Top Ten Arsenal Transfers – When Wenger got it right

Arsene Wenger has been manager of Arsenal since 1996, and in those 13 years he has gone on to become one of the greatest managers in the history of the Premier League. During that time he was won 3 FA Premier League trophies, 4 FA Cups and has been a Champions League runner up. The Frenchman has a knack for bringing in unknown young players from abroad, especially France, and making them into Premiership legends. The list of Wenger’s best purchases during his time at Arsenal is almost endless, but I have undertaken the difficult task of picking out the ten best Wenger buys. There are some amazing bargains and great players in the following list:

10: Marc Overmars – The Flying Dutchman was brought to Arsenal in 1997 and his blistering pace tore Premier League defences to pieces. ‘The Roadrunner’ made the left wing position his own, and by being comfortable with both feet and able to change direction in an instant, he could go past full-backs with ease. Signed from Ajax for £5.5 million, Overmars spent 3 seasons at Arsenal before moving on to Barcelona in 2000 for £25 million, making him the most expensive Dutch footballer. Before he left, he helped the Gunners win the double in 1998 and scored vital goals against Manchester United in the Premiership and Newcastle in the FA Cup final.

9: Nicolas Anelka – Although Anelka only spent 2 full seasons at Arsenal, he left the club after winning the Double in his first season and left Arsenal financially much better off. There may be some bitterness from some fans towards the French striker, but before he was given the nickname ‘Le Sulk’ for wanting to leave, he did provide Arsenal with a goal threat and blistering pace up front. He scored the 2nd goal in Arsenal’s FA Cup final victory at Wembley and is a prime example of how Wenger was able to buy top quality players for small fees. Signed for just £500,000 from PSG in 1997, he was sold to Real Madrid in 1999 for a £22.3 million and a big profit.

8: Andrey Arshavin – After a long transfer saga, the Russian eventually signed for Arsenal earlier this year after a £15 million fee was agreed with Zenit St Petersburg. Despite playing at the Emirates for less than a year, Arshavin has already shown Arsenal fans why Wenger didn’t give up his pursuit of the diminutive Russian. Featuring for Arsenal in an advanced position as one of the three forwards, Arshavin has made an immediate impact in the Premiership and scored an amazing 4 goals against Liverpool at Anfield last season. The creative magician has every chance of going on to become an Arsenal legend, and his style of football is a joy to watch.

7: Sol Campbell – The England defender crossed the divide in North London, by signing on a free transfer for the Gunners from arch-rivals Tottenham back in 2001. If Arsenal fans didn’t love him enough for that one simple act, he went on to strengthen Wenger’s defence and became a rock at the back. Having the unenviable task of taking over from Arsenal legend Tony Adams, Campbell helped Arsenal to their most successful period in recent years and the defender picked up two Premier League winners’ medals as well as three FA Cups. He spent 5 seasons at Highbury, making almost 200 appearances and forming a key part of the unbeaten Invincibles team in 2004.

6: Emmanuel Petit – Wenger was a big fan of the French midfielder, as after managing Petit at Monaco he linked up with him again at Arsenal when he signed in 1997 for £2.5 million. He groomed the Frenchman from a centre back to a defensive midfielder, where he formed a formidable partnership with fellow French international Vieira. He brought instant success to Arsenal, winning the Double in his first season at Highbury, and in total played over 100 games for the Gunners in his 3 years at the club. Like Anelka before him, Petit expressed that he wanted to leave Arsenal and was sold to Barcelona in 2000 for £7 million.

5: Freddie Ljungberg – The Swedish midfielder signed for Arsenal in 1997 from Halmstad as an unknown entity and left 9 years later as a legend. Costing the club just £3 million, Ljungberg was extensively scouted and was signed despite Wenger never seeing him play live. It turned out to be a great decision, as Freddie went on to make over 200 Premiership appearances for Arsenal, scoring almost 50 goals and becoming a vital part of a fearsome midfield. Ljungberg received much adoration from the fans, with his haircuts in particular the theme of many a Gunners’ song and the model professional will be remembered for his stunning FA Cup final strike against Chelsea.

4: Robert Pires – Arsenal faced much competition to sign the French winger, but Wenger got his man after he signed from Marseilles in 2000 for £6 million. After an indifferent start to life in England and the Premiership, he slowly won over the fans and the media after eventually settling in North London. Pires finally found form for Arsenal in his second season and won the Football Writers’ Footballer of the Year award in 2002. Renowned for his dribbling ability alongside his instinctive and spectacular goals, Pires won 2 Premiership titles and scored 62 goals in nearly 200 league apperances. Arsenal fans were saddened when he left for Villareal in 2006.

3: Cesc Fabregas – The Spanish midfielder is currently enjoying his best season at Arsenal and has been in devastating form for the Gunners in this Premier League campaign so far. Signed by Wenger after spending his youth career at Barcelona, Fabregas has become an outstanding player around which the Arsenal team is now built. The young midfielder is still only 22, but has much top-flight experience and is now the club captain. His playmaking abilities are second to none and Fabregas has the potential to become one of the best players of his generation and Wenger’s most successful signing, and Arsenal fans will hope he can win a Premiership title as well.

2: Patrick Vieira – One of the best defensive midfielders to ever play in the Premier League, the Frenchman brought steel to Arsenal’s skilful team around the turn of the century. Signed from AC Milan in 1996 for a bargain £3.5 million, Vieira quickly became an integral part of Wenger’s side. During his 9 seasons with the Gunners, Vieira won 3 Premiership crowns as well as 4 FA Cups and was central to Arsenal’s success before moving to Juventus for £18 million in 2005. Arsenal’s answer to Roy Keane and every bit as good as the Irishman, the formidable central midfielder is now the player to which all Premier League defensive midfielders are unfairly compared.

1: Thierry Henry – A £10 million price tag looked steep for the French striker when he signed for Arsenal from Juventus in 1999 and struggled to settle in the Premiership. But that was soon forgotten as the replacement for Nicolas Anelka was transformed from a winger into a striker and there was no looking back as he started netting goals for fun. Henry had pace to burn and was composed in front of goal, two attributes that have helped him to 2nd place in the all-time Premier League top goal scorers list. He scored 174 Premiership goals in 8 seasons, finishing as the league’s top scorer in 5 of those, and moved to Barcelona in 2006 for £16 million after picking up a string of awards.

Unsurprisingly a French footballer has topped the list of Wenger’s best buys at Arsenal, but it is hard to argue with Henry’s contribution to the club. A mention also has to go to Thomas Vermaelen, as the Belgian defender has shown all the signs that he will be a great purchase for Arsenal, but less than half a season is not long enough to judge him. But will he make it onto the list in the future and do any other of Wenger’s signings deserve to make the Frenchman’s top ten purchases for the Gunners?