My Arsenal all-time XI

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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