Arsene Wenger, the legendary manager who led Arsenal to all of their Premier League title wins, has recently revealed his best-ever signing for the North London club. Contrary to popular belief, it is not Thierry Henry but Patrick Vieira.
Wenger believes that Patrick Vieira was his most significant acquisition for the Gunners. Despite Henry being Arsenal's all-time record goalscorer with over 200 goals and a two-time Premier League champion with the club, Wenger maintains that Vieira holds a special place in his managerial career.
The first of Arsenal's three top-flight titles under Wenger came before Henry's arrival in 1999. Interestingly enough, Wenger’s first two signings - Vieira and Remi Garde - were confirmed even before he officially joined as manager. However, it was evident that these moves would have been impossible without their compatriot heading towards Arsenal.
Building a winning team
In Wenger’s debut season at Arsenal, they finished third with young Nicolas Anelka also joining the team. They then went on to win 'the double' after adding Emmanuel Petit and Dutch winger Marc Overmars in 1997.
Former Arsenal manager, Arsene Wenger, said:
"If you look at it financially you could say many, many, many. Maybe the credibility I got first was for the first player I brought in which was Patrick Vieira. People questioned ‘why do they employ Wenger?’ and after of course we have the following with Petit, Henry, Overmars. [Dennis] Bergkamp was already there, Anelka. You have so many players, you have Kolo [Toure], Lauren. But I think just the first players you bring in you are always judged on.
"After we have so many players. People never speak about Van Persie or Fabregas who were exceptional players. Van Persie scored 96 [league] goals for Arsenal, not far from Ian Wright. Of course Thierry is 175, I think"
Legacy of Patrick Vieira
Vieira played more than 400 times for Arsenal before moving on to win three straight Serie A titles with Inter Milan. His successful playing career paved the way for a transition into management, earning his first Premier League job with Crystal Palace. He has also spent time at top-flight clubs in France, the United States and Italy.
Wenger's revelation about Vieira being his best-ever signing is a testament to the Frenchman's impact on Arsenal during their golden years. It also underscores Wenger’s ability to spot talent and build winning teams, making him one of the most respected figures in football history.
