Arsenal icon Robert Pires SNUBS Thierry Henry in a list of his best former team-mates as he picks France icon Zinedine Zidane and fellow Invincible Dennis Bergkamp instead
- Robert Pires snubs Thierry Henry when naming the best players he’s played with
- Instead, he picked Zinedine Zidane and Dennis Bergkamp as the two best players
- Pires was part of Arsenal’s ‘Invincible’ side that went full league season unbeaten
- The former winger also represented France in what was a trophy-laden career
- And it was Zidane and Bergkamp that stood out the most for Pires as a player
Robert Pires has sensationally snubbed fellow Arsenal icon Thierry Henry when naming the two best players he played alongside during his career – picking Zinedine Zidane and Dennis Bergkamp over him instead.
Pires formed a part of the Gunners’ ‘Invincible’ squad that went the full 2003-04 Premier League season unbeaten, with Henry spearheading the attack for the side.
The former winger also represented France at international level, playing with a host of iconic players throughout the years.
Robert Pires (left) has snubbed Thierry Henry (right) in a list of his best former team-mates
Instead, he picked Zinedine Zidane (right picture, left) and Dennis Bergkamp (left picture, left) as the two best players he’s starred alongside
But when asked who were the best players he starred alongside throughout his trophy-laden career, Pires named just two while shockingly leaving out former team-mate and compatriot Henry, who is arguably one of the greatest Premier League players of all time.
‘Zinedine Zidane [for France] and Dennis Bergkamp at Arsenal,’ Pires told L’Equipe when asked to name the best player he starred alongside.
‘I was spoiled! With both, I have progressed enormously.
‘It is not enough to copy them, it is impossible, but to observe, to learn. When I arrived in 2000 [at Arsenal], Dennis said to me: “The most important thing is the first control. It puts you in a good mood. If you miss it, you will be disturbed”.
‘He didn’t talk much. Zizou either. Both were class.’
Pires (left), Henry (right) and Bergkamp (not pictured) were part of the ‘Invincibles’ squad
Pires (left) also reserved special praise for former Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger (right)
While Zidane and Bergkamp stood out among the rest, Pires also reserved praise for former Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger, who brought him to Highbury from Marseille in 2000.
‘Arsene Wenger made me enter another dimension and made me progress,’ Pires added. ‘What confidence to come and get me to replace Marc Overmars!
‘The first six months, I really struggled, I couldn’t put one foot in front of the other, it was too hard, rough, athletic, nasty. But he felt that I could adapt.
‘On the field, with him behind you, you are free. I’m not saying I did what I wanted, each player has a mission, but I was free and wanted to have fun.’
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