Arsenal won two Premier League titles in the 1990s; the first under the guidance of George Graham and the second with Arsene Wenger in the dugout.
Both managers earned themselves legendary status for their achievements with the Gunners but they had their own distinctive styles that helped them to secure trophies.
Even so, many of the players who played such a key role in the club’s success over that period were pivotal in both the Graham and Wenger eras.
Arsenal’s defence specifically changed very little from the early 90s to the late 90s, and Wenger, in particular, was smart enough to recognise the key strengths of the backline that had proven so stubborn during Graham’s time at the club.
“Boring, Boring Arsenal” and “1-0 to the Arsenal” were common chants, and they were borne out by the Gunners being very difficult to score against.
Wenger brought attacking flare to North London
When the Frenchman was appointed Arsenal boss in 1996, the club had gone through a period of turmoil, following Graham’s controversial departure and Bruce Rioch’s failure to steady the ship.
While some managers would have been tempted to rip things up and start again, Wenger opted for a gradual evolution rather than a revolution. As mentioned, he kept the trusted old guard at the back but he began to add his French flare.
Talented midfielders and strikers arrived; some of those signed were unknowns who would go on to greatness during their time at Highbury. Without breaking the bank, Arsenal emerged as the main challengers to the juggernaut that was Manchester United in the late ’90s and into the early 2000s.
Deciding Arsenal’s Best XI of the 1990s
With so many talented players to choose from, spanning two successful eras, it is a tough challenge to decide a Best XI for the decade, but it has been attempted nonetheless.
