Arsene Wenger's XI: Building the Best Possible Arsenal Team from 1996-2009

The No. 1 shirt goes to David "safe hands" Seaman.

Seaman arrived at Arsenal under George Graham in 1990 and was an integral part of the famous Arsenal back five of the 1990s.

In 13 successful years at the North London club, the Englishman made 564 appearances for the Gunners.

Under Wenger, Seaman was part of two double winning teams in 1998 and 2002 while he also added an FA Cup winner's medal in 2003.

Yet another George Graham buy—Lee Dixon arrived at Arsenal in 1988 and was ever present in the squad until 2002.

Dixon was a consistent right back if ever there was one and was rarely found wanting in a positional sense.

He also had another string to his bow—goals. Dixon scored 28 times during his Arsenal career that spanned 619 appearances.

Under Wenger, Dixon was part of the 1998 and 2002 Double winning teams.

Was the captain ever going to be anyone else?

Mr. Arsenal was a one club man and played with aplomb for the Gunners between 1983-2002 in which he played 669 times and scored 48 goals.

Fourteen of those years were spent as Arsenal captain.

Adams was the recognized leader of the Arsenal back four, back five if Seaman is included. Try and beat the offside trap with these guys around.

It is widely known that Adams had his demons but with the arrival of Arsene Wenger came a new diet and fitness regime which enabled Adams to extend his Arsenal career.

During the Wenger era, Adams was captain as Arsenal won the doubles in 1998 and 2002.

In one of the closest calls for a starting spot, Englishman Martin Keown gets the nod, just about, over his compatriot Sol Campbell.

Keown was a tough and uncompromising centre back who took no prisoners. As with Adams, Keown was never one to shrink away from a battle.

During his time at Arsenal, Keown made 449 appearances, scoring eight goals.

As with Adams, Keown was part of the 1998 and 2002 double winning teams under Wenger. However, unlike his club captain, Keown survived to be part of the historic invincibles in 2004.

Another one that caused rather some debate, but in the end, it was decided to keep the famous back four/five together and Nigel Winterburn gets the starting place ahead of Ashley Cole, Sylvinho, and Gael Clichy.

Yet another Graham buy, Winterburn arrived at Arsenal in 1987 and enjoyed a successful 13 years until he moved to West Ham in 2000.

Winterburn rounds off the perhaps one of the best defensive units to ever grace a football field.

Under the guidance of Wenger, Winterburn won a double in the 1997-1998 season when Arsenal staged a remarkable comeback to snatch the title from Manchester United.

Despite my heart yearning to put in the Czech Republic Mozart, Tomas Rosicky, my head has told me to put in Swedish man Freddie Ljungberg.

The first of Wenger's buys to make the starting XI, Ljungberg arrived in London from Halmstads in 1998 and stayed at Arsenal until 2007 before moving on to West Ham United.

Freddie became a fans favourite almost immediately, scoring within minutes of his debut against Manchester United.

The Swede was often seen bombing up and down both flanks and popped up with many important goals.

During his time with the Gunners, Ljungberg won the double in 2001-2002, was part of the invincibles in 2003-2004, won the FA Cup in 2005 and was part of the Champions League team defeated in the 2006 final.

Once of Wenger's best buys has to be French World Cup winner Patrick Vieira.

Vieira went from been a relative unknown on the AC Milan bench to becoming a stalwart in the Arsenal midfield.

His imposing figure allowed him to become a powerhouse in the Arsenal midfield and Arsenal fans will never forget his many battles with Manchester United's Roy Keane - a battle the Frenchman often won.

Vieira combined graft with craft and almost immediately became the complete midfielder.

During his time at Arsenal, Vieira won two doubles, the FA Cup in 2003 and 2005, and captained the mighty invincibles.

You can't have a Vieira without a Petit.

The two Frenchman completed a pretty much perfect central midfield. Both could attack and defend with equal outcomes.

Vieira went forward and Petit would stay back and vice versa.

Petit was given his debut at Monaco by Arsene Wenger and joined his former mentor at Arsenal in 1997.

Although he only enjoyed three years at Arsenal, Petit won the Premier League and FA Cup double with the Gunners in his first season.

It is his understanding with Vieira that earns him a place in them team.

It took a few months for Pires to kick start his Arsenal career, but when he did, my did he get going.

Over six years at Arsenal, Bobby Pires played 284 times and scored 84 times.

The Frenchman can play anywhere across the midfield or behind the strikers but undoubtedly his best position is on the left side of midfield.

Pires has an unusual running style and also boasts immense vision and a striker's instinct.

During his time at the club, Pires won two Premier Leagues, three FA Cups and was part of the defeated Champions League side of 2006.

Indeed it was that faithful night in Paris that Pires would play for the last time for the Gunners, he was substituted after 13 minutes to make way for Manuel Almunia after Jens Lehmann had got sent off.

Anyone that tries to convince you that Dennis Bergkamp is not one of the best imports into the Premier League is not worth listening to.

"Iceman", "Pure Genius", call him what you may Bergkamp was sheer and utter class.

From his hat-trick at Leicester to THAT goal against Newcastle, the Dutchman oozed creativity and ability.

Bruce Rioch's reign at Arsenal may have been a short one but his signature of Bergkamp will keep him in the annals of the club's history.

Sometimes it is a bit pointless trying to put into words a footballer's immense skills and this is one of those times.

Under Wenger, Bergkamp won the Premier League in 1998 and 2004, the double in 2002, and the FA Cup in 2003 and 2005.

"Now if you come on down to Highbury, you will see Thierry Henry, he is the best player you'll ever see, he's Thie-rr-y Henry".

A bit like Bergkamp, if you don't know how brilliant he is, then you'll never know.

After his arrival from Juventus, Wenger transformed Henry from a winger into a striker with huge success.

Henry is the club's all time leading goal scorer with 226 from 370 appearances.

TH14 won the double in 2002, the FA Cup in 2003 and 2005 while leading the line for the invincibles in 2003-2004.

Titi is still burning it up at Barcelona.

No team is complete without the seven players (and an eighth) that sit on the bench.

Here are the added seven that make it from the Arsene Wenger era.

Jens Lehmann: Every bench needs a sub goalkeeper and behind Seaman in the peaking order is German, Jens Lehmann. He may be a bit crazy but he was an integral part of the invincibles and gets the nod over Almunia.

Sol Campbell: Unlucky not to get a place ahead of Martin Keown but secures a place on the bench.

Cesc Fabregas: Arsenal's current captain has to settle for a place on the bench. Even his extreme talent can't break up the Petit-Vieira unit.

Ian Wright: Ian Wright, Wright, Wright is on the bench, bench, bench. A joy to watch and a great goalscorer but pushed out by Bergkamp and Henry.

Ray Parlour: A proper workhorse and deserving of his place on the bench.

Gael Clichy: Makes the bench because he's way better than Asher-ley he should have been number three, Gael Clichy, Clichy.

Tomas Rosicky: Pips Kolo Toure and Marc Overmars to the last place on the bench as Clichy and Campbell are enough defensive cover. Rosicky is a selfish choice by me but believe me when I say Mozart would have been an Arsenal legend were it not for injuries.

Special inclusion - Marc Overmars: Severe cyber bullying from certain bloggers has forced the inclusion of Marc Overmars on the bench.

It was hard to keep everyone happy but there are some players who were considered but didn't make the grade.

The near misses:

Kolo Toure

Ashley Cole

Eduardo

Nicolas Anelka

Andrey Arshavin

Robin Van Persie

Sylvinho

Bacary Sagna

Lauren

Gilberto

So apologies to these players, especially Toure who came so very close.

What do you think - do you agree or disagree?

Before you bite my head off that Emmanuel Eboue should be there instead of Bobby Pires, there is a comment box below - put your team in there and lets discuss in a civil manner.