Arsene Wenger: The 10 Greatest Footballers To Play Under The Arsenal Leader
14 years ago a barely known Frenchman took over the reins as Arsenal manager. He was hardly known at that time and was considered by many a weird choice to lead the Gunners.
Today that man is one of the world’s best managers. Arsene Wenger has transformed Arsenal from “boring, boring Arsenal” to one of the best passers of the ball. Today Arsenal have one of the most beautiful styles.
His vision and smart spending has ensured Arsenal have a certain stability among their ranks that very few clubs can boast of in today's football world which is ravaged by debt. His frugal spending has ensured that Arsenal will face no financial crisis in the recent future.
But his greatest achievements will be his knack of spotting talent from around Europe and transforming these people into greats.
His fine coaching methods also meant that he brought out the best from ageing players and most players have thrived under the guidance and tutelage of Wenger. Throughout the years, Wenger has molded many stars who have dazzled and entertained.
Here is a list of the ten greatest footballers to play under the visionary, Arsene Wenger.
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10: Emmanuel Petit
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In the summer of 1997 Emmanuel Petit reunited with his former Monaca manager, Wenger. Wenger made the decision to shift Petit from centre-back to Defensive Midfielder.
In the heart of the Arsenal’s midfield he formed a great partnership with Patrick Vieira. The French duo were an instant success as they won the Double in their first season together.
Under Wenger at Arsenal he made 118 appearances scoring 11 goals. His positioning was impeccable and he adapted into Arsenal’s unit with consummate ease.
Petit during his three spell at Arsenal, showed lots of potential to become one of Arsenal’s best midfielders but left in the summer of 2000 to Barcelona.
But during his spell at Arsenal he proved to be the bedrock of the midfield, anchoring it and leading them from the back.
9: David Seaman
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One of the greatest goalkeepers of his time, Seaman is without a doubt the greatest and most talented keeper of the Wenger regime.
Possessing great reflexes, anticipation and positional sense, Arsenal have lacked a consistent and solid keeper since his departure. Seaman left a void in Arsenal’s goalkeeping position that none have been able to occupy with the skill the Englishman possessed.
During his stay at Arsenal Seaman won nine trophies with five of them coming in the Wenger regime. Wenger inherited Seaman from previous manager George Graham.
Seaman was an integral part of the double winning side of 2002. He will forever be remembered for his save against Sheffield United in the FA Cup semifinal which will forever go down as one of the greatest saves of all time.
Throughout his stay, he was solid, commanded his box with comfort and produced the occasional blinder that would leave everyone gaping.
A goalkeeper of Seaman's quality is rare and Arsenal fans will forever be indebted to the Englishman's heroics.
8: Tony Adams
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Tony Adams was everything the present breed of Arsenal defenders lack- strong, ruthless and a great defender.
It was under his leadership that Arsenal were renowned for their brilliant defense. A great leader, Adams is the finest defender to have adorned the red and whites of Arsenal. He was a part of the legendary Arsenal defense that was impenetrable and rock solid at the back
Adams was one of the players who benefited greatly from Wenger's revolutionary coaching methods and Wenger's dietary rules prolonged his fantastic career to a great extent.
Although Adams will forever be remembered for his pragmatic defending, under Wenger he incorporated bit more flair into his game and initiated attacks from the back. It was under his leadership that Arsenal won the double in 1998 and in 2002.
He will be one of Arsenal's greatest captains as he inspired the Gunners to many a famous wins and was always leading by example and was a truly inspirational figure on the pitch.
One of the greatest defender of the Wenger regime, Adams will forever be remembered for his dedication and commitment to Arsenal.
Adams is undoubtedly one of the greatest Arsenal players of all time and one of their best players but the only reason he finds himself down the list is because he played lesser number of seasons in Arsenal colours when compared to the others on the list.
7: Cesc Fabregas
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The only player in this list who is still playing for the Gunners, Cesc Fabregas is one of the world's finest midfielders. Considered one of Wenger's smartest transfer coup, Wenger signed Fabregas from Barcelona at the age of 16.
Injuries to several key players during his early years at Arsenal meant he received extensive playing time. He made full use of his opportunities and impressed everyone.
Wenger groomed Fabregas to fit Arsenal's style of play and is widely responsible for Cesc's exploits, acting as father-figure, a mentor.
Since then there has been no looking back for Fabregas, who has blossomed into a fine midfielder with great vision, movement and an ability to pick out a pass when none seemed likely. Arsenal's talismanic captain has been performing consistently, scoring goals and racking up assists.
Preferring skill over strength, Fabregas has adopted a more aggressive style of play over the years which has reaped rich dividends for the team and as well as individually.
Fabregas is everything, Wenger's current philosophy stands for. Signing highly talented youngsters at a young age, nurturing him and giving him first team opportunities from a early phase. Wenger has done all this perfectly with Arsenal's current captain and talisman.
A hugely inspirational figure on the pitch, Fabregas has been exemplary as a captain. A natural leader on the pitch, Fabregas adds another dimension to Arsenal's free flowing game.
Fabregas has won just one trophy with the Gunners, when he lifted the FA Cup in 2005. But with his skill and leadership, Arsenal look like breaking the drought this season.
Whether he moves to boyhood club Barcelona is still open to speculation, but there is no denying the fact that he is one of the greatest midfielders in the world and is testimony to Wenger's eye for spotting world class talent.
6: Freddy Ljungberg
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Arsene Wenger signed Ljungberg after seeing his performances against England, for he Swedish national team, and his decision was vindicated by the Swede. Possessing abundant skill and pace, Ljungberg was a nightmare to play on his day.
Signed by Wenger in the summer of 98, Ljungberg went onto play for the Gunners for the next nine years as he scored more than a 80 goals.
Ljungberg adjusted to English football with consummate ease as he scored on his debut against rivals, Manchester United. He was quick to endear himself to the fans with his dazzling performances and hairstyle!
Ljungberg could fit into any part of the pitch with ease, whether it be central midfield or playing down the wings. He had his best seasons in an Arsenal jersey in 2001-02 where he found the back of the net a consistent 17 times a stunning second in Arsenal’s win over Chelsea in the FA Cup final.
He would win two Premier League and three FA Cup titles with the Gunners.
Ljungberg developed a knack of scoring goals at big moments, including goals in three FA Cup finals. He too was a member of the Invincibles.
Developing a good partnership with Robert Pires, both thrived in each other’s partnership. Despite suffering from injuries in several seasons, he bounced back each time and continued to fight for a place in the team.
5: Sol Campbell
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Wenger signed Sol Campbell from fierce and eternal rivals Tottenham Hotspurs on a free signing and he remains one of the best defenders of the Wenger era.
Sol Campbell moved to Arsenal to play Champions League football and win trophies, something he managed to do regularly. He won two Premier League titles and three FA Cup trophies during his stay with the London club.
A no-nonsense defender, Campbell was a fierce competitor and was a regular starter for Wenger's men and partnered Toure in the heart of Arsenal's Invincibles. Campbell was always willing to put in everything and remained committed to the Arsenal cause.
A solid defender and supreme tackler, Campbell was rock solid at the back and had an uncanny knack for scoring key goals, non more important than his goal against Barcelona in the UCL final although it ended up being for a lost cause.
His commitment and dedication to Arsenal was there for every one to be seen as he came back to Arsenal for a six month spell in 2010.
Despite being 35, Campbell continued to put his best and was one of Arsenal's better players towards the end of the season. He outshone many of his younger teammates and was an inspirational figure on the pitch.
Great and solid defender, Arsenal requires more players who possess a similar passion like the legendary Sol Campbell.
4: Robert Pires
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Pires was signed by Wenger to fill the void left by Marc Overmars and and after initially struggling to find his feet in the English game, many were quick to write him off. But Pires bounced back in style and went onto silence all his critics in his six-year stay with the Gunners.
During his stay at Highbury, football fans were treated to a fantastic display of technique, sublime skill and finishing by the Frenchman who served the Gunners fantastically during one of their finest eras, an era which featured the Invincibles.
During his stay, Pires was the architect of many great goals and it was a joy to watch him in action. But Pires had a grittier side to him as well which served him useful on many occasions. That along with his fine dribbling skill made him one of the most talented and skillful midfielders in the history of the Premier League.
At his best Pires was unplayable and would always have a bag of skill up his sleeves.
During his stay at Arsenal the Premier League twice and was a part of the squad that won the Invincibles. He would win three FA Cups with Arsenal.
Pires left Arsenal, when Wenger substituted him 12 minutes into the Champions League final. A sad ending for the winger, who dedicated so much of his career to the Gunners.
3: Dennis Bergkamp
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"Intelligence and class. Class is of course, most of the time linked to what you can do with the ball, but the intelligence makes you use the technique in an efficient way. It's like somebody who has a big vocabulary but he doesn't say intelligent words, and somebody who has a big vocabulary but he can talk intelligently, and that's what Dennis is all about. What he does, there's always a head and always a brain. And his technique allows him to do what he sees, and what he decides to do."
That’s what manager Arsene Wenger had to say about Dennis Bergkamp, arguably the most skillful player to ever grace the English game.
One runs out of superlatives to describe the Dutch maestro who could split the football pitch wide open with one touch of his feet. Signed by boss Bruce Rioch from Italian giants Inter Milan, Bergkamp revolutionized the second striker position.
During his stay at Inter Milan he was ridiculed by many including the media. But under Wenger at Arsenal he revitalized his career and became one of the greatest foreigners to ever play the game in England.
At Arsenal he formed a deadly partnership with Thierry Henry and the duo terrorized defenses with their skill and guile.
He scored several memorable goals for the Gunners but the goal against Newcastle will remain one of the greatest of all time.
Throughout his career, Bergkamp had a penchant for scoring goals that bamboozled defenders. He could get past defenders so skillfully, effortlessly that is no surprise that he is widely considered to be the greatest foreigner to ply his trade in England.
Playing 380 games for Arsenal and scoring 104 goals, Bergkamp was a treat to watch and admire. He drew admiration from fans and was an inspirational figure on the pitch.
He too was a part of the Invincibles and won three Premier League and four FA Cups with the Gunners.
Bergkamp has left a legacy at Arsenal that very few can ever come close to. One of the greats to play the modern game, Bergkamp will forever be cherished by Arsenal fans.
2: Patrick Vieira
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During his prime there were few who were as good as the Frenchman. Dedicated and hardworking, Patrick Vieira remained dedicated to the Arsenal cause throughout his memorable and fascinating stay at Arsenal.
One of Wenger's first signings as Gunner's boss, tall, strong and powerful, Vieira is widely considered to be one of Wenger's greatest signings and rightfully so. Wenger transformed him from an unknown player into a world beater, a star who was widely sought out by many top European clubs.
His physical approach helped him settle in seamlessly into the Premier League and established himself as one of the best midfielders of his time. What was another exceptional aspect of his game was how quickly he could transform from the tough tackling player to the silky, smooth player with a penchant for flair and smooth fluid play. His smart attacking play made him a real threat while going forward and made him a complete midfielder.
His value to the club was immense and was the backbone of Arsenal's trophy winning sides. He was an inspirational figure on the pitch as he led Arsenal to an unbeaten season in the Premier League. He was invaluable to Arsenal and this is highlighted by the fact that Arsenal have failed to win a trophy since his departure.
Vieira became captain after Tony Adams retired and he to proved to be another great captain for the Gunners.
Vieira was one of Arsenal’s greatest captains, marshalling his troops and he never backed down from a challenge and fight. At Arsenal he won three Premier League trophies and four FA Cups as well.
Tough and strong, Vieira never backed down from a challenge and was there to lead Arsenal in exemplary fashion at all times.
He made it into the PFA Team of the Year for an impressive six straight years from 1998-99 to 2003-04.
Adored by fans, Vieira was the heartbeat, the driving force behind Wenger's title winning squads.
1: Thierry Henry
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Is there any doubt??
Any list of Arsenal greats will always remain incomplete without Thierry Henry, the skillful, talented, surprisingly strong player who was the linchpin of Arsenal's attacking play.
Henry will remain one of Wenger’s smartest and greatest buys. When Wenger signed Henry it was a gamble he was taking. Henry was a struggling winger at Juventus and yet Wenger signed him for £11 million. But the rest is history.
From simple tap ins to long range beauties, Henry was always a joy to watch.
Signed by former manager Wenger from Juventus, Henry's Arsenal career got off to a poor start as he failed to score in his first 8 games. But since then there has been no looking back. In which ever formation he played, Henry could not stop scoring.
Arsenal's top scorer, he racked up 226 goals in 380 games for the Gunners. Henry was struggling in Italy when Wenger bought him, Wenger transformed him from a struggling winger to the world's most feared striker. Henry had all the makings of a great star- searing pace, exquisite technique and a calm and cool head to finish a goalscoring opportunity.
At Arsenal he won the Golden Boot four times and won the PFA Player of the Year twice.
Whenever a challenge was mounted, Henry responded in exemplary fashion. When the going was tough, Henry was always the man to conjure up a goal out of nowhere. Few can boast the statistics possessed by the Frenchmen, but a even fewer can possess his talent, his drive and passion.
Henry might have left Arsenal, but he played the peak of his career for the Gunners and will forever be engraved in the mind's of every Arsenal supporter.
Honorable Mentions
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Gilberto Silva
Kolo Toure
Jens Lehmann
Ashley Cole
Marc Overmars
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