Arsene Wenger worked with some of the best players to ever grace the English game. The iconic manager transformed Arsenal into Invincibles and took the Premier League into a new era entirely with the football that he had his side playing. And, in truth, it is the England team who should have benefitted the most.
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Whilst Thierry Henry, Patrick Vieira and Dennis Bergkamp - just to name a few - all starred under Wenger, it's worth remembering that the Frenchman also handed the likes of Ashley Cole, Tony Adams, Sol Campbell, Ian Wright and David Seaman the keys to unlock their potential at Highbury.
At the heart of Arsenal history, Wenger worked with a core of England legends and some of the best players in the club's history, who have not forgotten his impact.
“I remember when he did his first interview and it’s the first time anybody’s ever seen him, especially us. He had these massive glasses on, this oversized jacket - he looked like a professor, a teacher.
“And when he came in and explained to us what he was going to try and do - change the diet, change the training regime, he wants people to rest more, we want you to drink more water, we want you to chew your food more.
“We used to have vitamin injections directly into our arm - it’s not suspect! It was basically stuff everyone knows today, like vitamin C, B12, omega 3. He was so far ahead of his time. Wenger took you to a place where you had to be literally the best you could be, and that’s what he did with us.” (Ian Wright on Wenger)
However, as much as Wright and others thrived under Wenger and handed him deserved praise as a result, the former Arsenal boss only decided to name one former England player in his list of favourite Gunners.
Wenger names Wilshere among his best ever Arsenal players
Snubbing Wright, Campbell, Seaman, Cole and others, Wenger named just one England player when asked about his favourite ever Arsenal players and that was, perhaps in surprising fashion, Jack Wilshere.
The former midfielder broke into Wenger's side as a young prospect full of potential and whilst injuries eventually took control of his career, the ex-Arsenal boss has not forgotten the ability that Wilshere always had in abundance. Naming the Hale End graduate alongside Henry, Bergkamp, Vieira, Robert Pires, Freddie Ljungberg, Cesc Fabregas and Aaron Ramsey, Wilshere won't receive much higher praise.
Wilshere at Arsenal Stats
Appearances 197
Goals 14
Assists 28
Ultimately, Wilshere's career went down as a 'what could have been' rather than what was, but no one can take away 197 Arsenal appearances and the two FA Cup wins that came alongside that.
Following his retirement, the former England ace received quite the tribute from Wenger, who said: "Well for me it's a sad moment because Jack is an exceptional football player.
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"He was brave, he was talented, he wasn't scared of anybody. Which is why we thought he could start at a very young age. Straight away he showed he had the ability to be a main player."