There’s a latest however wealthy historical past of French gamers turning out for Arsenal. From Vieira to Saliba, discover out extra right here
Arsene Wenger turned Arsenal’s first French supervisor 30 years in the past and instantly returned to his homeland to snap up enjoying expertise with the likes of Patrick Vieira and Gilles Grimandi among the many first recruits.
Now, three a long time later, loads of French stars have graced first Highbury and latterly the Emirates Stadium with nearly 20 of them occurring to make over 100 appearances for the membership.
See what number of of them you’ll be able to bear in mind.
Arsenal’s French gamers with 200-plus appearances
Let’s take a look at the French gamers who’ve remodeled 200 appearances for Arsenal.
Patrick Vieira – 405 apps
Among the many first wave of Frenchmen to reach at Arsenal was a person who would go on to carve his identify within the membership’s folklore, Patrick Vieira.
Vieira was simply 20 when he left AC Milan for Arsenal, three months earlier than Arsene Wenger was appointed supervisor, though he admitted later he solely signed as a result of he knew his compatriot was on his approach.
Tall, elegant, combative, Vieira managed the Arsenal midfield for nearly a decade, making 405 appearances and captaining the well-known Invincibles, the Gunners’ aspect who gained the 2003/04 Premier League with out dropping a single recreation.
Thierry Henry – 377 apps
Not far behind with 377 appearances was the fantastic Thierry Henry, a person who would rating 228 objectives for Arsenal, 175 of them within the Premier League, boasting a scoring ratio higher than any ex-player within the competitors’s historical past.
Extremely, there have been doubters who questioned whether or not Henry was value £11m – that’s proper, £11m – again in 1999.
4 main membership trophies later alongside 4 Premier League Golden Boots recommend it was cash greater than effectively spent.
Laurent Koscielny – 353 apps
The one different Frenchman with greater than 300 appearances for Arsenal was centre-back Laurent Koscielny, who pulled on the jersey 353 occasions over 9 seasons.
Twelve months earlier than signing, Koscielny had been enjoying in France’s Ligue 2 with Excursions, the beginning of an actual rags-to-riches story which culminated on this achieved defender successful the FA Cup 3 times with the London giants.
He even discovered the web within the 3-2 last win over Hull in 2014, earlier than heading again to France 5 years later to wind down his profession with Bordeaux.
Bacary Sagna – 284 apps
The participant Auxerre followers had dubbed Mr Dependable was each bit as reliable throughout seven seasons at Arsenal.
Full-back Bacary Sagna – the perfect right-back in England, based on Wenger – made 284 appearances, lastly successful a bit of silverware within the 284th and last one, the 2014 FA Cup last success over Hull, which prompted a tearful farewell from the membership.
Robert Pires – 284 apps
For grace, magnificence and dazzling abilities, Wenger hit the trifecta when he acquired Robert Pires to signal on the dotted line in July 2000.
Wenger fended off curiosity from Actual Madrid and Juventus to signal Pires as Marc Overmars’ substitute and after taking his time to settle in North London, the French flier rapidly turned a agency followers’ favorite.
He scored 84 objectives in 284 matches for the Gunners and scored in eight totally different fixtures in opposition to Tottenham, one thing that was at all times going to win the adoration of the followers.
Gael Clichy – 264 apps
Left-back Gael Clichy hadn’t even turned 18 when Wenger took a punt on him in July 2003 after a single, fitful season at Cannes.
He was initially signed as an understudy to Ashley Cole – although he nonetheless picked up a title-winning medal in 2003/04 aged simply 18 years and 10 months – finally nailing down the left-back spot in 2006/07.
Clichy gained one league title with Arsenal, for whom he appeared 264 occasions, plus two extra with Manchester Metropolis.
Olivier Giroud – 253 apps
Olivier Giroud was already a seasoned worldwide striker by the point he signed for Arsenal, with whom he would assist win three FA Cups, scoring the ultimate purpose within the 4-0 demolition of Aston Villa to raise the second of these three trophies in 2015.
The immaculately-coiffured ahead scored 105 objectives in 253 appearances for the Gunners earlier than crossing the capital to affix Chelsea, who he additionally helped win the FA Cup.
Mathieu Flamini – 246 apps
Tenacious midfielder Mathieu Flamini loved two stints with Arsenal and whereas by no means managing to bathe himself within the glory achieved by a few of his fellow countrymen, he nonetheless loved a distinguished profession on the membership.
Flamini made 246 appearances both aspect of a four-year spell at AC Milan and just like the most interesting French wines aged effectively, producing much better performances second time round in North London.
Alexandre Lacazette – 206 apps
The large ticket signing of Wenger’s last summer time switch window in 2017 was Alexandre Lacazette, who joined for a then membership report £45m.
A prolific goal-getter for Lyon and France, Wenger and the Gunners’ trustworthy anticipated a big effect from this aggressive, pacy ahead and scoring 94 seconds into his Premier League debut – in opposition to Leicester – was definitely an announcement begin.
Lacazette as voted the membership’s Participant of the Season in 2018/19 and headed again to Lyon in 2022 after scoring 71 objectives in 206 video games.
Arsenal’s French gamers with 100-plus appearances
That’s the Arsenal 200 Membership, the 9 French gamers previous and current who’ve performed for the Gunners on no less than 200 events.
However what in regards to the subsequent in line, the Frenchmen who’ve made 100-plus appearances for the membership.
There are eight of these with William Saliba (168 apps) heading in the right direction to affix the 200+ Membership.
Abou Diaby – 180 apps
Abou Diaby was a midfielder who gained loads of comparisons with compatriot Patrick Vieira, however nowhere close to as many plaudits in 9 injury-hit seasons.
Sylvain Wiltord – 174 apps
A confirmed goalscorer who helped himself to 49 objectives in simply 4 seasons on the membership, successful two league titles.
Gilles Grimandi – 169 apps
An actual utility man and one in every of Wenger’s first signings from France. He would go on to scout for the London membership again in his homeland.
William Saliba – 168 apps
Gabriel’s accomplice in the back of an Arsenal defence which hopes to assist the membership land its first league title in over 20 years.
Francis Coquelin – 160 apps
Defensive midfielder and two-time FA Cup winner who took some time to determine himself on the membership.
William Gallas – 142 apps
By no means totally gained over the Arsenal followers in 4 years on the membership – and transferring to Tottenham in 2010 was the ultimate straw for a lot of.
Samir Nasri – 125 apps
By no means fairly lived as much as his early-career billing as the following Zinedine Zidane throughout three stable campaigns at The Emirates.
Emmanuel Petit – 118 apps
A Double winner alongside fellow Frenchman Vieira through the first of three glorious seasons on the membership earlier than becoming a member of Barcelona.
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