Arsene Wenger conducted hundreds of transfer deals during his two decades in charge of Arsenal but he believes one that cost the club just £3.5 million stands out as his best piece of business.
The legendary Frenchman revolutionised the Gunners after taking over from Bruce Rioch in the summer of 1996.
Wenger was credited with extending the careers of club legends like Tony Adams and Martin Keown by ending the drinking culture that existed at the club and brining in new fitness and dietary regimes.
Having coached in France, Wenger’s knowledge of the European transfer market also gave him a huge advantage at the start of his tenure and his contacts in his homeland proved extremely useful.
Even before his official start date, Wenger had helped engineer deals for the experienced and versatile Remi Garde, who joined from Strasbourg, and unknown French youngster Patrick Vieira.
The midfielder was known to be a huge talent in France but lost his way at AC Milan where he struggled to earn first team opportunities.
Sensing a huge chance, Wenger convinced David Dein, Arsenal’s then vice-chairman, to take the plunge on Vieira who leapt at the change to join the Gunners.
Vieira made his debut in one of Wenger’s first home games in charge, a 4-1 win over Sheffield Wednesday at Highbury.
Entering the fray as an early first half replacement for the injured Ray Parlour, Vieira took to the Premier League like a duck to water and never looked back.
Ultimately, Vieira won three league titles, captained the Invincibles and won the FA Cup with his final kick of a football for the club at which he spent nine trophy-laden years.
Speaking to Mo Farah on the Olympic legend’s YouTube channel, Wenger revealed the signing of Vieira was his most significant given the trust and confidence it helped him build with the club’s skeptical fanbase.
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‘It depends,’ he said. ‘If you look at it financially you could say many, many, many. Maybe the credibility I got first was for the first player I brought in which was Patrick Vieira.
‘People questioned ‘why do they employ Wenger?’ and after of course we have the following with Petit, Henry, Overmars. Bergkamp was already there. You have so many players, you have Kolo Toure and Luaren. But I think just the first players you bring in you are always judged on.
‘After we have so many players. People never speak about Van Persie or Fabregas who were exceptional players.
‘Van Persie scored 96 goals for Arsenal which is not far from Ian Wright.’