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Arsenal’s Greatest Premier League XI
Central Midfielder – Cesc Fabregas
When Arsenal secured his services from Barcelona, the fans adopted him as one of their own. He
repaid that level of support by becoming one of the most watchable and majestic footballers the
club has ever seen.
He took over the famous #4 shirt in 2006 after Patrick Vieira left for Juventus the year
before and quickly made it his own. A regular in the team from a young age, his ability was
immediately noticeable.
So much so that when he was handed the club captaincy at the tender age of 21, he took his game to another level. His ability to lead the team at such a young age and put forth displays well beyond his years endeared him to the Arsenal fans.
His move to Barcelona took a lot out of the club, as they wanted to keep him, and the midfielder’s wish to return home caused so much angst. It eventually happened in 2011.
Cesc played 304 times for the Gunners, scoring 57 times and grabbing 95 assists. The Spaniard was a two-time Arsenal Player of the Season (2006/07 and 2009/10), twice named in UEFA’s Team of the Year (2006 and 2008), and an FA Cup winner in 2004/05.
Central Midfielder – Patrick Vieira
Regarded by many as Arsenal’s greatest ever captain, the Frenchman dominated the midfield for years. His battles with Roy Keane were out of this world as Arsenal vs Manchester United games during that era were some of the most ferocious we’ve ever seen on these shores.
He was a leader in every sense of the word and a supreme midfielder. He was equally adept at the defensive side of the game as he was going forward, with his physical attributes allowing him to overwhelm opponents unerringly.
A midfielder with unbridled power and strength, Vieira also loved a tackle. Regarding your typical
midfield general, you cannot look past Vieira. He was a true box-to-box midfield star. He was given the armband from Tony Adams and was the captain of the Invincibles campaign. He was the heartbeat of the Arsenal side and did whatever it took to win.
His move to Juventus in July of 2005 signalled the end to his storied Arsenal career and left a gaping hole in the Gunners midfield that, to this day, we are still trying to fill. Vieira departed Arsenal as a six-time PFA Team of the Year member, a three-time Premier League champion, and a four-time FA Cup winner. He’d later be inducted into the Premier League Hall of Fame.
Continued on the next slide…