Wenger top 5 signings

Dear Friends,

I have read some very good articles recently on the top signings of Arsene Wenger ever since his arrival at Arsenal. There have been claustrophic, ordinary, good and exceptional signings since he first step in more than 10 years ago. Who do you think is his best signing till date? I am not sure, but these are my top 5.

No 5: Kolo Toure (2002- )

Kolo was signed from Ivory Coast club ASEC Mimosas for ONLY £150, 000 in February 2002. He was a total unknown to all Arsenal fans but his boundless energy introduced himself to the masses in a very fast way. At first view of him, I was wondering if he was one big mistake of Wenger's. In my mind, I quickly christianed Toure as 'The Clown'.

For a while, 'The Clown' lived up to his name. Listed as a utility man, his versatility prevented him from holding down a regular first-team spot. Most of the time, he would be running around the field like a headless chicken. Energy? Yes. Directions. No.

Fortunately for the Ivorian, fate intervened and injuries to Sol Campbell and the ageing Martin Keown made him an automatic choice at center back. Although forced into the postion, it proved once again of Wenger's masterstroke. Toure’s contribution in Arsenal’s unbeaten season was immense; he missed only one league game. Slowly, 'The Clown' was turning into 'The Captain' in my brain.

His first European goal - the last ever at Highbury - proved to be crucial, taking the club to its first European Cup final. The opportunity to improve his skills at the World Cup in Germany increased his standing. He is now considered to be one of Europe’s best central defenders.

No 4: Marc Overmars (1997-2000)

Marc is short at only a mere five foot eight inches tall but for what he lacked in height, he made up with his ferocious pace. Marc was like speedy Gonzales, his legs moving so quickly until they looked like a blur in the eye. He could be ruthlessly direct on the counterattack - collecting the ball in space and charging at the heart of the opposition defence.

Marc demostrated his talent by scoring the pivotal goal in Arsenal’s double winning season in 1997/98 against Manchester United at Old Trafford. Running onto an Anelka flick-on, he nodded the ball past his marker before finishing through the legs of the onrushing Peter Schmeichel. It was the only goal of the encounter and along with the opening goal of that year’s FA cup final, he scored 34 times for Arsenal. A phenomenon return for a winger!

After two years at Highbury, he was sold to Barcelona for £25m in the summer of 2000, to this day a record transfer fee for a Dutch footballer. Overmars won 86 caps for Holland in total and was bought at a modest price of £7m from Ajax in June 1997He retired after Euro 2004 when Holland did not win the tournament.

No 3: Cesc Fabregas (2003- )

The skillful Spaniard has been a revelation for Arsenal since Wenger plucked him from Barcelona on a free transfer. He was the designated replacement for Vieira after the former Captain left. It would have been a formidable task for anyone but Cesc made it look easy.

When the two came face-to-face in the Champions League quarterfinal in March 2006, the Catalan left his former midfield partner shell-shocked with a dominant performance. If Vieira was surprised by Cesc’s maturity, Arsene Wenger was not. He had already tipped the youngster to be the best in his position by the age of 20, and in truth, Fabregas began breaking records the moment he walked through the marbled halls of Highbury. In addition, a first cap for Spain in the same year of 2006 made him the youngest Spain national player in eighty years.

This season (06/07), Cesc single-handedly filled the lost of Henry with dominant displays in the middle of the park. While spraying crosses all over the field, he has also contributed 11 goals in all competitions. With him bringing the swagger back into the team, Arsenal are sitting comfortably at the top of the table. The only reason Cesc is not number 1 on this list is just because he still has to win the titles and cups to prove his capabilities.


No 2: Patrick Viera (1996-2005)

Born a Senegal but played as a Frenchman, Vieira was bought by Wenger from AC Milan for only £3.5m in August 1996. Milan’s loss was Arsenal’s huge gain and officials from the Italian club later stated that letting the midfielder go was the biggest mistake of the club.

Patrick was Wenger’s first signing at the club and there were a few raised eyebrows on his arrival. Fans need not have worried though. Vieira quickly established himself and for nine long years he was the heartbeat of Wenger’s Arsenal team. Eventually, he would even captained the side for a historical unbeaten run in a season; winning the double along the way.

As a centre-midfielder he had it all. He was strong and lightning quick for a big man. Many of Arsenal’s famed counter-attacks went through him, his ability to win possession and quickly release another player was critical to the flow of the Gunner's game. Above all, he was Arsenal’s captain and a great leader. Sadly, Vieira joined Juventus last year for £13.7m and it was with a heavy heart that Arsenal fans let him go.


No 1: Thierry Henry (1999 - 2006)

Who else but the King? Three times Football Writer’s Association Footballer of the Year, twice PFA Player’s Player of the Year, twice runner-up in FIFA’s World Player of the Year award and Arsenal’s top goal scorer for every one of the seven seasons he has been at the club.

Henry presence in the team lifted his team mates' spirt whenever the chips are down and frightened the opposition defenders. A striker that score goals for fun and has since become our club's record goal scorers.

He was bought with merely £10.5m from Juventus and was the fulcrum of the team that Wenger built a side worthy of challenging for any honour. Need I add more?

From however you looked at it, The Professor really has a keen eye for great players!