Former Arsenal and Manchester City left-back Gael Clichy has revealed the three players he believes have had the biggest impact in the Premier League.
During his career, the 38-year-old enjoyed success with both clubs, winning the Premier League as part of Arsenal’s Invincibles in 2003-04, before heading north to join City, where he would claim two more league titles in 2012 and 2014.
The former defender, who announced he would retire from professional football in 2023, enjoyed a 14-year spell in the top flight and played alongside some of the best players of the Premier League era.
At Arsenal, he teamed up with legends such as Freddie Ljundgberg, Sol Campbell and Dennis Bergkamp. He would move to Man City in 2011 and win the title alongside the likes of Sergio Agüero, Carlos Tevez and Kevin De Bruyne.
While you may be a little divided when it comes to this Sunday’s crucial title race showdown between Man City and Arsenal at the Etihad, Clichy has revealed the three players he believes have “changed the league forever” .
Gael Clichy named the three players he believes have “changed the Premier League”
The 38-year-old won Premier League titles with both Manchester City and Arsenal during his career.
Clichy, pictured here with Joleon Lescott, won the Premier League title twice with Manchester City.
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And it is no surprise that the former France international’s first choice was his compatriot and legendary Arsenal striker, Thierry Henry.
“There is no doubt, Thierry Henry (about the best player he played with),” he told Super 6.
He also believed the former Arsenal striker, who scored 175 goals in 258 Premier League games, would thrive in modern football.
“Thierry himself, at certain times, played in the Premier League,” Clichy added.
“He was so good to play with and really difficult to play against, I’m pretty sure some defenders were having nightmares about him.”
“Henry is a player of 2024, his pace, power, mentality and ruthlessness.”
He also praised his former Arsenal team-mate Patrick Vieira as his second choice, before interestingly naming a former Manchester United star as the third player to have made a major impact in the top flight.
“In my opinion, three players changed the Premier League: Thierry Henry, Vieira and Roy Keane,” he said.
The former defender (center) named Thierry Henry (left) as one of the most influential stars in the league
Clichy would win the Premier League title as part of Arsenal’s Invincibles team in 2003-04.
He also named his former teammate Patrick Vieira as another player who changed the league.
Clichy played 55 games with Henry and 32 games with Vieira at Arsenal, but did not team up with Premier League Hall of Famer Keane.
The Irishman was a key figure in United’s dominant sides in the 1990s, making 366 top-flight appearances while winning a whopping seven Premier League titles, with Arsenal and United battling for the league title. between 1996 and 2004.
Keane and Vieira are also known for having one of the greatest rivalries in league history.
In terms of sheer animosity between the two former captains, their on-field disputes were pure theatre, with the pair fighting like the best of enemies over the years.
Meanwhile, Clichy will join as Henry’s assistant manager for this summer’s Olympic Games in Paris.
The pair hope to guide Les Bleus to gold at home, before the duo take charge of the French U21 team at the European U21 Championships in 2025.
Their final choice was Man United legend Roy Keane, who won seven league titles in his career.
Keane and Vieira were famous for their fights while playing for Arsenal and United.
Clichy also gave his verdict on how Mikel Arteta’s side can beat Man City on Sunday.
He also gave his verdict on who will win Sunday’s blockbuster match between Man City and Arsenal, and despite the recent dominance of Pep Guardiola’s side, he believed the north London side have the tools to secure victory at the Etihad.
“Manchester City’s weakness is that when they have possession, they often lose the second ball and can get hurt in the transition,” he said. Super 6.
‘Players like (Bukayo) Saka) and (Gabriel) Martinelli can hurt City in the transition. Keeping the ball and taking advantage of the space behind could be the key.
“If there is a team that is capable of going there and getting points, it is Arsenal.”
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