Over the years, Arsenal have become one of the top teams in Europe and have come very close to touching the trophy. While they may have not won a trophy for eight years, the period previous to this barren run was the most fruitful in their history.They most certainly proved their critics that they were a force to be reckoned with. While their squad has been built upon English talent like Tony Adams in the past and French in the present, there were always Non-English who were the heart of the side.Lets take a look at the top 5 foreigners to have played for Arsenal in the Premier League era:
#5 Cesc Fabregas
Every single word in this note is justified. In 2003, when Arsenal prized away the 16-year-old from Camp Nou, Louis Van Gaal, the then Barcelona coach, left a note on the Catalan President’s desk,
‘You’ve just lost one of the most talented players Barca has ever produced.’
Such was the brilliance of Fabregas that he debuted in a league cup tie barely two months later becoming Arsenal’s youngest ever Professional footballer.
The sheer mention of Cesc Fabregas brings a smile to the lips of Arsenal fans. When Patrick Viera left for Juventus, this little kid from Catalonia stepped in to replace him. And he did a wonderful job. He was the architect of an Arsenal side whose trophy count was diminishing by the day.
At the age of 21, he captained Arsenal and was heading a side who averaged 23 years. He was a genius and there are not many in the Premier League who can match up to the charisma that he possessed.
He was Arsenal’s prodigal son. The man whom they will never forget. But, in 2011, he left the Emirates. He returned home. Barca, apparently had to pay 34mn for his services, a dent which is yet to be repaired at Arsenal. Though they have Ozil, he will never replace Cesc in the hearts of Gooners.
#4 Robert Pires
It has been eleven years since the “Invincibles” disintegrated with players following their own ambitions. And still, Arsene Wenger has not found a replacement for Robert Pires.
And it is unlikely that Wenger will in the near future. For he was such a great player. Part of the great French squad of 1998 who won the World Cup inspired by Zidane, Robert Pires was another one of Wenger’s handpicked French players and Wenger had to fight off Juventus and Real Madrid to sign Pires for 6mn.
The goal against Aston Villa epitomized everything that was brilliant about Pires. The technical supremacy in turning over the defender, the sheer audacity he had to chip a towering Peter Schmeichel and the greatest of them all, pulling off the perfect chip.
He possessed everything that made him one of the finest midfielders in the Premier League and was an irreplaceable part of the ‘Invincibles’ side.
A highly versatile player, he could play anywhere in the front three behind the striker and was equally impressive in every position. Without a doubt, he was the greatest winger that Arsenal possessed in the Premier League era.
Surely, his name is etched all over the legacy of Arsenal.
#3 Patrick Vieira
Arsene’s Wenger penchant for prizing French Talent was never in doubt and this man was a personification of that wonderful ability.
Bought from Milan for just 3.5mn, Patrick Vieira proved to be one of Arsene Wenger’s greatest ever signings and I doubt anyone would argue with that claim. Arsene Wenger’s early reign was marked by their rivalry with Manchester United and Vieira was at the heart of it. His feuds with Roy Keane are still remembered and they portrayed the fighting spirit and leadership qualities of Vieira.
In the invincible squad which had a set of technically gifted players, this man was the engine, he was the driving force. His positioning in midfield and ability to pick out a player was his special ability. But, his greatest gift was the way he transformed defense into attack. The transformations were exquisite and a sight to behold.
While, by most people Vieira is remembered as a pioneer of the “Makelele Role”, in reality he was much more than that. He was a gifted midfielder who possessed a great eye for tackling. But, tackling was only part of his game. It was the above-mentioned attacking qualities that made Vieira one of the greatest Arsenal players ever.
#2 Thierry Henry
The greatest striker ever to have played for Arsenal. This man showed the world everything that was good about football. He showed what it was to be a striker in the Premier League, how it is to be the top-scorer in a team that remained unbeaten for 49 games, how it is to be the best striker the Premier League ever witnessed. And that includes surpassing Alan Shearer too.
It was not only his goals, it was the passion, the technique, extraordinary skill on the ball, an inspirational ability to bring his teammates into play and above all exceptional pace. That is what characterized Thierry Henry, whose name is writ in gold in the hearts of every Gooner out there.
Thierry Henry was one of the few players who could produce magic at the blink of an eye. His incredible flick against Manchester United and the 100m run against Spurs symbolized the enigma that was Thierry Henry.
He would have been the greatest French Player of his generation, save it for a genius by the name of Zinedine Zidane. But then, he hardly ever thought about it. All throughout his time at the Highbury, every thought in his mind was one thing – win. He was the archetype of the modern striker and is an immovable figure in the history of Arsenal and their highest ever scorer.
#1 Dennis Bergkamp
.jpg)
It is no surprise that Dennis Bergkamp was the greatest ever player to play for Arsenal in the Premier League era.
For every football fan, there will one special player who will always remain in their heart. And for most Gooners and Dutchmen, it was undoubtedly this maestro. Until Bergkamp arrived, Arsenal constituted what was criticized as a boring side. With his arrival, he incepted new energy into the team and Arsenal has never been the same ever since.
His extraordinary style of play and supreme skills were second to none and admired by every single Arsenal fan and every other team despised for not having a player of Bergkamp’s quality.
Having been schooled in Total Football, Bergkamp was the true pioneer of the modern attacking midfielder. Playing as a second striker, he rekindled the Arsenal team and took them to a whole new level.
One of the most gifted players, he had everything you could ask for in a footballer – pace, vision, accuracy, a sublime touch, an effective dribble and an amazing shot. Without a shadow of doubt, he was the heart of the ‘Invincibles’ and was the exact interpretation of a magical player.
The brilliant goal against Newcastle would suffice to prove the skills that he possessed. His legacy at Arsenal is such that he has been immortalized with a statue in front of the Emirates.
