Dennis Bergkamp (Striker)
Dennis Bergkamp was the most technically gifted and visionary footballer ever to grace the Premier League and model the red and white jersey of Arsenal in my eyes. The Dutchman exemplified what exactly a second striker was. Bergkamp had astonishing tactical awareness, super ball control and remarkable passing ability, which no doubt made him one of the best players ever to play in the English game and the world. In his 11 year career as an Arsenal player, the creative genius lifted 7 major trophies which included 3 Premier League titles and 4 F.A Cups. Bergkamp won so many individual accolades at both club and country level and was even selected by Pele as one of FIFA’s 125 greatest living players of all time. The playmaker made a total of 391 appearances for Arsenal and bagged 120 goals (all beautiful ones at that). Remarkable he never did win a FIFA World Player of the Year award, but did however manage (in 2007) to be inducted into the English Hall of Fame, making him the first and only Dutch player ever to receive this award. Just to see him play was a real privilege. A true master of the game, and in my opinion, the second best foreign player ever to wear the cannon on his chest.
Thierry Henry (Striker)
In my opinion, this man was the best ever player to grace the North London club and possibly the Premier League. The French international was undoubtedly one of the most feared and lethal strikers in the world whilst at Arsenal. His blistering pace, superb technique and finishing ability in front of goal propelled the Frenchman to one of the worlds finest at the time. He was brought in by Wenger in 1999 and was traditionally a left winger. However, Wenger decided to utilize Henry as a forward and Le Professuer’s decision proved to be an absolutely priceless one. In his 8 year spell at Arsenal, Thierry Henry accomplished so much, both for his club and individually as a footballer. He helped the North London club achieve a domestic double in the 2001/02 season, 2 further F.A. Cup triumphs and another Premier League title in the 2003/04 season in which the side went on an amazing 49 game unbeaten run. On October 17th 2005, Thierry Henry officially became the club’s highest ever goal scorer after scoring two wonderful goals against Sparta Prague in the Champion’s League, thus overtaking Ian Wright and Cliff Bastin records. The speedy French forward made a total of 369 appearances for his beloved Arsenal, bagged a colossal 226 goals and assisted his colleagues 92 times as well…A brilliant all round player. I am not afraid to admit it, but I did actually wipe a tear away from my eye when the great man left for Barcelona in 2007. Henry remains my personal favourite player ever to wear the red and white of Arsenal. The Frenchman was an absolute legend, and to this day is still loved by all of the Arsenal faithful; this is justified by tens of thousands of Arsenal fans voting the striker as the no.1 player in their clubs history on Arsenal.com. Without a doubt, Thierry Henry is the greatest ever Arsenal player of all time, and it will take a lot of work by any Arsenal player to overshadow the strikers accomplishments.
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Good line-up, although there are a lot of iconic figures left out of this squad, Keown, Brady, Smith etc
I could imagine this being very hard to choose an all time best eleven. So many great players not mentioned like Keown, Bould, Dixon, Winterburn, Parlour, Wright, Overmarz and so forth. I personally would have changed Dixon for Lauren and possibly Keown for Campbell but this would be very closse.
Quality line up anyway.
Badly written and ill informed which just about sums up this pointless website. Had to close bout 4 pop ups before I got to the end of this drivel. Online “journalism” my arse!
Completely agree…
As a 69 year old Gunner( I saw my first game aged 7) I would like to inject a more considered, and long view of our best ever. It is so easy to pick only from the past 30 years but when you can go back 1949/50, you can be more acurate to the quest. After dragging through my memories my best eleven are as follows and below that are my second best !?
Goal = Jack Kelsey (without doubt) Finest comtroller of his area before Jennings.
RB = Eddie Happgood (never saw him but can only go by the awe expressed by supporters of Man U, Newcastle, Villa, Spurs etc who raved about him )
LB = Kenny Sansom…I have never seen better.
RCB = Steve Bould, He turned the talented Arsenal into the best unit ever seen.
LCB = Tony Adams, this was so hard as we have had people like Mercer, Simpson, McLintock etc to think of )
RMF = Alex James (no doubt)
CMF = Cesc Fabregas
LMF = Thiery Henry
Twin CF = Dennis BergKamp & Ted Drake.
This team would not need a DM Because with this back five. The miffield would be so dominant that it would be a miracle if the opposition would touch the ball. As for the front two…well I saw Ted Drake and he was the greatest Ive ever seen, and Dennis B, well just think of the play between the MF and the front two with him in charge?
So many players from the past to mention that nearly got in ie; Someone who is never mentioned John McLeod, Danny Clapton, Pete Simpson, Bob McNab, Eddie Kelly, Bob Wilson, Tommy Docherty, Joe baker, George Eastham, Cliff Bastin, The Comptons, Dave Bowen, Eric Tapscott, Ray Kennedy, Liam Brady, John Radford, Ian Wright.Dave Rocastle, Dave Seaman, .And I can go on for ever.
Finally, I would like to state right now that if those Englishmen above were available, they would walk into this present team and play for next to nothing too. Sadly most of them were overlooked in favour of Liverpool and Manchester players who the press screamed for.
Sorry missed our Dave Bowen from my MF. He would have ben captain and the general !
Ok, love these though its almost impossible to name “the best” ever 11 but here is my Fav 11
Goalkeeper:
Dave Seaman: probably the best all round keeper AFC have ever had though big Pat would push him hard.
Right Back:
Lee Dixon. A true defender, bled for the cause and every left sided opponenet knew he had been in a contest when coming off from 90 mins against Lee. He could take players on and linked well with the midfield.
Left Back:
Unfortunately I have to say Cashley Cole, quick, intellegent(apart from signing for Chelski) and good both defending and going forwards
Centre Back:
The Iconic Tony Adams who grew in stature through his careerand would die for the cause. A true DEFENDER and the Captain.
Centre Back:
Frank McLintock, another that would die for the cause and lead by example. His distribution was good and one of those that would have been able to transfer his talents from the 70’s to now.
Left Midfield:
“bob” Pires, techically fantastic, cut inside with deftness and skill and loved to bang one in against the yids. He was magnificant and had it all, pace, skill, intellegence and an eye for the goal.
Central Midfield:
Patrick Vieira, led by example pulling the team together and knitting defence to attack. His bursts from central midfield were almost unstoppable and he ran all 90 minutes. Skillful too and could pick a pass.
Central Midfield:
Paul Davis is overlooked in this position but his eye for a pass and his ability to close the opposition down was never fully realised and we did not properly replace him till Mr Vieira pulled on an Arsenal shirt. He was stylish but could put his foot in. A real general in the middle of the park.
Right Midfield:
The most talented and gifted man to have worn the number 7 David Rocastle. It was a huge tussle between him and Liam Brady but much as it pains me to leave the mercurial talent of Liam Brady out Rocky had it all, talent, skill, pace, an eye for goal and the ability to track back made him the best all round right sided midfielder to have ever worn an AFC shirt. Much loved and badly missed the right side must go to Rocky Rocastle.
Forward:
Dennis Bergkamp. The other position up front is up for grabs but dennis has to be there. His ability to thread a pass, turn a defence and score the unscorable means his place in AFC history is guaranteed. He tracked back, ran his heart out and which ever partner played alongside him knew he would be given the chance to score simply because he had Dennis alongside him. A master pure and simple. Number 10 belonged to this man.
Forward:
A real hard choice, Ian Wright was 5 years too late at AFC and had he got there earlier he would have got this slot. Ted Drake and John Radford were your traditional No 9’s and class but this slot has to go to Thierry Henry. His lightning pace was the final piece to Dennis’s armoury and he frightened the opposition and made them change their playing style…extrodinary to think he possessed that ability. His ability to score from anywhere at any time means he will live forever as a true hero to all that saw him and he breathes Arsenal Football Club.
Subs:
1) Pat Jennings: a great keeper, safe hands
2) Martin Keown: Able to fill in at right back or centre half. Another who bled for the club
3) Liam Brady: only missed out due to Rocky, a talent pure and simple
4) Marc Overmars: Pace, skill and goals galore
5) Ian Wright, quite simply the best penalty box striker I have ever seen.
manager: Arsene Wenger, he is quite simply the best manager AFC have ever had and we need to stay faithful to this intellegent insightful frenchman who has turned this club into a brand.