Arsene Wenger’s best Arsenal signings
Top-10 Arsenal signings under Arsene Wenger
Arsenal have been managed by Arsenal Wenger since 1996 and after nearly 20-years at the club, the Frenchman has made some stunning signings, with the majority of them leading the club to making some massive profit as well.
Under Wenger, Arsenal have won nearly everything possible in the game and his knowledge in the transfer window has been crucial during his tenure.
Arsene Wenger’s top signings list
From hidden gems, to developing young starlets, Wenger and his team have provided the Premier League with some of the best players in it’s history. But who would make Wenger’s top-10 list? Here are our suggestions.
10. Robin Van Persie
Starting the list is ‘The Flying Dutchman’ Robin Van persie.
The striker joined Arsenal for £2.75 million from Dutch side Feyenoord back in 2004 and despite several injury scares throughout his North London career, RVP was one of the top talents in England. In 194 league appearances for the club, the 31-year-old netted 96 goals.
Sadly for Arsenal, in 2012 Van Persie submitted a transfer request and joined fierce-rivals Manchester United for £24 million and helped The Red Devils win the Premier League in his first season.
9. Nicolas Anelka
Nicolas Anelka comes it at number 9 for Arsene Wenger’s top signings list.
Anelka was bought from French side Paris Saint Germain in 1997 and contributed a lot to Arsene Wenger‘s early success at the club. During his two year stay at Highbury, Anelka made 65 appearances for The Gunners, and scored 23 goals. He also helped Arsenal to a Premier League title, an FA Cup trophy and a Community Shield.
In the summer of 1999 he joined Real Madrid for £22 million.
8. Emmanuel Petit
Emmnuel Petit is a midfielder who played for Monaco, Arsenal, FC Barcelona & Chelsea.
He is well regarded as one of Arsene Wenger’s Best Arsenal Signings following his £2.5 million move from AS Monaco. However, the midfielder only spent three years at the club, but had the same success in Anelka as he helped the club win three trophies during his stay.
Petit eventually moved on to FC Barcelona, but he failed to make an impact in Spain before he returned to England with Chelsea.
7. Cesc Fabregas
Another player that made the Arsenal to Barcelona to Chelsea move comes in at number seven and it’s Cesc Fabregas.
Fabregas was signed from FC Barcelona in 2003 for free after leaving their youth set-up and the play-maker then spent nine years at Arsenal before finally re-joining his boyhood club.
In 2011 he completed the move back to Spain in a deal worth £29 million. However, after failing to make the desired impact at the Nou Camp, he was then put up for sale and after Arsenal turned down the chance to re-sign him, he moved to local-rivals Chelsea.
Fabregas has recently won his first ever Premier League title with Jose Mourinho, but he will still be considered as one of Wenger’s best ever signings.
6. Fredrik Ljunberg
Ljungberg signed for Arsenal in 1998 for just £3million.
The Swedish player spent nine years at the club, helping them win two Premier League titles and two FA Cups before eventually leaving the club in 2007.
His attacking play and his threat in front of goal made him a crucial part of Wenger’s team during the invincibles era.
5. Marc Overmars
Marc Overmars was well known for his amazing speed on the pitch and his ability to score vital goals.
He joined Arsenal FC in 1997 from Ajax for £7m and went on to make 100 domestic league appearances for The Gunners, scoring 25 times. During his stay in North London, he helped the club to three trophies.
The Dutchman is currently the Director of Football at Ajax.
4. Robert Pires
The French International is currently playing for FC Goa in the Indian Premier League after coming out of retirement to promote the new Indain League.
Pires signed for Arsenal in 2000 for £6million and was included in the PFA Team of The Year for three consecutive seasons from 2001-2004.
The winger was at the club during it’s most successful period as he helped the club win seven trophies.
Undoubtedly an Arsenal legend, Pires still returns to the club to train and watch their matches.
3. Sol Campbell
Nothing like signing your rivals best player.
Sol Campbell signed for Arsenal from North London rivals Tottenham Hotspur in 2001 and went on to make 135 Premier League appearances for The Gunners.
The centre-back eventually left Wenger’s team in 2006 to join Portsmouth, but he will always be remembered for helping the club win six trophies and completing the shock move from White Hart Lane to Highbury.
2. Patrick Vieira
Patrick Vieira is currently the manager of the reserves team at Manchester City.
Vieira was signed by Wenger in 1996 from AC Milan for £3.5 million.
He played for Arsenal from 1996-2005 winning a number of trophies and is considered as one of Arsene Wenger’s Top 10 Arsenal Signings.
1. Thiery Henry
Easiest decision in the list. Thierry Henry.
Henry was signed from Juventus in 1999 for £11 million, which now can be classed as a massive bargain deal. The Frenchman is the club’s highest goalscorer after he overtook Ian Wright and he now has a statue outside of the Emirates Stadium.
His career at Arsenal will always be remembered for his lighting pace, his goalscoring ability and his overall contribution to the team.
After winning seven trophies at Arsenal, he added further honours to his name after joining FC Barcelona in Spain and also has a World Cup Winners Medal with France.
Henry also won four golden boot awards during his Premier League career and made the PFA Team of the Year an incredible six times.