Arsenal’s Greatest Premier League XI

Transfer talk may well be rife, but there’s only so much reporting you can do on the incessant stream of rumours that come our way.

So, instead, the Pain in the Arsenal team thought they’d conjure up their Greatest Arsenal XI of the Premier League era. Our relative youth – sorry, not sorry – meant none of us contributors were alive and kicking when Michael Thomas scored that goal in ’89 before the abolishment of the backpass law coincided with the dawn of a new era in English football.

It was a struggle for the Gunners initially before the arrival of a certain Arsene Wenger oversaw an off-field revolution that ignited a prolonged period of success in north London. Three league titles were captured along the way as a whole host of elite talent strutted their stuff at various points of Wenger’s reign. No, I’m not looking at you, Francis Jeffers.

The club remained a force as ‘home’ transitioned from Highbury to the Emirates, but it’s fair to say that the lofty ambitions that aligned with the club’s move to a swanky new stadium are yet to be realised. Sure, a few more FA Cups were added to the trophy cabinet, but it was Sp*rs who grew more relevant on the European stage as the club succumbed to a cesspit of division, dichotomies and angst during the latter stages of Wenger’s reign.

But let’s forget the contemporary woes and once again feast on the nostalgic excellence of this behemoth of a football club. By God, we’ve been blessed with some half-decent players, eh?

Arsenal’s Greatest Premier League XI

Here’s Pain In The Arsenal’s Greatest Arsenal XI of the Premier League era, as voted by five of the site’s contributors.

Goalkeeper – David Seaman

A cornerstone behind the famous “back-four”, David Seaman is arguably the greatest ever Arsenal goalkeeper.

Jens Lehmann was a fantastic shot-stopper for the Gunners and was the man between the sticks for the invincible season, but Seaman’s longevity and sustained success at Arsenal make him the pick for our all-time Premier League XI. Seaman was not without team success in North London, either, as he was a part of both the 1997/98 and 2001/02 double wins.

He’ll be remembered for incredible saves during his 564 appearances for the Gunners and his 137 domestic clean sheets.

Mitch Peotter

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