Jeremie Aliadiere has spoken about the influence of one of his former Arsenal team-mates, who was a key player in the Invincibles side but is often overlooked
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Arsenal's L to R Lauren , Jose Antonio Reyes , Ashley Cole ,Robert Pires, Edu and Thierry Henry celebrates winning the 2003/2004 Football Premier League after drawing 2-2 with Tottenham in their Premier League clash at White Hart Lane in north London, 25 April 2004
Lauren played a key role in Arsenal's capture of the Premier League title in the 2003/04 season
(Image: AFP/Getty Images)
Arsenal legend Lauren has been hailed as the unsung hero of the remarkable Invincibles team.
When Lauren made the move to Arsenal for £7million in May 2000, not many were aware of his achievements at RCD Mallorca in La Liga. Even after strong links to Real Madrid and Roma, he decided to join Arsene Wenger in north London. Wenger wasted no time in transitioning Lauren from midfield to right-back.
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Though initially unsure and hampered by injuries in his first year, Lauren's conversion to defence was a masterstroke, helping the Gunners clinch the Premier League and FA Cup double in 2001/02. He featured in 32 games during the iconic 2003/04 season, contributing to Arsenal's historic achievement of completing the season undefeated - the first English team to do so in over 100 years.
Due in part to his less flashy role, as well as being surrounded by stars such as Ashley Cole, Thierry Henry, Patrick Vieira, and Dennis Bergkamp, Lauren’s contributions are sometimes downplayed or overlooked. Nonetheless, former team-mate Jeremie Aliadiere, who was emerging in the squad at the time, spoke highly of Lauren's significant impact both on and off the field.
Aliadiere praised the defender, saying (via Football London): "He was very underrated but a massive character in the dressing room and that's what I loved about Lauren. He never played for or looked for glory. He just did his job unbelievably well.
"A great player and leader but nobody in terms of the press or fans were talking about him. He was such a big part on the pitch and a big talker in the dressing room. Very tough guy. He loved a bit of boxing and fights and all that. When there was a battle to be won on the pitch you knew Lauren had your back."
Lauren tackles Middlesbrough player
Lauren was an integral part of Arsene Wenger's Arsenal squad for six years
Lauren certainly carved out a reputation for being a fearsome presence on the right side during his six-year stint with Arsenal from 2000 to 2006, followed by three more seasons in the English league at Portsmouth. Over his time with the Gunners, he racked up a notable tally of 45 yellow cards across 241 appearances, alongside a solitary red card.
His combative nature was perhaps most famously encapsulated by Freddie Ljungberg, who said on Match of the Day 2 in 2012: "I had Lauren behind me, for example. If anyone kicked me he would kick the s*** out of them."
With steadfast determination, Lauren even took on the role of Arsenal's go-to penalty shooter in crucial north London derbies. However, it was this very same fiery passion that landed him in hot water back in 2003, amidst the notorious 'Battle of Old Trafford'.
After Ruud van Nistelrooy's infamous dive led to the sending off of Arsenal captain Vieira, the Dutch striker's last-minute penalty clattered against the bar, preserving the Gunners' unbeaten streak. Martin Keown, Ray Parlour, and Lauren didn't hold back their feelings towards Van Nistelrooy at the final whistle, with Lauren also lashing out at Quinton Fortune and grabbing Phil Neville by the throat.
ARSENAL'S LAUREN AND WEST HAM'S JOE COLE SQUARE UP
Lauren's fiery passion was regularly displayed during matches
Lauren faced a hefty £43,000 fine and a significant suspension for his involvement in the fracas, facing charges of violent and improper conduct. But does he have any regrets? Not in the slightest. Reflecting on the incident, Lauren said: "If I have to protect the people I care for, I will do it again.
"That game shows how much of a strong bond we had, because we were playing fantastic football, we were one of the best teams to watch on TV. But at the same time, we were all very competitive, and we all had that strong spirit amongst the dressing room. And that particular time in that moment showed how much we cared about each other. So I don't have any kind of regrets."
In the summer of 2006, Lauren bid farewell to Arsenal after an injury-riddled season, with Emmanuel Eboue stepping into his shoes and featuring in the Champions League final loss to Barcelona. Lauren's international career was also notable, making 24 appearances for Cameroon and clinching the Africa Cup of Nations twice, in 2000 and 2002.
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