To celebrate Le Professor reaching 15 years as Arsenal boss, we look at some of the highlights in his years at Highbury and the Emirates.
15. Dennis Bergkamp inspires Arsenal in 7-0 rout over Everton – 2005
A virtuoso performance, of vision and touch, from Dennis Bergkamp inspired Arsenal to victory.
Any youngster who wants to know how to play football should just watch the Dutchman in this game.
Bergkamp, 36 at the time, was by far the best player on the pitch, his every touch, his every pass, drawing appreciation from the Highbury crowd.
His passing ability had the game won after 12 minutes with assists for Robin van Persie and Robert Pires.
The third ball for Patrick Vieira’s goal was even better. He capped his immense display with a goal, and Arsenal’s sixth.
The margin of Arsenal’s victory – a record win under Arsene Wenger – was even more astonishing given Everton’s qualification for the Champions League.
14. Nigel Winterburn steals the show against Chelsea – 1997
A five-goal thriller at Stamford Bridge will be remembered for Nigel Winterburn’s stunning long-range shot in the final minute and his ‘nutty’ celebrations.
A topsy-turvy game saw both sides take the lead then saw the other come storming back.
Gus Poyet gave the Blues the lead before a Dennis Bergkamp double fires Arsenal into the lead.
Gianfranco Zola restores equality before Winterburn popped up and stole the win.
The three points set the tone for the coming season helping Arsenal on their way to their first title under Arsène Wenger.
13. Magical hat-trick from Nwankwo Kanu against Chelsea – 1999
This match will live long in the memory of Arsenal fans. Chelsea were heading for a win with 15 minutes remaining.
Few could have predicted what was coming after goals from Tore Andre Flo and Dan Petrescu put the Blues 2-0 up with over half-an-hour to go.
Up step Nwankwo Kanu who scored the most clinical hat-trick ever seen in the history of these two clubs.
Arsenal got themselves back into the match on 75 minutes when a mis-hit shot from Marc Overmars fell to Kanu who cooly shot past Ed de Goey – the first home Premier League goal the Dutchman had conceded.
He would let in his second when Poyet missed an Overmars cross and Kanu drove his shot to the left of de Goey to make it 2-2.
Kanu saved his best until last. In the dying seconds Kanu closed down a clearance and found himself on the touchline near the corner flag when confronted by de Goey who had raced out of his goal to confront the Nigerian.
Kanu sidestepped him, just keeping the ball in play, before curling his shot over the heads of Marcel Desailly and Frank Leboeuf and into the net from an acute angle.
Cue pandemonium and celebrations as Arsenal secured an unlikely three points.
12. Arsene Wenger clinches his first double – 1998
Two weeks after clinching the league against Everton – thanks to that Tony Adams goal – Arsenal headed to Wembley for the FA Cup final against Newcastle.
Arsenal were short of their brilliant best but were too strong for Kenny Dalglish’s side. A goal in either half clinched the club’s seventh FA Cup and its second Double.
The final whistle confirmed Arsenal’s status as English football’s finest and further vindicated the decision in 1996 to appoint Wenger as manager.
The Frenchman was a virtual unknown when he arrived; a Double in his first full season silenced any remaining doubters.
11. Dennis Bergkamp scores the best ever hat-trick – 1997
Dennis Bergkamp has a portfolio of classic goals to savour from his Arsenal career. But this was special, even by the Dutch master’s soaring standards.
Bergkamp single-handedly put Leicester to the sword with a magnificent hat-trick but, incredibly, did not end up on the winning side.
Bergkamp curled a shot into the top corner after nine minutes and doubled Arsenal’s lead just after the hour mark. The points seemed secure but Emile Heskey set up a grandstand finish and Matt Elliott grabbed an unlikely equaliser.
That seemed to be that but Bergkamp had other ideas. A darting run into the left-hand side of the penalty area was picked out by David Platt’s perfect lofted pass but it was what happened next which will stick long in the memory.
Bergkamp killed the ball in an instant with a feather-like first touch and then flicked it back past Elliott with his left foot. While the defender floundered, Bergkamp placed the ball into the top corner past a helpless Kasey Keller.
It was a moment of pure genius.
An even later header from Steve Walsh earned Leicester a 3-3 draw and denied Bergkamp the ‘matchwinner’ tag he so richly deserved.
Nonetheless, the Dutchman still rates his third goal that night as his finest in an Arsenal shirt.
10. Arsenal beat Real Madrid at the Bernabeu – 2006
No English side had beaten Real Madrid on their own patch. Arsène Wenger’s young side overcame a crippling injury list to try and change all that.
A virtuoso goal from Thierry Henry two minutes after the interval was enough to secure a famous victory.
But this was no smash-and-grab raid by an English outfit counter-attacking on the continent. Arsenal could and should have won by more.
Cesc Fabregas fed Henry in the centre circle and the striker held off Ronaldo and skipped past Alvaro Mejia and Guti before racing into the area and muscling past Sergio Ramos.
He planted an angled shot past Casillas and into the far corner of the net. It was stunning even by Henry’s high standards.
The 28-year-old celebrated his 34th Arsenal goal in the Champions League by running towards to the 3,500-strong visiting support with his arms out wide.
Madrid tried to respond but Arsenal’s back four, superbly marshalled by Kolo Toure, held firm.
Wenger agrued ‘belief’ and defensive stability would be fundamental to his side’s chances against a Madrid side packed with stellar talents like Zinedine Zidane, Raul and Ronaldo. In the end, they displayed both qualities in abundance.
Those qualities were on show once more 15 days later as a 0-0 draw in the second leg at Highbury was sufficient to take Arsenal into the last eight of the Champions League. The Final beckoned.
9. Late comeback sees off Manchester United 2-1 at the Emirates – 2007
Wayne Rooney, with plenty of pre-transplant hair, put United ahead and Arsenal were in danger of losing their first ever game at the Emirates.
But late goals from Robin van Persie and Thierry Henry saw Arsenal come from behind to earn a dramatic win over the eventual Premier League champions.
RVP got in behind Gary Neville to slide in Tomas Rosicky’s 83rd-minute cross, although he broke a bone in his right foot celebrating.
Then with seconds remaining in stoppage time, Henry rose to an Emmanuel Eboue cross and headed (yes headed!) the ball past Edwin van der Sar.
The new stadium nearly collapsed under the weight of the celebrating fans.
8. Arsenal beat Chelsea to win the FA Cup – 2002
A year earlier, Michael Owen had won Liverpool the FA Cup with two late goals against Arsene Wenger’s men.
Arsenal turned up determined to not let history repeat itself and clinch a third double – the second under Wenger.
Chelsea were the opposition this time but the Blues enjoyed few sights of goal with Tony Adams and David Seaman commanding the Gunners defence.
But the west Londoners had no answer to the Gunners strike force and inparticluar two stunning strikes from Ray Parlour and Freddie Ljunberg.
Adams lifted the trophy with the man who would succeed him, Patrick Vieira. While Lee Dixon lapped up the atmosphere at his last showpiece occasion.
7. Arsenal outscore Tottenham in north London thriller – 2004
You when a game ends 5-4 and it is 1-1 at half time it must have been a great game.
Thierry Henry cancelled out Noureddine Naybet’s (who?) volley but Lauren and Patrick Vieira stretched Arsenal’s lead after the break.
Jermain Defoe pulled one back, Freddie Ljungberg responded, Ledley King brought Spurs back into, before Robert Pires made it 5-3.
A late Freddie Kanoute goal was the end of the action in a memorable derby and was Martin Jol’s first game in charge of Tottenham.
6. Thierry Henry scores hat-trick on Highbury farewell – 2005
On an afternoon of excruciating tension and almost unending drama, Arsenal said goodbye to Highbury after 93 years.
The Gunners secured the fourth and final Champions League place with a dramatic 4-2 win over Wigan Athletic, stealing it from under the noses of arch-rivals Tottenham Hotspur.
Arsenal had to at least match Spurs’ result at West Ham to secure top flight European football.
Robert Pires put Arsene Wenger’s side ahead in the early stages. But Wigan were out to spoil the party and silenced the home crowd with strikes from Paul Scharner and David Thompson.
Thierry Henry again came to Arsenal’s rescue by equalising to send the teams into the break level. Spurs were being held 1-1.
Henry came out for the second half in determined mood and single-handedly dragged his team to victory.
He completed his hat-trick from the penalty spot with 14 minutes left and kissed the Highbury turf in celebration. It was a fitting way for the ground’s most prolific striker to sign off
The 2010th and final game at Arsenal’s wonderful old ground had produced one final memory to treasure.
“Highbury is just a special place.” said Henry afterwards. His words echoed the feelings of Arsenal fans everywhere.
5. Arsenal thrash Inter Milan 5-1 at the San Siro – 2003
Arsenal headed to the San Siro knowing they would have been eliminated from the Champions League if they lost.
Instead, they overcame injuries and the spectre of Inter’s 3-0 win at Highbury two months earlier to inflict the Milan club’s heaviest home defeat in 47 years of European football.
It was a proud night for stand-in captain Ray Parlour and the travelling fans who reworked their ‘One-nil to the Arsenal’ chant to ‘Five-one in the San Siro’.
But the star of this particular show was undoubtedly Thierry Henry.
The French striker broke the deadlock in the 25th minute and despite Inter drawing level, Arsenal were soon back in charge.
Freddie Ljungberg restored their lead from Henry’s pass before the Frenchman himself secured victory with the goal of the game five minutes from time.
Collecting Parlour’s header on the halfway line, Henry raced away from Javier Zanetti and checked his run before bursting past the Argentina captain once more to hammer a left-foot shot past Francesco Toldo and in off the post.
It was the perfect demonstration of Henry’s remarkable ability – pace, strength, skill and lethal finishing.
There was more for Arsenal’s fans to enjoy as Inter’s defence fell to pieces. Henry helped set up a fourth goal for Edu before Jeremie Aliadiere, on as a substitute, played in Robert Pires to complete an incredible 5-1 scoreline.
4. Arsenal 2-1 Barcelona – 2011
The greatest football team in a generation came to the Emirates in confident mood especially having knocked out Arsenal from the Champions League a year earlier.
Lionel Messi, Xavi, David Villa, Andres Iniesta – the names just rolled off the tongue – but the Gunners had wanted to put the record straight.
Barca were famous for their passing style of attractive football but Arsenal also wanted to prove they can play pretty football. It was a mouth-watering tie.
The Spanish side dominated the opening period and went ahead through David Villa. But Arsenal never let their heads drop and inspired by Jack Wilshere grew in confidence.
Robin van Persie drew the sides level before a classic Arsenal counter-attack saw Andrey Arshavin secure a valuable win and a first-leg lead.
Arsene Wenger’s men proved they could mix it with the best club in the world.
3. Arsene Wenger clinches first Premier League title – 1998
Just 10 months after Arsene Wenger was appointed manager he had guided the Gunners to their first ever Premier League title.
Bolstered by shrewd signings such as Emmanuel Petit, Marc Overmars and Nicolas Anelka, Wenger and Arsenal were set for an all-out assault on the 1997/98 title.
Success looked unlikely when the Gunners were plagued by inconsistency early on in the campaign.
A 3-1 home defeat to Blackburn on December 13 was the nadir, but also the catalyst for a 26-match unbeaten run.
Arsenal needed just three points from their remaining three games to lift the trophy but with tough trips to Anfield and Villa Park to follow, the visit of Everton to Highbury on May 3 was crucial.
Toffees defender Slaven Bilic headed into his own net early on before two Marc Overmars strikes all but secured the title. A carnival atmosphere began to spread but the season’s most memorable moment was yet to come.
With seconds remaining on the clock, ‘Mr Arsenal’ Tony Adams burst forward from well inside the Arsenal half and collected a pass from defensive partner Steve Bould.
The captain chested the ball down and rammed an unstoppable left-foot shot into the corner. Four-nil. Arsenal were champions again.
2. Arsenal clinch the double at Old Trafford – 2002
Sylvain Wiltord will never be forgotten after scoring the goal which clinched the Double at Old Trafford.
The 2001/02 title race was closely-fought and full of twists and turns, but Arsenal pulled clear of Manchester United and Liverpool by winning their final 13 Premier League fixtures.
Few begrudged Arsene Wenger’s side its success as they scored in every single league game en route to the title. That was a testament to their manager’s attacking ethos.
For once, the FA Cup final was played before the climax of the season. Arsenal beat Chelsea 2-0 with goals from Ray Parlour and Freddie Ljungberg.
The headed to Old Trafford four days later in high spirits, needing just a point to complete the club’s third Double.
Despite the absence of Tony Adams, Thierry Henry, Dennis Bergkamp and Player of the Year Robert Pires, Arsenal were not going to be denied.
Wenger’s men controlled much of the game and it was no surprise when the visitors broke the deadlock 12 minutes into the second half.
Parlour won possession and fed Ljungberg, who broke into the penalty area before firing a low shot towards goal. Fabien Barthez parried but Wiltord slammed in the rebound.
A ‘Champions Section’ banner took pride of place in the away end at Old Trafford. After the final whistle, the gold-shirted Gunners sprinted over to their fans to enjoy one of the proudest moments.
1. Invincibles win the Premier League at White Hart Lane – 2004
What could possibly beat lifting the title at Old Trafford? Well doing it at White Hart Lane of course!
The Gunners clinched their second championship title at the ground of their most fierce rivals – the first being in 1971.
Arsenal were currently unbeaten in all 33 league games that season and the title was surely going to Arsene Wenger but the only dispute was where it would be secured.
Second-placed Chelsea were beaten by Newcastle in an earlier kick-off, so Arsenal’s task became clearer – one point in the north London derby to be crowned champions.
The visitors raced out of the blocks and took a third-minute lead through Patrick Vieira thanks to fine work from Thierry Henry and Dennis Bergkamp.
The Dutchman set up the second with a beautifully-weighted pass for Vieira as the skipper surged into the penalty area and cut the ball back for Robert Pires.
Spurs fought back to earn a point but only because Arsenal took their foot off the gas, but the Tottenham faithful still had to watch the Arsenal clinch the league.
Arsenal fans have been reminding the enemy of it ever since.
It must really grind the gears of the Tottenham supporters to know Arsenal have won more Premier League title a White Hart Lane than their own team.