Ah well, we are trying to get the site rolling again in spite of the lack of football, so let’s go with the old best compiled line-up chestnut. So who have I selected for the Gunners’ Greatest Starting XI from the players that have represented the club for the last 28 years?

First up, the criteria – this is an assessment of the performances in the Premier League era, so nothing before August 1992 counts. Aside from that, it’s simply who I think would be best in the position, with my chosen formation being a 4-4-2. So here goes…

Goalkeeper – David Seaman
There’s an argument for Jens Lehmann, who pulled off some fantastic saves and was obviously between the sticks for the Invincibles, but Seaman’s consistency over the long-term gets him the vote. In the period we are talking he won two league titles, four FA Cups (his final one being the 2003 victory when he captained Arsenal in his last ever match for the club), a Cup Winners Cup and a League Cup.

Right Back – Lauren
Ok, ok, where’s Lee Dixon? It should be remembered that, although Dixon won a Premier League medal in 2002, he only made 3 starts in the 38 matches. If Lauren was unfit, generally Oleg Luzhny got the nod ahead of Dixon. If the 1989 and 1991 seasons were included, Dixon would get in the team. However, Lauren won two league titles, was a key components in the Invincibles team, and also delivered three FA Cups. Scored a few significant penalties and was a no-nonsense defender. We could have done with that kind of spirit in recent times.

Left Back – Ashley Cole
What??? How can you put that **** in? For this simple reason – some of Nigel Winterburn’s best years for the Gunners were before 1992, although he certainly served with distinction, winning five trophies in the Premier League era. Yet, Cole not only won four trophies in his six years in the first team, he was regarded as the best in his position in world football for two or three seasons during his time at Highbury. Granted, he wasn’t the brightest button in the box when he wasn’t on the football field, but his abilities can’t be argued with. And one thing I came to terms with a long time ago. Football players are mercenaries. Which is fair enough – it’s a job to them. Charlie George very nearly joined Spurs you know.

Centre Back – Tony Adams
For his abilities as both a defender and a leader. Rejuvenated as he renounced alcohol just as Arsene Wenger arrived, he went on to serve for a further five seasons in which he oversaw two league and cup doubles, in spite of needing to manage his injuries. That goal against Everton in May 1998 will never be forgotten by any who witnessed it. The best of times.

Centre Back – Sol Campbell
Despite being a fantastic player and a fixture in the England team, Sol had a solitary League Cup medal to his name for his years at Spurs. Sadly, a suspension thanks to the theatrics of Ole Gunner Solskjaer meant he attended the 2003 FA Cup Final in a suit, and collected a medal in the 2005 final as an unused sub but he played a key role in the 2001-02 double in his first season, as Tony Adams had to miss a lot of his final season due to injury, and of course, he was a stalwart in the Invincibles’ team.

Central Midfield – Patrick Vieira
What can you say? Made an impact from his very first appearance, as a sub against Sheffield Wednesday before Arsene Wenger had even arrived to manage the team. Went on to win six trophies (he was injured for the 2003 FA Cup final) and of course captain the club for three seasons after Tony Adams’ retirement. Once he departed, we had to wait nine years for another trophy.

Central Midfield – Gilberto Silva
Joined after the 2002 World Cup and initially was unpopular with the fans who couldn’t really see what he added to the team. There is no question a lot of his best work was done off the ball. If you actually look at the Brazil team that won the World Cup, he was the one player who would keep guard as his colleagues (including most of the defenders) went forward with abandon. Arsenal were a little more conservative with Campbell and Keown, then Toure, behind the ‘Invisible Wall’, but he certainly covered breaks when the full backs were over-committed. Very clever player who could get away with a lot of tactical fouling without seeing a yellow card much of the time. This was a really tough call between the Brazilian and Manu Petit, and if I was writing this on another day, the latter might have been picked. Arsene Wenger elected William Gallas as his captain over Gilberto once Thierry Henry departed. Madness.

Left Midfield – Robert Pires
Another difficult choice, as Marc Overmars was so good, but Bobby came up with some vital goals in the two seasons Arsenal won the title in his six seasons at Highbury, and of course, played in three successful FA Cup finals. His interplay with Henry, Bergkamp and Vieira was something to behold when the team were in full flow. Great memories and a nice guy to boot. His last appearance in an Arsenal shirt saw him subbed early in the Champions League final in 2006. Heartbreaking.

Right Midfield – Ray Parlour
I’ve picked the Romford Pele to mix things up a bit, and get another name from the 1998 double team in the selection. Ray served with distinction, making his first team debut in the season before the Premier League began. He wasn’t the tidiest of players compared to some of his colleagues, but his work ethic was undeniable, as well as his will to win. Won three FA Cups (he was dropped for the replay in 1993) and a League Cup as well as three titles. It would have been easy to pick Freddie Ljungberg here but for sheer length of service as well as the balance he offers to the team, Raymond makes the side.

Striker – Dennis Bergkamp
For my money, Arsenal’s greatest ever player. There are others that could make that claim, two of them in this eleven, but we were privileged to enjoy a player at the peak of his powers during an eleven year spell in North London. Also referred to as ‘God’. Enough said.

Striker – Thierry Henry
Took a few months in his first season to get going, but once he hit his stride, the flow of goals never stopped. Unlikely to be overtaken in my lifetime as the club’s record scorer (and I have been fortunate enough to see that happen twice), and simply unstoppable at his best. The emotion surrounding that goal against Leeds when he briefly returned in 2012 said it all.

Final reflections – nobody who was at the club past 2008 (Gilberto Silva the last of this eleven to depart) made the cut, which is unfortunate but a sad reflection on the decline of the overall quality of the team after the break-up of the Invincibles. There is a case for certain players – Fabregas, Van Persie and Sanchez to have made the eleven, but it is notable that all three of these moved on, frustrated at the inability of the Arsenal to challenge. Anyway, the bottom line is that (although there was an argument for Fabregas to line up alongside Vieira), these guys didn’t deliver any more than FA Cups to the club, so I’ve gone with title winners. I’m sure there will be disagreement with the players I’ve picked, but football’s all about opinions, right?

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