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Arsène Wenger's All-Time Arsenal XI (PICTURES)

Wenger's 1000 Arsenal Games: His All-Time XI (PICTURES)
Samuel Luckhurst

Arsène Wenger will take charge of Arsenal for the 1,000th time on Saturday when they visit Chelsea in what is another crucial Premier League fixture for the Gunners.

Wenger is the longest-serving manager in English football's top flight by a considerable distance, following Sir Alex Ferguson's retirement and David Moyes' departure from Everton last year. Alan Pardew, appointed Newcastle manager in December 2010, is second to the Frenchman and Wenger is likely to extend his north London stay beyond the summer.

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Those were the days when Arsenal had a title-winning side

Since he arrived from Japan in 1996, Wenger has effected the English game considerably. In an ideal world, he would be the next England coach. A believer in youth and loyalty, it has often been his undoing over the last nine years, but his first nine years at Highbury were an extraordinary success.

And ahead of his four-figure milestone, here is his all-time Arsenal XI...

Arsene Wenger's all-time Arsenal XI
(01 of11)
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David Seaman: Played in both Double-winning sides and was much more reliable for his club than his country. Benefitted from two excellent back fours. (credit:Getty Images)
(02 of11)
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Lauren: Edges out Lee Dixon due to his five-and-a-half years in the first team. Not a particularly solid defender, Lauren was nevertheless a niggly right-back who started in three FA Cup final wins and was part of the Invincibles side. (credit:Getty Images)
(03 of11)
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Sol Campbell: In 2001, Sir Alex Ferguson overlooked Campbell, sold Jaap Stam and signed Laurent Blanc. These series events proved pivotal as Arsenal won the League for the first time in four years, along with the FA Cup. Campbell's Gunners career descended into farce when he returned overweight and over-the-hill in 2010, but for three years he was awesome. (credit:Getty Images)
(04 of11)
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Tony Adams: Rejuvenated by Wenger's coaching, Adams was gradually phased out but still started the 2002 FA Cup final and was a vital presence at the club during the late 90s influx of young foreigners. (credit:Getty Images)
(05 of11)
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Ashley Cole: A superb, homegrown left-back who bastardised his legacy when he thought a £55,000-a-week wage was beneath him. (credit:Getty Images)
(06 of11)
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Patrick Vieira: The captaincy transition was seamless thanks to Vieira. Tough, indomitable, skilful and inspirational, Arsenal have never truly replaced him. (credit:Getty Images)
(07 of11)
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Cesc Fàbregas: One of the most naturally gifted footballers to have played for Arsenal, his great regret must be that he only won one trophy during his time in north London. (credit:Getty Images)
(08 of11)
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Robert Pires: A graceful and hypnotic winger who too often sullied his brilliance with theatrics, Pires was an instrumental figure behind Arsenal's dominance of English football between 2002 and 2004. (credit:Getty Images)
(09 of11)
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Dennis Bergkamp: Arguably the most aesthetically-pleasing footballer to have graced the red shirt, however spiky he was on the pitch, Bergkamp drew admiration - and envy - from opposition fans. (credit:Getty Images)
(10 of11)
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Marc Overmars: His magnificence in the 1997-98 season alone makes him worthy of a berth in the XI. Must regret leaving for Barcelona in 2000. (credit:Getty Images)
(11 of11)
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Thierry Henry: Voted the greatest player in the club's history by supporters, Henry was consistently world class over a five-year period with Arsenal, which makes it surprising that they never managed to regain the championship during that time. (credit:Getty Images)
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