10 Players Nobody Expected Arsenal To Sign

4. Thierry Henry

It may have been something of a surprise when Arsene Wenger decided to part with £11 million for a 22 year old French winger who had just flopped in dramatic fashion during a six-month spell at Juventus. While Henry had impressed at the 1998 World Cup with France 18 months earlier, he had surely been found out at the highest level in Italy, and with a goal return of three league strikes in 16 appearances, surely Wenger could find a more prolific wide-man? However, this section isn€™t dedicated to the capture of Arsenal€™s record goalscorer in 1999 - it was his return 13 years later which truly captured the imagination. Having bid €˜adieu€™ to the club in 2007, he would return as a hero on a two-month loan deal from New York Red Bulls€™ as a 34 year old, where he bagged an emotional winner against Leeds United.

''I came back from holiday 15 days ago. I never thought I was going to play for Arsenal again or score a winner. I don۪t know what to say. I love the club and hope I can do more. I hope it won۪t be the last one. The feeling I had when I scored was amazing. I rejoined the club as a fan. With one opportunity, it۪s very important you don۪t know if you۪ll have a second. You have to make sure you take it. I took it well.۪۪ - Thierry Henry, January 2012.

It was a magical night for the club, with the roof almost lifting off the Emirates as the supporters celebrated a goal from a man they had cast in bronze outside the stadium, and whom they never thought they would see in an Arsenal kit.

''He was already a legend here but he added just a little bit more to the whole story with that goal. It was a little bit like a dream. It was a story you would tell young kids if you want to tell them a story about football. Unfortunately it doesn۪t often happen like that in our game, but it did tonight.۪۪ - Arsene Wenger, January 2012.