Arsene Wenger's First Arsenal Game: Who Played & Where Are They Now?

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GIVEMESPORT looks back at Arsene Wenger's first Arsenal game, the players in the starting lineup, opponent, result and more

Arsène Wenger officially took charge at Arsenal on October 1, 1996, although his first match didn't arrive until 11 days later. Contractual obligations with his former club delayed his start to life in London, and by the time he led his side out at Ewood Park on October 12, fans were eagerly waiting to see what the Frenchman had to unleash on English football.

The result was a 2-0 win at Blackburn Rovers, secured by Ian Wright's double and Arsenal's first victory at Ewood Park since 1964. It was the first of 1,235 games in charge, and the starting XI was less a Wenger side, but more of an inherited one. His starting XI featured five of George Graham's back six, two players in recovery from well-documented addictions, and a single overseas name in midfield.

Everything that followed, the titles, the Invincibles, all traces back to a wet Saturday. In Lancashire, when almost nobody knew anything about him.

Arsenal had been without a permanent manager since Bruce Rioch's dismissal in August 1996, with Stewart Houston caretaking until September 12 and Pat Rice taking over until Wenger's arrival in October.

Blackburn, champions the year before, had completely collapsed; they were still winless and bottom on three points, while the win lifted Arsenal to second place.

It didn't take long for Arsenal to get started, with Ian Wright scoring just after three minutes, and then lifting a second goal over Tim Flowers in the second half to secure all three points for the Gunners.

Wenger recalls some amusing details from his first game, such as banning chocolate and sweets from the dressing room when he first took over.

> "At halftime in the first game, I asked my physio, Gary Lewin, 'Nobody is talking, what's wrong with them?', and he replied: 'They're hungry. I hadn't given them their chocolate before the game.' It was funny!"

He also remembers being up against it right from the start, with the media unsure of what the Frenchman had to offer.

> "People were asking who I was. I was a complete unknown. And no foreign manager had ever succeeded in England. So I was in a situation where no one knew me and history was against me," he told Arsenal's official website.

The Gunners have had some world-class players turn out for them over the years.

With Wenger joining with the season already underway, he had to make do with the players already at the club. He lined up with what appeared to be a five-at-the-back formation, using wing-backs to get the best out of his side.

Fresh from a Euro 96 Team of the Tournament selection and largely untroubled at Arsenal. Injury cost David Seaman chunks of that first season, but he remained undisputed first choice, passing 400 Arsenal appearances before leaving the club. He is now frequently seen on TV and podcasts as a pundit.

Wenger kept the Graham wing backs intact, and Dixon repaid him for six more years. He stayed first choice at the club until he retired aged 38 at the end of the 2001/02 season, and has since followed the steps many former players do, becoming a television pundit, with spells at the BBC and ITV.

Deployed in a back three rather than displacing anyone. Keown returned to Arsenal in 1993 with spells at Aston Villa and Everton , and he stayed until 2004, playing alongside both Tony Adams and Steve Bould through many of his playing years. Like the others that have featured so far on this list, he is a frequent feature on TV, sometimes seen on the BBC's Match of the Day show.

When Wenger first took over, Steve Bould was already 34, and was widely expected to be phased out. Instead, Wenger's switch to a back five kept him central to the 1997/98 double before a move to Sunderland in 1999. He later returned to coach the academy whilst also serving as Wenger's assistant.

The captain had publicly confirmed his alcoholism weeks earlier, but Wenger stood by him. Adams went on to lift two league and cup doubles before retiring in 2002. He has featured on broadcasts a few times, but his Sporting Chance Clinic remains the more significant legacy post-retirement, providing mental health, emotional support and addiction treatment for current and former professional athletes.

Winterburn provided an assist during Wenger's first game, and he was integral to the defence that conceded just 33 league goals in 1997/98 and held the left-back shirt until Ashley Cole arrived. He later spent three years at West Ham before retiring, and now features on national broadcasts.

Rioch's marquee signing, David Platt was retained without fuss. He contributed four goals in 28 appearances that season before Emmanuel Petit's arrival reduced his role. Coaching took him to Sampdoria, Nottingham Forest, England's Under-21s and a title-winning stint as Roberto Mancini's assistant at Manchester City .

Only his second Arsenal appearance, and the only non-British starter. Vieira remained a stalwart in Arsenal's midfield for many years, being a part of the invincible squad and becoming infamous for his fiery relationship with Manchester United midfielder Roy Keane . Vieira has sometimes appeared as a pundit, but is more focused on his coaching career, managing Crystal Palace , Strasbourg and Genoa, and in 2026, at the time of writing, he manages Senegal.

Eighteen months on from rehabilitation, Merson was a regular in Wenger's first season and was involved in the second goal. He was sold to Middlesbrough the following summer, turning down a new contract, and is now a mainstay on Sky Sports. He admitted he had addictions to drugs and alcohol, and underwent a rehabilitation programme given by the Football Association before returning to the pitch.

Merson also enjoyed a successful year at Portsmouth , proving to be instrumental in the sides promotion to the Premier League . However, he decided he was too old to play in the top flight again and wanted a move closer to home, joining Walsall for three years.

The match-winner on the day, he had topped Arsenal's scoring charts since 1991, and left in the summer of 1998, later becoming one of British football's most recognisable broadcasters.

Prior to his Arsenal success, Wright first broke out onto the scene playing for Crystal Palace, where he scored over 100 goals in all competitions for the Eagles, earning him a move to the Gunners. He spent seven years playing for Arsenal, making over 200 appearances for the side, and once being the all-time top goalscorer for the side.

The provider for Wright's opener, Hartson was a physical striker during his playing days, and was later sold to West Ham in 1997 when Nicolas Anelka joined the side. He found his best years at Celtic , scoring over 80 goals for the side. As well as featuring as a pundit, Hartson also set up his own foundation following his battle with testicular cancer, providing support for families affected by the disease, as well as offering educational recovery to those battling gambling addictions.

15 years after his comments, and the legendary former Arsenal boss might have been proven right.

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