Arsenal Dream Team

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Arsenal Dream Team: No 7 Freddie Ljungberg

• http://www.arsenal.com/assets/_files..._ljungberg.jpg http://www.arsenal.com/assets/images...video-play.gif
  GOLD
  Gunners Greatest Players - No 11. Freddie Ljungberg
  4 mins 22 seconds
  
  
• http://www.arsenal.com/assets/_files...1_45_ggg17.jpg http://www.arsenal.com/assets/images...video-play.gif
  GGG17
  Freddie Ljungberg v Chelsea, 2002
  3 mins 31 seconds
  
  

It’s time to unveil the Arsenal Dream Team.

This summer we asked the fans to choose their all-time XI and we got a tremendous response. More than 12,000 teams were submitted as supporters all around the world had their say.

There were only two rules: no current players could be included and the formation would be a traditional 4-4-2. That gave the fans a difficult task - how would they fit their favourite players into the side and find the perfect blend?

We’ll reveal the Dream Team position by position, resuming today with a wide man who was selected in 44 per cent of the submitted line-ups.
http://www.arsenal.com/assets/_files...jpg?ic=2285b0T
NO 7 FREDDIE LJUNGBERG
Midfielder
Appearances: 328
Goals: 72


From relative unknown to Dream Team starter, Freddie Ljungberg is living proof that Arsène Wenger can turn apparently innocuous signings into world-class talents.

When Freddie moved to Highbury in 1998 he was best known as the bloke who had caused problems for England in a recent Euro 2000 qualifier. But the not-long-departed Anders Limpar was still the 'Super Swede' that came to mind if you were an Arsenal fan.

That changed pretty quickly.
It took Freddie a matter of minutes to score on his debut as a substitute against Manchester United and he soon garnered a reputation as a man for the big occasion. But for Michael Owen he would have scored the winner at the 2001 FA Cup Final and he announced himself on the European stage with a brace against Juventus.

By the start of 2002 Freddie was much-loved; within months he was worshipped.
A serious knee injury ruled Robert Pires out of that year's run-in but for Freddie it was serendipitous. He shouldered a heavier burden in the Frenchman's absence and scored six times in five games to help deliver the title, capping it all with a sublime strike to secure the FA Cup against Chelsea.

Freddie was the centre of attention in Cardiff - the streak of red in his hair had been copied by countless Gooners and his famous chant (to the tune of 'Can't Take My Eyes Off You') echoed around the Millennium Stadium and the pubs and clubs that surrounded it.

He would be a popular man among his Dream Team-mates too. Freddie's tireless running and tenacious tackling would add ballast to the midfield and give the likes of Liam Brady greater licence to get forward while Lee Dixon would certainly enjoy the protection Freddie offers on the right.

The all-time XI would be guaranteed goals from that flank too, especially if a certain Dutchman was up front to pick out Freddie's trademark runs from deep.
We'll find out soon enough if that classic partnership will be rekindled.
Please login to Arsenal Player before watching the video clips on this page.
WHAT THEY SAID
"Freddie's contribution to Arsenal Football Club was absolutely outstanding. He is a winner and always gave absolutely everything when he played for us. He was an intelligent player and always combined this well with his fantastic fighting spirit." - Arsène Wenger
FREDDIE LJUNGBERG AT ARSENALCompetitionAppearancesGoalsLeague21646
FA Cup3311
League Cup30
Europe
7315
Totals32872

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Freddie :bow:

How he is missed

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Arsenal Dream Team: No 11 Robert Pires

GOLD

Gunners Greatest Players - 6. Robert Pires

3 mins 25 seconds
GGG33

Robert Pires v Aston Villa, 2002

3 mins 05 seconds
It’s time to unveil the Arsenal Dream Team.

This summer we asked the fans to choose their all-time XI and we got a tremendous response. More than 12,000 teams were submitted as supporters all around the world had their say.

There were only two rules: no current players could be included and the formation would be a traditional 4-4-2. That gave the fans a difficult task - how would they fit their favourite players into the side and find the perfect blend?

We’ll reveal the Dream Team position by position, resuming today with a wide man who was selected in 71 per cent of the submitted line-ups.


NO 11 ROBERT PIRES
Midfielder
Appearances: 284
Goals: 84

He’s been assigned the No 11 in our Dream Team – the traditional shirt for a left winger – but, like Liam Brady and David Rocastle before, Robert Pires made the No 7 shirt famous at Highbury.

The Frenchman only truly ‘arrived’ on the tragic day ‘Rocky’ died, scoring the opener in the North London derby win over Spurs on March 31, 2001. He never looked back from that bittersweet occasion.

Like his Dream Team-mate on the other flank, Freddie Ljungberg, Pires could time his runs into the penalty area to perfection.

But unlike Ljungberg, he arrived at Arsenal with some pedigree - he had been part of the all-conquering French team of 1998 and 2000. And it wasn’t long before he became a fearsome proposition for club defences across Europe.

Pires was a revelation, another shrewd bit of transfer dealing from Arsène Wenger, boasting a playmaker’s vision and a striker’s instinct in equal measure.

To further endear himself to the fans he scored eight times in 12 games against Tottenham and was never on the losing side in a local derby. In fact there was only one game at White Hart Lane in which Pires played that he didn’t score, and that was his first derby in 2000.

Our Dream Team is packed full of players who have brought success to the Club and Pires’ footprints are all over the ‘Invincibles’ campaign of 2003/04. With Pires and Thierry Henry in tandem, Arsenal were unplayable at times.

It would be no surprise to see them reunited at the sharp end of our all-time XI.

Please login to Arsenal Player before watching the video clips on this page.

WHAT THEY SAID
“Robert had six tremendous years with us and made a huge contribution to the team's success during his time here. He is not only a great footballer but a good man. It's difficult to pick out one or two highlights but he was superb in our Double-winning season during the 2001/02 campaign and contributed hugely to our unbeaten season with 19 goals.” - Arsène Wenger

ROBERT PIRES AT ARSENAL Competition Appearances Goals
League 189 62

FA Cup 28 10

League Cup 2 1

Europe
63 11

Totals 284 84

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Best left midfielder in premiership history

Sol? I think not! Go back and do it again and this time get it right!

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Originally Posted by Ach

Best left midfielder in premiership history

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Best left winger in the world IMO. Bobby :bow:

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Arsenal Dream Team: No 10 Dennis Bergkamp

GOLD

Gunners Greatest 50 Players - Dennis Bergkamp

5 mins 25 seconds
GGG1

Dennis Bergkamp v Newcastle United, 2002

4 min 18 seconds
It’s time to unveil the Arsenal Dream Team.

This summer we asked the fans to choose their all-time XI and we got a tremendous response. More than 12,000 teams were submitted as supporters all around the world had their say.

There were only two rules: no current players could be included and the formation would be a traditional 4-4-2. That gave the fans a difficult task - how would they fit their favourite players into the side and find the perfect blend?

We’ll reveal the Dream Team position by position, resuming today with a striker who was selected in 82 per cent of the submitted line-ups.


NO 10 DENNIS BERGKAMP
Striker
Appearances: 423
Goals: 120

No one would be more heartened by the appearance of Dennis Bergkamp in the Arsenal Dream Team than the other members of our all-time XI.

That's because the Dutch master was the ultimate players' player, a man whose touch, awareness and vision made life a whole lot easier for those around him. Ask pretty much all his peers for their No 1 team-mate and they would name Dennis without hesitation. He really was that good.

If our Dream Team ever became reality, Lee Dixon and Nigel Winterburn could look up and know that Dennis would be finding space to receive a pass to feet. Freddie Ljungberg and Robert Pires could time their runs into the box, knowing that Dennis would hold the ball up and release it at the opportune moment. And his strike partner - whoever that might be - could spin off the shoulder of the last defender knowing that a through-ball would be heading his way.

Dennis' team play was imperious and if he wasn't picking passes or laying chances on a plate for others he would be converting them himself, usually with a measure of style.

So many of the 120 goals he scored in an Arsenal shirt were special: the outrageous spin at Newcastle, the balletic poise at Leicester, the belter against Bolton, the lob against Leverkusen… the list goes on and on.

According to the fans who voted in our Gunners' Greatest Goals poll in 2009, Dennis can lay claim to two of the best four strikes in the Club's history. So it's no surprise to see him feature so strongly in this summer's vote - he was named in 82 per cent of the teams submitted.

Dennis' arrival at Highbury in 1995 signalled a shift from 'Boring Boring Arsenal' to 'Scoring Scoring Arsenal', his signing a statement of intent and the catalyst for a new era of success. Arsène Wenger later claimed that the Dutchman's presence was "a blessing, a gift when I arrived".

How the Frenchman would love to manage this Bergkamp-inspired Dream Team.

Please login to Arsenal Player before watching the video clips on this page. Who is the most surprising omission from the Dream Team?


WHAT THEY SAID
“He has intelligence and class. Class is, of course, most of the time linked to what you can do with the ball, but the intelligence makes you use the technique in an efficient way. It's like somebody who has a big vocabulary so he can talk intelligently, and that's what Dennis is all about. What he does, there's always a head and always a brain. And his technique allows him to do what he sees." - Arsène Wenger

"When you see how he lives it's a great example... he is fantastic on the pitch and off the pitch." - Robin van Persie

DENNIS BERGKAMP AT ARSENAL Competition Appearances Goals
League 315 87

FA Cup 39 14

League Cup 16 8

Europe
48 11

Totals 423 120

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:bow:

Best player ive ever seen

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Arsenal Dream Team: No 9 Thierry Henry

• http://www.arsenal.com/assets/_files...ggp1_henry.jpg http://www.arsenal.com/assets/images...video-play.gif
  GOLD
  Gunners Greatest 50 Players - Thierry Henry
  3 mins 54 seconds
  
  
• http://www.arsenal.com/assets/_files...45_45_ggg2.jpg http://www.arsenal.com/assets/images...video-play.gif
  GGG2
  Thierry Henry v Manchester United, 2000
  5 mins 33 seconds
  
  

It’s time to unveil the Arsenal Dream Team.

This summer we asked the fans to choose their all-time XI and we got a tremendous response. More than 12,000 teams were submitted as supporters all around the world had their say.

There were only two rules: no current players could be included and the formation would be a traditional 4-4-2. That gave the fans a difficult task - how would they fit their favourite players into the side and find the perfect blend?

We’ll reveal the Dream Team position by position, resuming today with a striker who was selected in 98 per cent of the submitted line-ups.
http://www.goonersweb.co.uk/assets/_...jpg?ic=4887b2T
NO 9 THIERRY HENRY
Striker
Appearances: 370
Goals: 226

Let’s be honest: Thierry Henry’s place in our Dream Team was never in doubt.

The Frenchman had everything: exquisite technique, searing pace, surprising strength, awareness of others and a lethal touch in front of goal. In his prime, he was unstoppable.

And like the typical superstar, of which there are many in our all-time XI, he did pretty much everything for his team. Henry was the captain, the talisman, the dead-ball expert, the penalty-taker and the assist-maker.

Arsène Wenger transformed Thierry from erratic winger into striker extraordinaire. Within a year of his move from Juventus and his change of position, he was considered a leading European striker. Before long he was regarded as the world’s finest.

During his time at Arsenal, Thierry became the Club's all-time top scorer with 226 goals from 370 appearances. Thumping drives, delicate chips, jinking runs, audacious backheels, even the odd header - Thierry had a multitude of ways to find the net.

He was also an integral part of the 2003/04 ‘Invincibles’, won the Premier League twice, the FA Cup twice, the Premier League 'Golden Boot' four times, was voted the PFA Player of the Year twice and the FWA Player of the Year on three occasions.

He could always be relied on for moments of individual brilliance but Thierry was on the same wavelength as his team-mates too. He and Robert Pires were verging on telepathic while his understanding with Dennis Bergkamp could cut even the meanest of defences to ribbons.

Put simply, Henry was a manager’s dream.

And with that, the Arsenal Dream Team is complete.
Please login to Arsenal Player before watching the video clips on this page. Who is the most surprising omission from the Dream Team?
Tomorrow: find out who just missed out on a place in the Arsenal Dream Team - and how the second XI might line up.
WHAT THEY SAID
"Arsenal will be in my blood as well as my heart. I will always, always, always remember you guys [the fans]. I said I was going to be a Gunner for life and I did not lie because when you are a Gunner you will always be a Gunner. The Club is in my heart and will remain in my heart forever."

"He was always there for me if I wanted to talk to him. I was quite scared at first but as I got older and played with him a bit more he was fantastic. [When he was here before] it was great being around him and learning from the best.” - Theo Walcott

Competition	Appearances	Goals
League	254	174
FA Cup	24	7
League Cup	3	2
Europe	85	42
Totals	370	226

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So the dream team is

Seaman

Dixon Adams Sol Winterburn

Ljungberg Brady Vieira Pires

Bergkamp Henry

Good team or not?

Great team.

Cashley :pal:

Wrighty :pal:

Deni :pal:

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FREE VIDEO: Watch our Dream Team in action
13/2 to win PL next season Bet £10 get £20 Free Free £20 Bet for new customers Bet £10 get £20 Free This summer we asked the fans to choose their all-time XI and we got a tremendous response. More than 12,000 teams were submitted as supporters all around the world had their say.

There were only two rules: no current Arsenal players could be included and the formation would be a traditional 4-4-2.

That gave the fans a difficult task - how would they fit their favourite players into the side and find the perfect blend on the pitch?

Over the past two weeks we've revealed the Arsenal Dream Team, position by position - and now you can watch them in action.

Click on the PLAY button above to watch this FREE clip and scroll down for a reminder of our Dream Team.

On Friday: find out who just missed out on a place in the Arsenal Dream Team and how the second XI might line up.

Who is the most surprising omission from the Dream Team? Have your say now


NO 1 DAVID SEAMAN
Goalkeeper
Appearances: 564
Selected in 80 per cent of teams


NO 2 LEE DIXON
Right back
Appearances: 619 Goals: 28
Selected in 58 per cent of teams


NO 3 NIGEL WINTERBURN
Left back
Appearances: 584 Goals: 12
Selected in 46 per cent of teams


NO 4 PATRICK VIEIRA
Centre midfield
Appearances: 406 Goals: 33
Selected in 93 per cent of teams


NO 5 SOL CAMPBELL
Centre back
Appearances: 211 Goals: 12
Selected in 80 per cent of teams


NO 6 TONY ADAMS
Centre back
Appearances: 669 Goals: 48
Selected in 90 per cent of teams


NO 7 FREDDIE LJUNGBERG
Right midfield
Appearances: 328 Goals: 72
Selected in 44 per cent of teams


NO 8 LIAM BRADY
Centre midfield
Appearances: 307 Goals: 59
Selected in 31 per cent of teams


NO 9 THIERRY HENRY
Striker
Appearances: 370 Goals: 226
Selected in 98 per cent of teams


NO 10 DENNIS BERGKAMP
Striker
Appearances: 423 Goals: 120
Selected in 82 per cent of teams


NO 11 ROBERT PIRES
Left midfield
Appearances: 284 Goals: 84
Selected in 71 per cent of teams

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http://www.arsenal.com/news/news-arc...team-in-action

Ashley Cole ahead of Winterburn and that would be my team