However the season changed dramatically in March when the Player of the Year, Pires, was injured at Newcastle and was ruled out for the season. The fairly settled side had to adapt and it was Wiltord again who made this seamless for Wenger. Bergkamp finished the season strongly alongside Henry, Freddie Ljungberg moved to the left for Bobby Pires and our unsung hero moved to the right of midfield for the remaining two months. Wiltord showed a phenomenal work ethic on the right flank, working back to support Lauren, but still managed to create and score goals at the same time. None of course more important than the only goal against Manchester United on the 8th of May 2002, which clinched the league title with a game to spare at the home of our nearest rivals, Old Trafford. This goal will leave Sylvain Wiltord with a permanent place in Arsenal Folklore, along with Charlie George and Michael Thomas for glory goals. For those who have not seen it for a while please click HERE. Wiltord finished the season off with 17 goals in 54 appearances.
The following season saw Wiltord again selflessly interchange with Bergkamp, or being placed either side again, chipping in with 13 goals in a season that ended with him coming on in the second half of our FA Cup final win over Southampton. In the Invincibles season, despite not willing to accept a new shorter-term contract due to Wenger’s policy on players over 30, Wiltord began the season in the starting line up ahead of Bergkamp again, a fact probably lost to many looking back. Sylvain, however, got injured in the second month of our historic campaign and so it will always be the Bergkamp Henry partnership that most supporters recall, and rightly so in many respects. However, our fourth Musketeer did chip in with 3 Premier League goals in 12 appearances, before departing on a free transfer to Lyon.
Should we remember him as a great? In my opinion, yes. Did we make a mistake in not offering him the contract he wanted? In my opinion, yes.
In the three years after Wiltord left us, the Frenchman won 3 Ligue 1 titles with Lyon, scored over 30 goals and helped take Lyon to 3 Champions League quarter finals. He also won 27 of his 96 caps for Les Bleus after he left Highbury. In the same period we won the FA Cup in 2005, our last honour to date.
I will remember him fondly for his work ethic, his crucial goals and primarily for always playing the game the way Wenger wanted it played, with a smile constantly on his face. I will remember him as the ‘Fourth Musketeer’, being involved in so many exhilarating moves, rapid breaks from box to box and wonderful goals. Sadly, I will also remember that his career with us could have continued had he been willing to accept a shorter contract because his replacement Jose Antonio Reyes was not truly in Wiltord’s league.
For those of you younger readers perhaps wondering why if this guy was truly a legend, why he did not join his fellow greats on the pitch to share the 125th Anniversary celebrations? Well I will tell you why. It’s because after a year in retirement, Wiltord has answered the call of his local side Nantes this season and at 38 he has scored 4 goals in 14 appearances in the French second division.
Let’s face it if he were a left-back Wenger would be on the phone to him today!
Thanks for the memories Sylvain, thanks for 49 goals and so many assists for Henry, Pires and others. Thanks for giving us our Old Trafford song and thanks for being the unsung Fourth Musketeer.
Henrry, Pires, Vieira and Wiltord – All for one and one for all!
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