest from Inter, Manchester United and Lyon he chose to sign for The Gunners and hasn't looked back since.

His stock has risen year on year at the Emirates and now at the age of 22 he is an integral part of Wenger's first team plans. He made 23 league starts and 11 Champions League appearances in the 2008-2009 season, the majority of which were in the heart of the Arsenal midfield. He is set to surpass those totals in the 2009-2010 season and will go into the World Cup as one of the first names on the team sheet for Cameroon.

He has made a significant impact at international level and has been named in the team of the tournament at the past two African Cup of Nations often being deployed as the team's play-maker rather than in the holding role he plays for Arsenal.

Cameroon were handed a favourable group draw and are [2.1] to qualify from Group E, [5.5] to win it and are [130.0] to be lifting the trophy on 11 July.