Robert Pires (Left Midfield)
One of the most technically gifted left wingers in Arsenal’s history; Robert Pires made a huge impact on the Premier League and was arguably one of the best French players Wenger acquired to this day. Pires had superb dribbling skills, technique in abundance and was a wonderful player to watch evolve in the red and white of Arsenal. Wenger obtained the Frenchman’s services in 2000 and many fans and pundits alike thought that he would struggle to adapt to the English game…well you guys thought wrong. The former French international had 6 glorious years with the Gunners making a total of 283 appearances in all competitions and netting 84 goals along the way. The left winger was also apart of the invincible season and helped the club to 2 Premier League and 3 F.A. Cup triumphs. Robert ‘Bobby’ Pires was undoubtedly the best foreign winger Arsenal ever attained and proved this with dazzling displays and unthinkable goals…A true legend amongst the fans of the North London club.
Patrick Vieira (Centre Midfield)
If Patrick Vieira wasn’t featured in this team then what sort of Arsenal fan would I be? The 6’ 3’’ formidable midfielder was arguably one of the best overseas players to feature in the Premier League and an outstanding performer for the Gunners. The Frenchman became one of the greatest players for the club in just 9 years. From 1996 to 2005, Vieira was the main force in Arsenal’s midfield, who managed to pick up 2 domestic doubles in 1998 and 2002, as well as a further 2 F.A. Cups and 1 more Premier League title (4 of these trophies were attained whilst the midfielder was club captain). The French general was dominant, composed, and as well as being superb in his defensive duties, he was also made famous for his driving forward runs. His disciplinary record wasn’t good mind you, but fans loved to see Vieira get stuck in. His determination and desire had no boundaries. Patrick Vieira was truly a unique player for the North London club and is regarded by the Arsenal faithful as a legend…even though he plays for City.
Cesc Fabregas (Centre Midfield)
It was a tough decision between Cesc Fabregas or former Gunner Emmanuel Petit to line-up in the midfield with Vieira in this team, but after much delegation and thought, I had to go for the Spaniard over the Frenchman. Petit was a great servant to the club but was primarily a defensive midfielder along with Vieira, so to add more attacking drive, who better to put in than Cesc Fabregas. The Spanish international has superb vision, extraordinary passing ability and is an all round performer. The current club captain is only 23 years of age, yet the creative midfielder has already managed to make over 270 appearances, bag 52 goals and assist 89 times for the Gunners since joining the club at the age 16 in 2003. Fabregas’ honour role consists of only 1 F.A Cup, but has had a number of personal accolades over the years, most notably making the PFA Team of the Year in both the 2007/08 and 2009/10 season as well as being apart of the unbeaten Arsenal side in 2003/04. A very loyal and creative player for 7 years (who knows how long for) and definitely one of Wenger’s bargains since being Arsenal manager and one of the clubs best foreign players in a long time.
David Rocastle (Right Midfield)
Known to the Arsenal faithful and his team-mates as ‘Rocky’, David Rocastle was one of Arsenal’s finest and gifted players in his time. The right-sided midfielder possessed great pace, dazzling skill, attacking prowess as well as a fine touch and control of the ball, basically an all-round performer. From 1984 to 1992, the Englishman made 277 appearances in all competitions for the club, as well as bagging 34 goals for Arsenal football club. Rocky was an inspirational and key player for the North London club who helped the Gunners to 2 League Championships in 1989 and 1991 as well as a League Cup triumph in 1987. Rocastle was undoubtedly a fan favourite and was truly an exceptional and influential footballer in his time, and one who is regarded by many Arsenal fans and ex-team-mates as an Arsenal legend.
Continue to page 3 to see the front line
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.