By Andy Strouthous
November 27 2004

Is this Wenger’s Best Eleven? Picking the best eleven players under Wenger is always going to be difficult. It is not just a matter of picking the best individual eleven, but how will they fit in with each other, and the overall team.

Wenger has stuck with 4-4-2 or possibly 4-4-1-1 at times, and therefore the format is based on 4-4-2. Also which season do you remember players for? Ian Wright was ending his career at the time Wenger arrived, although that was only obvious with hindsight. Obviously they have to be remembered at their best, patches of poor form, within reason, should not undermine selection.

Left and Right Midfield

The biggest controversy was who was better Overmars or Pires, Overmars had killer pace but Bobby has a more rounded game. Pires was footballer of the year, and if we think back to that season he was incredible, so incredible that the whole Arsenal team genuflected to him at the end of the season. Was it just a matter of individual skill? I think not, he is a team player, true he might not be at top form at the moment, but each player should be judged at the their height of prowess.

I must admit I chickened out on this decision and put it to the popularity test. It was close 55% of you voted for Pires and 45% for Overmars so Pires gets it. Some suggested Pires on the right side of midfield, but it hasn’t worked with France or Arsenal. So Pires should be on the left and a player underestimated by most Ljunberg belongs on the right side. Ljunberg is a hassler, and chaser back, and is the fox in the box. We can’t afford to have two outside midfielders who are not aggressive. Ljunberg’s game at the Lane was vintage, and he always scores in big games. Merson was nominated, as was Brady, and Rocastle, and of course the latter two already belong in the all time Dream Team, but this is Wenger’s Eleven. Some entries nominated Ljunberg, Pires and Overmars in the same team, I must say I had difficulty with that idea, and it seems rather lightweight for ball winning.

 

Centre Forward Pairing

Of course no one will dispute Henry, pace, skill, technique what hasn’t he got? But who should partner him? Strikers are about pairs, they hunt in packs. So is it Wright or Bergkamp. Wright was a great natural scorer, but his partners never lasted, I am not blaming Wright for that, it’s a fact. Also teams with Wright in became dependant on him, play wasn’t shared around.

Bergkamp is not as prolific but his goals are sublime, and his lack of selfishness makes him a great team player. Even as his shooting boots fade he still makes a substantial contribution. Who can forget that goal against Newcastle?

Centre Midfield

Centre midfield was hardly a problem, I agree with the majority selection, once again it’s about pairs, nobody can challenge Vieira’s supremacy, but several partners were suggested including Fabregas. But Fabregas is one for the future, the most effective partner was Petit. Good in the air, powerful in the tackle, could cover the defence and the whole field. I don’t think Wenger was wrong to let him go, but he has never been completely replaced, the jury is still out on Gilberto and Edu. Maybe if Gilberto was not injured he could prove his case, but we will have to wait.

 

The Back Five

Defence was not that difficult and the least controversial, Seaman was undisputed, and almost every one voted Dixon, Adams, Campbell and Cole. A tiny minority dissented with Bould, Keown, Toure, Lauren, and Winterburn picking up a vote each.

So this is the Arsenal Time’s Wenger’s best eleven. Of course it’s not over yet, and every year will see it change.

So to recap it is:

Seaman

Dixon

Adams

Campbell

Cole

Ljunberg

Vieira

Petit

Pires

Henry

Bergkamp

Amazingly only two entries agreed with the Arsenal Times choice, although many were very close to it. Therefore the first entry that arrived and agrees with Arsenal Times is the winner.

So Alex Humphries good job you didn’t try and fit Wright, Winterburn and Overmars in.

No doubt the debate will go on. Why not continue it on message board below this?