Arsenal’s Greatest XI of All Time

Selecting an Arsenal all-time XI throws up a multitude of possibilities. Everyone has their own opinion. Everyone has grown up in different eras, with different styles of play and with their own favourite players. So I figured I’d give my two cents worth and come up with my own side.

Goalkeeper: David Seaman

Between the sticks in my side is David Seaman. For me, this one was a no brainer. Seaman is synonymous with the famed George Graham side, dubbed ‘Boring Boring Arsenal.’ In his debut season of 1990-91 Seaman conceded a mere 18 goals en route to a league triumph. Seaman enjoyed an esteemed 13-year spell at Highbury, winning 3 league titles, 4 FA Cups and the European Cup Winner’s Cup. On an individual basis, he was just as successful. Seaman earned himself a spot in the initial Premier League Team of the Decade, keeping a league-high of 130 clean sheets in the process.

Fullbacks: Lee Dixon and Nigel Winterburn

On either side of George Graham’s impenetrable backline sat Lee Dixon and Nigel Winterburn. As the defensive record of the side in the late 80s and early 90s would suggest, Dixon and Winterburn were both very defensively astute. Dixon was never one to shy away from getting stuck in. He possessed a strong combination of positional awareness and aggression.

Winterburn too, was about as tenacious as they come. Another weapon in his arsenal was his knack of scoring. A trait that is not commonly associated with a fullback. Amid his haul of goals were two thunderous strikes, against Chelsea and his former club Wimbledon.

Centre Backs: Tony Adams and Sol Campbell

Tony Adams and Sol Campbell are two of the most iconic figures in Arsenal’s history.

Adams was as loyal as they come. ‘Mr Arsenal’, as he is better known, progressed through the academy and became captain at the tender age of 21. Better yet, he is the only player to have captained a team to league titles across 3 decades. His haul consists of league title wins in 1988-89, 1990-91, 1997-98 and 2001-02, FA Cup wins in 1992–93, 1997–98 and 2001–02 and the European Cup Winner’s Cup in 1993-94. On an individual level, Adams stands out from the crowd as well. Out of players in the Premier League era with over 200 appearances, Adams has the best clean sheet record at a rate of 45.1%.

Sol Campbell is iconic for Arsenal fans for very different reasons. Whilst Adams was adored by Arsenal fans in large part due to his unwavering loyalty, Campbell was loved for much different reasons. Initially, his career was panning out similarly to that of Adams. Albeit for the other side in North London and with a few less trophies. Campbell debuted for Tottenham in 1992 and would go on to captain the side, until his infamous split with the club. His move across the North London divide was an absolute bombshell, as Tottenham had expected him to move abroad. In a glittering stint at Arsenal, Campbell was a key part of the ‘Invincibles’ side in 2003-04 and famously won the double in 2001-02. The latter is a feat which is still sung about to this day.

Central Midfielders: Patrick Vieira and Liam Brady

In the centre of the park, I’ve selected Patrick Vieira and Liam Brady. In many ways, these two would compliment each other very well. Vieira was very much the complete package. He simply had it all. Defensive nous, superb dribbling ability, leadership, athleticism and he chipped in with the odd goal. Vieira led the Arsenal to the 2003-04 Premier League title, going unbeaten in the process, as well as the 2004-05 FA Cup, in which he slotted the winning penalty in his final game for the club.

Brady on the other hand, was as silky as they come. The Irishman was ahead of his time. In an era in which grit and passion reigned supreme, he combined those qualities with superb technical ability. In the process, he was an integral figure in Arsenals 1979 FA Cup win, before departing for Juventus the following year. He could spray the ball across the park with ease and absolute precision. Brady would effortlessly glide past his opponents and was unfazed about giving the ball away. And well, he very rarely did.

Attacking Midfield: Dennis Bergkamp

There was simply no questioning this one. ‘The Flying Dutchman’ as he was ironically tagged, was as smooth as they come. Some of the goals he scored, the assists he provided are nigh on impossible to replicate. That goal against Newcastle in 2oo2 and his assist for Freddie Ljungberg against Juventus in 2001 spring to mind as plays that are impossible to recreate. Some of the goals and assists that I’ve excluded speaks volumes of the ability of Bergkamp. For any ordinary player, such goals would be the best of their career and seem unfathomable. But Dennis Bergkamp was no ordinary player.

Forwards: Robert Pires, Thierry Henry and Ian Wright

Well, it’s fair to say that this trio needs no introduction. The class of Robert Pires, the fox-in-the-box that is Ian Wright and well, the complete package possessed by Thierry Henry forms a formidable frontline.

Pires is very much an embodiment of what Wenger’s Arsenal were about. He was as classy, confident and technically gifted as they come. Pires served Arsenal nobly throughout his six-year stay, making 189 appearances and scoring 62 goals. Pires won two Premier Leagues and FA Cups, earning himself a spot in the PFA Team of the Year on 3 successive occasions. However, it was arguably 2001-02 that was Bobby’s finest season, earning himself Footballer of the Year by the Football Writer’s Association with the most assists in the Premier League campaign, with 15.

Ian Wright is undoubtedly one of the greatest feel-good stories in the history of Arsenal. He endured a very tumultuous start to his career. After unsuccessful trials at Brighton and Southend United, he was effectively relegated to non-league football at Greenwich Borough. However, it was there that Ian would kickstart his career. In 1985 he signed for Crystal Palace and after a prolific six-year stint with the Eagles, he made the move to North London. At Arsenal, Wright sustained his prolificacy, if anything he bettered his scoring rate. The Number 8 notched up a remarkable 128 goals in 221 games, making him the club’s top scorer at the time.

I think it’s fair to say that I’ve left the best until last. Thierry Henry was as good as they came. Henry signed from Juventus in 1999, having struggled to make the cut in Turin. Although, once he made the move to Arsenal, there was no looking back. He had every trick in the book. He could score, create and effortlessly glide past opponents. Henry won the Premier League in 2001-02 and 2003-04 and the FA Cup in 2001-02 and 2004-05. However, it is his individual accolades that are truly breathtaking. He is Arsenal’s all-time record goalscorer with 228 and the only player to score and assist 20 goals in a Premier League season. Henry also has the most Premier League Player of the Season awards (2), most Golden Boot wins (4) and the most consecutive 20+ goal seasons (5). Thierry Henry, truly the greatest.