Ray Parlour says midfielder Arsenal once let go on a free transfer was ‘brilliant’

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Ray Parlour has now been recalling an Arsenal player from the past who he perhaps thought was a little underrated during his time.

Parlour obviously had a very decorated career in north London, playing for the club 457 times, scoring 31 goals and providing 27 assists.

The England international won three league titles with the Gunners and also four FA Cups, a true icon of the club.

That being said, Parlour was involved in some European nights that even triumphed Arsenal’s recent penalty shoot-out win over FC Porto.

Mikel Arteta and his side will thankfully be heading into the international break in great mood, buoyed for a trip to the Etihad when club football returns.

Parlour will have no doubt loved that result, one that will finally see Arsenal progress into a Champions League quarter-final again.

And it was when Parlour was recalling a famous 5-1 win against Inter Milan in 2003 that he began to celebrate the role that Edu Gaspar played for the side.

Speaking via Hayters TV, Parlour said his former teammate had a brilliant attitude.

Ray Parlour says Arsenal teammate Edu Gaspar was amazing in his time

Parlour recalled the night himself and Edu played against Inter at the San Siro, a demonstration of how much the Arsenal man had to offer even if he didn’t start all of the time.

He said: “He was brilliant, always very patient, you know everybody wants to play every week and he didn’t get that opportunity but when he came into the team he was very, very important.

“I remember one my best games I played in when I was captain was Inter Milan 5-1, and we went out to the San Siro, we lost 3-0 at Highbury, we had a nightmare at Highbury.

“No one would give us any chance whatsoever to go to San Siro and even get a draw, if I’m being honest, and we no Bergkamp, he didn’t go, Vieira was out, so it was me and Edu in central midfield.

“I always remember me and Edu having a chat saying ‘alright Ray this is what’ and I was telling him ‘right, we know we can get the better of these two in front of us.’

“He had the game of his life, I played really well in midfield as well, obviously Henry was the main man that day, no one could mark him that day, he was unbelievable.”

Edu Gaspar left Arsenal on a free transfer

Perhaps to Parlour’s surprise, Edu did actually decide it was time to leave Arsenal just a couple of years after that famous night.

The Brazilian, who is of course now integral to Arsenal’s fortunes off the field, decided not to renew his contract and head to Valencia on a free instead.

And although Edu is now celebrated for the work he does as a sporting director, perhaps he is still a little bit underrated in regards to his time playing for the club.

All that being said, Martin Keown has recently been sharing how gutted he was when a different Arsenal great decided to leave.