Top 5 French players who have played in the English Premier League

#3 Robert Pires (2000-2006, 2010-2011)

Robert Pires of Arsenal celebrates scoring a goal

If Robert Pires' influence on Arsene Wenger's powerful Arsenal side of the early 2000s does not earn him a place in this elite group of Frenchmen in the Premier League, perhaps his status as the club's sixth greatest player of all-time and his inclusion into the FIFA 100 by Brazilian icon Pele will help do the trick.

The Metz Academy graduate was brought to north London for a fee of £6 million in 2000 and faced varying degrees of criticism in the initial stages of his stint. However, it wasn't long before the 1998 World Cup winner rediscovered his form for the Gunners as he enjoyed immense goal-scoring success under Wenger's tutelage.

The Reims-born midfielder possessed rare quality, an explosive touch and was not half bad in front of goal as he registered 62 goals in 198 appearances for the club in the Premier League and helped them to two league titles and two FA Cups.

His efforts for Arsenal earned him a series of individual awards such as Player of the Tournament for the 2001 FIFA Confederations Cup and FWA Player of the Year for the 2001–02 season, during which he netted 19 goals in the English top-flight. He was also included in three PFA Teams of the Year, a testament to the impact he had in England.

Pires left the Gunners for Villarreal in 2006 but returned to the Premier League by signing a six-month contract with Aston Villa. He made nine appearances for the Villans in the 2010-11 season but secured no goals or trophies in that time.