Picking an All-Time Greatest Arsenal XI

Picking a club's greatest ever XI is surely harder than picking a World Cup squad because you've got to go back in time to choose legends as well as choose from the here and now.

So, here's my greatest Arsenal XI. I've tried to call on different eras and a sentimental choice or two, and yet, we end up with a great Arsenal team which, let's be honest, few will agree with—because you've got your own choices. But here are mine, in a traditional 4-4-2 formation.

Goalkeeper: David Seaman

 

"Safe Hands" Seaman must get in goal, not least because of his FA Cup heroics as Arsenal look to win the great old trophy again.

Seaman won the FA Cup four times, said goodbye to Arsenal by leading them to the FA Cup in 2003 and pulled off one of the all-time greatest saves in the semi-final at Old Trafford.

Right-Back: Pat Rice

 

 Rice was a member of the 1970/71 Double-winning team. He captained the club and went on to serve them as a coach and youth team coach. He even stood in temporarily as manager. He recently overcame cancer, and his name is still chanted.

Left-Back: Ashley Cole

 Because of his acrimonious exit to Chelsea, people will disagree with this pick. But if they're honest, they will agree that Cole is an all-time great.

Central Defender: Tony Adams

 Tony Adams is a brilliant leader and one of Arsenal's all-time greats. If Arsenal had a captain like him now, the team would be so much stronger for it.

Central Defender: Frank McLintock

 Frank McLintock was the captain and leader of Arsenal's 1970/71 Double-winning team.

Right Midfield: Robert Pires

 Robert Pires is another all-time great. He could score goals and create them and was the midfield genius (albeit from the flank) for the 2002 Double winners and 2004 Invincibles.

Central Midfield: Patrick Vieira

 Patrick Vieira was the passionate leader, midfield general and all-time great from the 1998 Double, 2002 Double and 2004 Invincibles teams. In 2004, they went unbeaten to win the Premier League.

Central Midfield: David Rocastle

 David "Rocky" Rocastle gets in because he epitomises everything you want in a player: Skillful and determined, he was a crowd favourite with a wonderful will to win.

Left Midfield: Liam Brady

If you Google "Liam Brady," "Tottenham" and "wonder goal," then his stunning effort from 1978 at White Hart Lane in a 5-0 win will be at the top of the results.

Striker: Dennis Bergkamp

The arguments will rage as to whether Dennis Bergkamp is Arsenal's greatest player of all time. The one thing you can say, in my opinion, is that he is technically the greatest Arsenal player of all time.

His passing, vision, runs and glorious goals were world class. Arsenal signed one of the best players in the world when they bought him in 1995. He went on to dominate for another decade.

Bergkamp was a genius, and his partnership with Thierry Henry surely makes them the best pair of strikers of all time.

Striker: Thierry Henry

 

Then there's Thierry Henry, or "Mr. Va Va Voom," as he's referred to.

How on Earth can an all-time great such as Ian Wright not get in? Apologies, Wrighty, but it comes down to Henry and Bergkamp. Together, you had the Dutch master and the French genius who, again, will have fans and neutrals alike believing Henry is the greatest Arsenal player of all time.

He has pace, power and the ability to score the spectacular. Henry is a wonderful player—he bleeds red and white and is the club's all-time leading scorer.

"Legend" was a word invited for Henry.