14 years at Arsenal and Arsene Wenger has managed to purchase and woven some wonderful talent within them.
I wrote an article recently which listed the 10 worst transfers Wenger has ever acquired whilst being at the North London club. This article is a total opposite, and is dedicated to the Frenchman’s 10 best ever transfers as the Arsenal manager.
The list is in chronological order from when the players were bought, so here they are:
Patrick Vieira (1996-2005)
Vieira’s acquisition of £3.5 million from A.C Milan in 1996 turned out to be an absolute bargain for the Gunners. The Lanky midfielder fitted right into the English rough and tumble game and became one of the best centre-midfielders the world has ever seen. Vieira had the ability to defend as well as attack, and was a formidable force in the centre of the park. His midfield partnership with fellow Frenchman Emmanuel Petit was something of pure class and genius by Wenger…it were as if both the midfielders knew what one another were doing throughout the whole 90 minutes. In his 9 years spent at Arsenal, saw the midfield general accumulated a monstrous 406 games for the Gunners whilst netting 33 times along the way. Vieira captained the side for 7 years after Tony Adams retired, and led Arsenal to 3 Premier League titles, 4 F.A Cups and 4 Community shields. Vieira has to go down as one of Wenger’s best ever transfers as well as an Arsenal legend for many fans, even if he does play for Manchester City these days.
Emmanuel Petit (1997-2000)
Wenger signed the pony-tailed midfielder whilst he was manager of Monaco and did it again for Arsenal in 1997 for £2.5 million. Wenger transformed Petit from a centre-back into a solid defensive midfielder and decided to partner him alongside Vieira. This decision proved to be a very smart and affective one, as the two French midfielders formed one of the best pairings the English game has ever seen. Petit along with his team, inspired Arsenal to a domestic double in his first season with the North London club. Despite being at Arsenal for only 3 years before moving to Barcelona, Petit is still highly admired by many of the Arsenal fans today.
Marc Overmars (1997-2003)
Overmars arrived in 1997 from Ajax for £6 million and the ‘Flying Dutchman’ took to the Premier league like duck to water. His light-footed movements struck fear in the defence as the Dutchman used his brilliant pace and agility to get by defenders week in week out. The former no.11 Arsenal man became a huge hit with Arsenal fans and helped the club clinch a Premier League title and F.A Cup. His 3 years at Arsenal propelled him into one of the most dangerous players in his position and soon enough Barcelona came knocking. Arsenal sold Overmars to the Catalan giants for £25 million in 2000.
What about kanu nwankwo,dudu & van persie?
All good shouts, but I feel all the players listed in this article in some way revolutioned Arsenal. This is just my opinion of course.
Or Gilberto Silva ,Anders Limpar?
Lehmann playing
every game in the league the
season we were unbeaten puts him in my list no matter what people say,even seaman didn’t achieve that wit the best of adam and other in front of him.
just one question. Is this list based based on profit made on sale after purchase OR the expectional performance of the player for the club.
so that i could understand this list.