Ranking the 5 best Arsenal players of the Arsene Wenger era

Arsene Wenger has managed some great players at Arsenal
Arsene Wenger has managed some great players at Arsenal

Arsene Wenger is by far and away the greatest manager Arsenal have ever had. The Frenchman took over the reins of the club in 1996, and went on to become one of the most successful Premier League managers of all time.

Arsene Wenger has also changed the way Arsenal and the Premier League approach the game in terms of player fitness and nutrition. The Frenchman was truly a pioneer, both on the pitch as a tactician and off it as a manager.

It comes as no surprise that he has managed some great players during his 22-year tenure at Arsenal. On that note, here's a look at the five best players Arsene Wenger managed at the club.:


#5 Tony Adams

Adams has been immortalised outside the Emirates Stadium
Adams has been immortalised outside the Emirates Stadium

There's a reason why Tony Adams is known as 'Mr. Arsenal' by people associated with the club. The defender spent his entire career in North London and became one of the best players to have ever played for the team.

Adams' leadership and no-nonsense style of play is what he is most remembered for. The Englishman also captained Arsenal to a league title in three different decades. The Englishman was strong in the tackle and great in the air. As he got older, Adams evolved his game to become a ball-playing centre-back under Arsene Wenger, which prolonged his career by a few years.

Adams was also one of Arsenal's most successful players, winning the league four times and the FA Cup thrice. He also captained Arsenal to the European Cup Winners' Cup in 1994. Individually, Adams was named in the PFA Team of the Century, and was inducted into the English Football Hall of Fame in 2004.

Adams will forever be regarded as one of, if not the, greatest defenders to have played for Arsenal.


#4 Robert Pires

Robert Pires was one of Arsene Wenger's greatest ever transfers.
Robert Pires was one of Arsene Wenger's greatest ever transfers.

Robert Pires came to Arsenal in 2000 to replace Barcelona-bound Marc Overmars. The Frenchman took time to adapt to the English game, but soon became one of the key players for Arsenal during the 2000s.

The Frenchman was silky on the ball, with his dribbling ability and flair being a sight to behold. Pires also had great vision and finishing ability, which made him one of the most deadly wingers cutting in off the left flank.

He was also an integral part of Arsenal's Invincibles team. Pires was Arsenal's second-highest scorer across all competitions, with 19 goals during that season.

Pires won two Premier League and two FA Cup titles during his Arsenal tenure. He was also awarded the FWA Footballer of the Year for the 2001-02 season, and was named in the PFA Team of the Year for three straight years.

What's even more incredible is that he did all that despite being at Arsenal for only six years, after which he left the club for Villarreal.

Also Check Out: Arsene Wenger Biography

#3 Patrick Vieira

Vieira in action for Arsenal
Vieira in action for Arsenal

Patrick Vieira joined Arsenal in 1996, and went on to become one of the club's best players of all time. The Frenchman captained the Invincibles, and was a stalwart in midfield for Arsene Wenger's side.

Vieira was known for his physical abilities as well as his tough-tackling style of play. An absolute monster in midfield, the Frenchman absolutely ran the show for Arsenal from the centre of the park with his all-action performances.

The midfielder won three Premier League titles and four FA Cups during his time at Arsenal. He was named in the Premier League Team of the Year six times, and was also the Premier League Player of the Season in the 2000-01 campaign.

Vieira brought steel to an Arsenal side that was built with finesse. The midfielder was truly one of a kind. There's a reason why the club have never really been able to replace the Frenchman since he left Arsenal in 2006.


#2 Dennis Bergkamp

Dennis Bergkamp was a joy to watch at Arsenal
Dennis Bergkamp was a joy to watch at Arsenal

The epitome of the word 'finesse', Dennis Bergkamp was absolutely magical at Arsenal. The Iceman, as he was known, was a joy to watch, and did unbelievable things on the pitch.

Bergkamp won the Premier League thrice and the FA Cup four times at Arsenal. He was also named the FWA Footballer of the Year for the 1997-98 season. The forward was truly one of the best players ever on the ball. His ball control, dribbling and passing abilities were second to none at the time.

The Dutchman produced some of the best goals of all time, and was an integral part of Arsene Wenger's side. He is regarded by many as Arsenal's best player of all time, based on his skill alone.


#1 Thierry Henry

Thierry Henry is Arsenal's greatest player of all time.
Thierry Henry is Arsenal's greatest player of all time.

Thierry Henry came to Arsenal as a talented young winger. and left the club as one of the greatest Premier League players of all time.

The Frenchman had it all - pace, power, finesse, flair, technique - and his finishing ability was second to none. Henry was the most feared striker in the Premier League during his time at Arsenal.

Henry won a slew of accolades at Arsenal, including the Premier League and FA Cup twice. Individually, the Frenchman was named the Premier League Player of the Season twice and the FWA Footballer of the Year three times. He also won the Golden Boot four times, and holds the record for most assists during a single campaign.

The Frenchman was truly a majestic player, and the greatest player to have ever played for Arsenal.

Quick Links

Edited by Bhargav
Sportskeeda logo
Close menu
WWE
WWE
NBA
NBA
NFL
NFL
MMA
MMA
Tennis
Tennis
NHL
NHL
Golf
Golf
MLB
MLB
Soccer
Soccer
F1
F1
WNBA
WNBA
More
More
bell-icon Manage notifications