Lauren joined Arsenal in May 2000 for more than £7.2m from Spanish outfit Mallorca and has only just started to justify that fee.

He scored on his Highbury debut against Liverpool but failed to settle into his midfield role during that first season.

This year he has been a consistent performer for the Gunners after successfully adapting to a new position in defence.

Manager Arsene Wenger has increasingly used him at right-back, where he sees him as a long-term successor to Lee Dixon.

Has been part of the last two successful African Nations Cup squads and also won Olympic gold with the Indomitable Lions in Sydney where he scored the winning goal in the semi-final.