With Arsene’s 1000th game coming up at the weekend, there are all kinds of Best XIs floating about. With a nod to the boss’s transfer market acumen, here’s our best bargain XI.

GK: Jens Lehmann £1.5m – He arrived from Borussia Dortmund and became an Invincible.

RB: Bacary Sagna £6m – The most expensive purchase but in terms of value for money he’s provided it.

CB: Sol Campbell £0.00p – Thanks Sp*rs!

CB: Kolo Toure £250,000 – He came as an eager jack of all trades, and became a top class centre-half. Sold for a profit of around £12m.

LB: Gael Clichy £400,000 – Arrived from Cannes a 17 year old rookie, played a key part in the unbeaten season, and was sold for a profit of close to £7m.

LM: Edu £600,000 – His fee was reported at £6m from Corinthians, it was much, much less than that. He really did have a cultured left foot.

CM: Patrick Vieira £3.5m – Rescued from AC Milan, he was Wenger’s second signing after Remi Garde and grew into one of the world’s best players at Highbury. Sold for a profit of £10.25m.

CM: Cesc Fabregas £0 – Snaffled from an out of contract situation at Barcelona, the Catalan ended up captaining the team before moving back to his second home for a profit of £36.5m – 1 lesser spotted van Bronckhorst.

RM: Freddie Ljungberg £3m – Arsene Wenger saw him playing for Sweden against England and immediately splashed out for the attacking midfielder who became a fans favourite and a crucial member of two title winning teams.

FW: Nicolas Anelka £500,000 – He was free but PSG took Arsenal to court and they had to pay a fee decided by arbitration. Anelka then did an Anelka and was sold to Real Madrid for £23m.

FW: Robin van Persie £2.5m – He is the Skunkiest of all Dutch Skunks, and a frustrating figure to look back on because of his injury problems, but is 8th in the all time scoring list. Profit of £21.5m after his sale to Man United where he was left by Alex Ferguson to be coached by Phil Neville.

Total cost – £18.25m

Total profit: £109.75m

(approx)