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Arsene Wenger’s approach to the transfer market has been unique during his tenure at Arsenal. The Frenchman would prefer to hand pick and nuture a promising talent rather than pay over the odds for an established star. He’s an XI we’ve made to show off just how affordable some of these buys were
Goalkeeper: Jens Lehmann – Free
The German goalkeeper arrived on a Bosman free transfer from Bundesliga outfit Borussia Dortmund in 2003 to face the huge task of replacing David Seaman. However, the slightly odd shot stopper excelled and played in every league game of Arsenal’s Invincibles side. Although his stay in north London included several bizarre moments, poor pieces of play acting and sloppy mistakes he was a solid keeper for five years and an outstanding piece of business.
Right-Back: Bacary Sagna – £6 million
The 31-year-old full-back is the sole survivor of this XI to still be part of the club and also the most expensive following his £6 million move from Auxerre in 2007. The Frenchman is a senior member of Wenger’s current squad but could leave the Gunners in the summer as he has failed to agree a contract extension. However, even if his spell in north London is set to end, a final piece of silverware would be a fitting end to his career as he been a faithful servant and reliable defender despite two leg breaks.
Centre-Back: Kolo Toure – £150,000
Ivory Coast defender Toure arrived from a little known club in his homeland, ASEC Mimosas, for a paltry fee that is now more likely to be a player’s weekly wage than transfer fee. He had to wait until August 2002 to make his debut and was initially regarded as a utility player before he cemented a place in the side at centre-back. Part of the formidable Invincibles back four he undoubtedly enjoyed the best years of his career at Arsenal and was amongst the best defenders in the division for a number of years. Although he is no longer a force, he is still a respectable squad player at Premier League rivals Liverpool.
Centre-Back: Sol Campbell – Free
Far from anybody’s favourite man at the moment due to his comments regarding the England captaincy, it should not be forgotten what an excellent defender he was during his career. The centre-back is the only player to cross the north London divide during Wenger’s time at the helm of Arsenal and it will never be forgotten by Spurs, particularly as their hero departed on a free transfer. However, the move was amongst the best that Wenger has ever managed to pull of as Campbell became a key figure in his defence and formed a formidable partnership with Toure, which provided a strong core that allowed the Invincbles’ attackers to flourish.
Left Back: Gael Clichy – Free
Clichy arrived on a free transfer from Cannes in 2003 as Wenger once again delved into the talent of his homeland to unearth a young talent. Initially back-up to Ashley Cole, Clichy became a virtual ever present in the side after the Englishman joined fierce rivals Chelsea in 2006. Blessed with plenty of pace but also solid defensively Clichy was the ideal left-back for Wenger’s expansive and neat passing style. The Frenchman decided to join Manchester City, along with several other Arsenal favourites, in 2011 but Wenger negotiated a £7 million fee for the player, all of which was profit.
Holding Midfield: Emmanuel Petit (£2.5m)
The ponytailed French midfielder became something of a cult hero at Arsenal in his three years at the club, being a major part in two title successes at Highbury.
The midfield enforcer provided the backbone to the side along with Patrick Vieira that you feel they have missed since he left, with his steely, no-nonsense style of play combined with a dashing French flair crucial to Arsenal’s silverware haul.
Holding Midfield: Patrick Vieira (£3.5m)
Another player that was greeted with a bemused shrug when he came over from AC Milan as Wenger implemented his foreign revolution, but has since gone on to become a player of legendary proportions in the Premier League era.
Tall and elegant, Vieira was the driving force of all that was good about Arsenal for nine years in which he chalked up 279 appearances with his effortless box-to-box style.
He won three titles while an Arsenal player before opting to test his hand somewhere new, but will always be remembered as a true hero to Arsenal fans, especially since he scored the goal that eventually sealed Arsenal’s title victory at White Hart Lane.
Central Midfield: Cesc Fabregas (£2.25m)
Fabregas was just a kid when he arrived at Arsenal, but has emerged to become one of the finest midfielders in world football since undergoing the tutelage of Wenger.
Signed for a relatively pricey £2.25m from Barcelona’s academy in a controversial move, he soon established himself as a key member of the Arsenal side from the age of 17 before eventually being lured back to Catalan country for a cool £35m.
The Spaniard now has Primera Liga, European Championships and a World Cup winners’ medal to his name after failing to win a trophy at the Gunners, but he will always be remembered fondly for the way he often carried Arsenal at times, despite his young years of age.
Fabregas is currently leading the assist chart in any of Europe’s top five leagues this season, having created 12 goals for Barcelona.
Right Wing: Freddie Ljungberg (£3m)
Ljungberg arrived at Arsenal completely unheralded in England when he arrived from Halmstads in Sweden, but became a cult hero for Gunners’ fans after a glittering career in which he won all domestic trophies on offer.
The Swede made 328 league appearances for the Gunners in a career that spanned nine years in North London and is Arsenal’s fifth highest goalscorer under Wenger’s regime, having netted 72 goals as one of their key offensive midfielders.
Left Wing: Nicolas Anelka (£500k)
Despite all the recent controversies surrounding the Frenchman currently, Anelka proved to be one of Wenger’s most shrewd signings as he brought over the little-known striker from France in a time when signing young foreign players was not all the rage.
Anelka only spent two years at Highbury after joining from Paris St Germain, but won the league and cup double in his first season before leaving to join Real Madrid.
Anelka went to the Santiago Bernabeu for £21m to bring in a £20m profit in just two years and given the trajectory of his career since, it would appear that Arsenal got the best out of him and made as much as they could from his potential.
Striker: Robin Van Persie (£2.75m)
Robin Van Persie has been one of the finest strikers n the Premier League since joining Arsenal in 2004, with his lethal left foot being the source of constant amazement to many.
His eight years in North London saw him lift only the FA Cup and fitness issues perhaps meant that Arsenal were left wondering what could have been had he been able to stay fit and form a real partnership with Thierry Henry.
He may be a figure of hate now to some after defecting to Manchester United (again at a £20m profit), but hate is only born out love and that shows how much they cared for a man that was in a class of his own at times.
Van Persie was top goalscorer last season as he finally lifted the Premier League trophy with Manchester United and while his second season hasn’t gone so well, he has still claimed 11 goals in 18 games, converting 26.2%.
