Alexis Sanchez is definitely one of the latest players to be added to a long list of big signings by the Arsenal manager. The £35 million Chilean is one of the best players that Wenger has signed in his 19 year managerial career at the Gunners, but does he make his top 5 signings of all time?
Here we go-
5. Cesc Fabregas
After being bought for a mere £500,000 in 2003 at 16 years old, Arsene made a huge return on Cesc. He had him as captain and led the Arsenal ‘revolution’ of life after The Invincibles. During his 8-year spell in North London, he turned from an exciting prospect to one of the best midfielders in the world, bringing a thinking to Arsenal football with a one and two two-touch style of play. He sealed himself a move to Barcelona, his home town in 2011 for £35 million. Plenty of profit.
4. Robert Pires
With a very questionable first season in the colours of Arsenal, he proved critics wrong and gradually grew in the hearts of the Arsenal faithful. He won the Football Writers’ Association Footballer of the Year award in 2002 and finally adapted to English football. He was a crucial part of the 2003/04 unbeaten season triumph and became a fan favourite indefinitely. Although financially he didn’t benefit Arsenal greatly after leaving on a free transfer, he as a player brought grace to the Arsenal pitch and became a legend in the club’s history.
3. Sol Campbell
One of the most controversial moments in Premier League transfer history was Sol Campbell’s move from the white side of North London to the red. Unannounced until Arsene Wenger called for a surprise press conference, no one anticipated Campbell to be unveiled. Not only did he bring great pleasure to Arsenal fans because he ‘bertrayed’ the Gunners’ bitter rivals, but he was a brilliant character and a great leader. What topped it all off was the 2003/04 celebration at White Hart Lane, where Arsenal had won the league and the unforgettable quote: “I always dreamed of winning the league at White Hart Lane. So I left and joined Arsenal.”
2. Patrick Vieira
During Vieira’s time, Wenger knew that Arsenal needed to break Manchester United’s domination of the Premier League and more importantly someone to answer to Roy Keane, and Vieira was that guy. Vieira came prepared for the rough play which England’s top flight brought and showed a very natural way of playing football in the centre of midfield, providing style and grace on and off the ball while remaining hard in the tackle. Wenger pushed for Arsenal to secure the Frenchman from AC Milan even before he arrived at Highbury and it thoroughly paid off.
1. Thierry Henry
After arriving from Juventus in the summer of 1999 for £10 million, the price tag was somewhat blinked at in horror. Brought in to replace Nicolas Anelka, he had to be a huge prospect and yet there were doubts. Wenger managed to transform Thierry from a winger into one of the League’s most feared weapons and arguably the best striker to ever grace a football pitch. Not only will he go down as top scorer and an Arsenal great, he will go down as one of the greats for clubs he joined after Arsenal like Barcelona and New York Red Bulls.
The best bit of business Wenger has ever done in my eyes, only a genius could have pulled this off.
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