Former Arsenal Players Thread
Cool :
Sol cooked these cocks
He's a weird guy but I do love him so.
He's the biggest transfer I've ever experienced - definitely between him, Bergkamp and Ozil. No potential, no question marks, just a ready made world class player coming in and walking straight into herodom.
daredevil don't think anything will ever beat following the Bergkamp transfer via Ceefax over what felt like days. Can only imagine what this place would have been like back then, "oh no, Barcelona have come in for him, we've fucked it"...
Although spending days reading about Vieira going to Madrid and then picking up the paper at work to see Sol was coming our way was pretty special!
We had 2 "internet computers" in our office at the time. I remember logging in one morning and seeing the news. I may have gone a bit mad around the office.
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It was definitely interesting waking up to the Sol news (happened overnight our time) given my parents were Spurs fans.
Just randomly came on my timeline so thought I'd share it.
Honestly what a privilege it was watching this guy play for Arsenal, my all time favourite player. He was so good in Euro 2000 as well, that was probably the year for Holland. If they had beaten Italy good chance they would have beaten France in the final.
JazzG absolute baller. Wasn't that the game Kluivert scored 4 goals? Loved that guy those days at Barca next to Rivaldo.
Big Willie Google says hatrick with Overmars scoring 2.
Sometimes I think whether players like him weren't as good as I remember, when you're young and you have nostalgia thinking back to your carefree days. Seeing these videos if anything makes me think he was even better than I thought. An artist on the pitch, this guy could literally see things before they even happened.
Gazza M That goal against Argentina, always love watching it with Dutch commentary. I can't speak a word of Dutch but know exactly what he the commentator is saying 
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JazzG Google says hatrick with Overmars scoring 2.
I was pretty sure it was 4. Long time ago though so maybe I'm wrong.
Edit: just checked and it seems he did "score: 4 goals but one was later taken from him because apparently he didn't actually touch the ball.
At UEFA Euro 2000 held in the Netherlands and Belgium, Kluivert scored a hat-trick in the 6–1 quarter-final demolition of Yugoslavia; he was originally credited with four goals, but the third was later re-attributed as an own goal by Yugoslavia's Dejan Govedarica, after Kluivert admitted not getting a touch on Paul Bosvelt's cross. Had all four goals stood, Kluivert would have been the first player to score four times in a European Championship match.
JazzG Sometimes I think whether players like him weren't as good as I remember, when you're young and you have nostalgia thinking back to your carefree days. Seeing these videos if anything makes me think he was even better than I thought. An artist on the pitch, this guy could literally see things before they even happened.
Dennis really was. Actually many of our players those days were. Yes defending wasn't as tactical as it is no and teams aren't as sharp defensively but they were brutal as fuck and would chop you down and snap you in two if you let them.
The level of technique the likes of Dennis, Thierry, Robert and Vieira had was crazy. Even guys like Wiltord would bang for us if he played today I reckon. You mention us being carefree back then, but the players themselves you could feel were free to express themselves on the field and enjoy themselves in ways players nowadays can only dream of.
JazzG His touch still looks otherworldly after the years, and you can see how much he's multiplying the ability of every other player on his team ... it's like watching one man think on behalf of eleven. Kluivert was never so lucky, for one.
Big Willie going back and watching these guys doesn't make them look archaic. some of the stuff still looks like some year 3000 football. the peak wenger teams could still play and compete at a high level today, I'm convinced of that. they were way ahead of their time
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DB10 is why I'm harsh on guys like Ødegaard. He'll always be the gold standard in that role.
Possibly the finest first touch and through ball execution I've ever seen, and don't get me started on him seeing the openings in the first place.
Can't believe how long ago Euro 2000 was 
The clubs treatment of him was actually quite disgraceful. Imagine only offering this guy a year long contract after turning 30.
daredevil that was bizarre for sure.
Pires 
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https://www.arsenal.com/news/when-we-beat-real-madrid-3-1-dixons-big-day
Feature on arsenal.com on Lee Dixon's testimonial against Real Madrid in 1999. A special memory for me as it was my first (and only) live game at Highbury, on a trip back to England to see my Grandparents when I was 13. I also got to do the stadium tour with my Grandfather, and went to the CL game at Wembley against Fiorentina (my Grandparents lived walking distance from Wembley Stadium and were able to get some tickets that were offered to local residents).
"Wright, however, caused mayhem in the dressing room before the game had even started when he gave fans outside the East Stand an unexpected present - Marc Overmars and Davor Suker's shirts! Vic Akers had to get replacements from the Arsenal shop. which delayed the kick-off by 20 minutes."
That's Wrighty in a nutshell.
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invisibleman18 that was in my first season as a fan and I remember watching that game on TV. I loved that squad and era, despite the heartbreak in April and May of that yearm
daredevil I remember sitting outside the stadium having a burger when we heard about that (but didn't see it). We saw the Real Madrid team bus arrive and I have a photo somewhere of Roberto Carlos sitting by the window. It was very exciting for me as a kid who had only seen these guys on TV from the other side of the world.
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Enjoyed his handful of appearances with us, and in particular that goal vs Tottenham (from a great Wilshere assist).
Couple interesting moments:
- around 5:00 why he didn't think coaching was for him (long hours, "can't spell my name yet alone a training plan"...)
- around 11:40 coming through the academy with a killer youth team, and thoughts on "fearless" Wilshere
- 14:30 .... belief Max Dowman has as much as Wilshere did, and is well on his way
- 19:00 ... chats on Wenger and "one of a kind" Bendtner
- 21:30 .... "best goal" vs Tottenham in the league cup, scored right in front of his cousins
as far as I've got.
Qwiss same.
He was the hot prospect before Wilshere emerged, but I think he got glandular fever and missed about a year in his development, so he never truly kicked on.
I remember we played him in the last game of the season, I wanna say against Newcastle (?) in 2011, and he impressed me. Reminded me of Ramsey a bit. I'm not really sure why we didn't give him any more chances.
Breaking news is that the manager Thorup, whose name I last heard when Wilshere joined his staff, has been sacked at Norwich. Wilshere's been made the caretaker manager.
This means it'll very likely be Ramsey managing Cardiff against Wilshere's Norwich on the last day of the Championship season.
Can't say I follow the Championship, but it looks based on the standings as if Rambo needs Derby to lose, and to pick up a lucky point against the Baggies in the second last round.
If Ramsey obtains that combination it will give Jack an excellent chance of coaching Norwich to relegate Cardiff.
Hearing Ramsey killed the Pope this time...
flobaba Amazing. I wasn't aware of the "Aaron Ramsey curse" till now. Bloody wild, people are.
Burnwinter I wasn't aware of the "Aaron Ramsey curse" till now.
where've you been mate. We were talking about it back when he was playing for us.
banduan Good question mate, because a significant Swiss-cheesed part of my brain is certain I was on OMITT very regularly while Ramsey played for us.
Wait, Wilshere left us?