I’m not sure if they can be considered rivals, but I’ve always have a soft spot for David Silva. Agree with Berbatov too. He was really gracious with the ball.
Modric, Berbatov, Deco, Vidic, Schmeichel, Solskjaer, Sherringham, Cech, Anelka, X.Alonso, Torres, Carvalho, Essien, J.Cole spring to mind, and I could never really stop admiring Ashley Cole.
Kante is the one who immediately comes to mind. I don’t see how anyone can dislike him to be honest. As a player, he’s been one of the best in the league, especially during those 2 title winning seasons with Leicester and Chelsea. And he’s one I wish we’d signed. But also as a person – he seems like such a nice guy. And that whole thing about him being too shy to ask if he could hold the World Cup just made him even more endearing.
In the past, there has been Beckham – who, i’m not going to lie, I did fancy, but I also thought he was a fantastic footballer. Xabi Alonso, who I adored. And Lampard. If there was a debate to be had between him and Gerrard, I was always team Lamps. I also had a soft spot for Modric when he was at Spurs.
I had a weird relationship with Diego Costa. He was a prick and a complete shithouse, but at the same time, I knew if he played for us then i’d love him.
I like most of the Man City team at the moment too, but not sure they’re really rivals as such.
Going back, really liked Suárez when he was at Liverpool. We would have loved him if he was our cunt.
Xabi Alonso is one of my favourite non-Arsenal players. Really liked Torres when he was at Liverpool too. I’ve never wanted a rival team to win the league so much when Rafa was up against Fergie.
Even though he managed Chelsea as well, Ruud Gullit is also one of my favourite ever players.
I always liked Gerrard, possibly one of the best and most influential players in the PL.
I think Kante is possibly the best player in his position in the PL but it annoys me that we could have had him but got Xhaka instead because we wouldn’t go the extra to get him, even more annoying that he wanted to come here.
Others would be Sterling, De Bruyne, Hazard, Salah and Eriksen.