Robert Pires: Five reasons the ex-Gunner could be a star for Aston Villa and one he'd rather forget...



As the fixture list would have it, Robert Pires’ first game at Villa Park is set to be against Arsenal, the club where he made such a huge impression in the Premier League.

Pires is fondly remembered by Gunners fans for stunning goals, crucial assists and having an almost telepathic understanding with fans' favourite Thierry Henry.

At 37, the Frenchman’s best years are clearly behind him, but as the saying goes ‘class is permanent’ and with this in mind Sportsmail looks back at the why Gunners fans should be wary of the once wispy-bearded one with a selection of the best of the 84 goals he netted while at the North London club.

v Tottenham Hotspur

Take your pick. Pires astonishingly scored against Arsenal’s bitter north-London rivals every season he was at the Gunners, finding the net eight times in all including the winner in the FA Cup semi-final in 2001.



A familiar sight for Spurs fans was to see yet another crisp Arsenal move end with the Frenchman storming into the box to apply a one-touch finish.



One of the eight: Robert Pires (7) nets the winner against Tottenham in the 2001 FA Cup semi-final

His best effort was in the 2001/02 season at White Hart Lane. Sensing a goal scoring opportunity 25 yards out he stole possession off his own team-mate to hit a first-time curler into the bottom corner that Neil Sullivan in the goal could not stop despite getting a hand to it.



v Middlesbrough

Pires had rapidly improved after a slow first season at Highbury and he emerged as a key player to the Arsenal side that would go on to win the double in 2002.



Having gained more and more momentum as the season went on he raised the bar on his own personal performances further with another stunning one touch finish.



Too easy: Robert Pires punishes Middlesbrough

Again 25 yards out central to goal, he waited for a high loose ball to bounce before lacing it in the corner past a completely off guard Mark Schwarzer who just didn’t see it coming.

v Aston Villa



Pires would go on to win the Football Writers Player of the Year in 2002, no doubt off the back of him leading the Premier League assists chart and also through moments of genius.



Perhaps his present club Aston Villa were still watching replays of the astonishing goal he scored against them in 2002 when they decided to bring him back to the

Premier League.

Wonder goal: Robert Pires celebrates his strike against Villa in 2002

Back then in a match at Villa Park Pires scored one of the goals of the season. Looking to control a high ball his first touch completely fooled the incoming George Boateng by poking the ball into the penalty area before lobbing Peter Schmeichel with his next.



v Southampton



Unstoppable: Pires scores against the Saints

Arsenal failed to retain their title in the 2002/03 season but did have the consolation of defeating Southampton in the FA Cup final.



However it was the 6-0 win against the Saints in their penultimate game of the season that Gunners fans will have fond memories of.



Despite netting a hat-trick Pires failed to claim the match ball after Jermaine Pennant had scored his treble first but he did have the game’s best goal which Arsenal fans rate their 22nd best ever.



Saints right-back Paul Telfer made a hash of bringing the ball under control 25 yards and Pires capitalised to hit a stunning first-time effort from the corner of the penalty area which went up and over a stunned Paul Jones who could only grasp at thin air.

v Liverpool



If Pires was a key part of Arsenal’s double winning side then he would prove crucial towards their ‘invincible’ season in 2003/04, scoring a key but as ever stunning goal at Anfield.



Receiving the ball back from the Liverpool area he took two touches towards the centre of the pitch before curling an unstoppable shot across goal into the top corner with Jerzy Dudek between the sticks getting nowhere near.



Ooh la-la: Pires lets Liverpool fans know just what a great goal that was

The Reds were again the victims a season later at Highbury when Pires proved he could hit a dead ball just as effectively by blasting a 20 yard free-kick into top corner. It said much about the technique that Dudek hardly moved to defend his near post.



PS... but Aston Villa will hope he doesn’t do anything like this

Pires will go down as being one of the Premier League’s great players but he will also be remembered for struggling to get the basics right with the worse penalty ‘miss’ of all-time.

In a league match with Manchester City at Highbury during the 2005/06, he looked to get a small touch on his spot-kick to allow Thierry Henry to storm in and blast the ball past a wrong footed David James.



Air shot: Robert Pires misses the ball when trying to set Thierry Henry up from a penalty

Well that was the plan, Pires failed to touch the ball in his ‘feigned kick’ and an onrushing Henry knew the chance had gone when he ended up running past the ball.

Villa fans will be hoping that their older Pires is also wiser.













