As Arsene Wenger heads towards his 20th anniversary of being Arsenal manager on October 1, Telegraph Sport ranks the manager's 20 best players during that time

The below list, which will undoubtedly infuriate many readers, has been chosen based on the players’ achievements and abilities during their time working with Wenger at Arsenal. Tony Adams for instance receives no credit for all that he achieved before the Frenchman joined the club.

Points have also been awarded for longevity and trophies won under Wenger.

20. Nicolas Anelka (with Wenger 1997-99)

Probably an unpopular choice in this list given the way he engineered a move away from the club, Anelka was nonetheless a hugely exciting player for Arsenal between 1997 and 1999. After breaking into the team midway through the 1997-98 season, the Frenchman’s goals helped fire Arsenal to the double in 1998, including the second goal in the FA Cup final win against Newcastle. The following season Anelka was a revelation and scored 17 league goals, which led to Real Madrid buying him from Arsenal for £22.5m (he’d cost Arsenal just £500,000 two years earlier). At his best at Highbury Anelka was almost unplayable, as he allied clinical finishing with frightening pace.