Robert Pires: The Pioneer of Inverted Wingers in Premier League

LONDON, England — Nearly 14 years have passed since Robert Pires last appeared on an English football pitch during his brief career at Aston Villa. However, the tactical legacy he left as one of the first inverted wingers in Premier League history remains influential to this day.

Pires debuted for Arsenal in 2000, joining a league still predominantly featuring right-footed players on the right and left-footed players on the left. Despite a few exceptions from the previous era, such as George Best and Chris Waddle, the concept of inverted wingers was still seen as unusual. Yet, Pires, along with contemporaries like Marc Overmars and Chelsea’s Damian Duff, began to shift the paradigm of wing play.

Today’s Premier League showcases a plethora of inverted wingers, including Mohamed Salah, Son Heung-min, and Bukayo Saka, whose contributions have become essential to modern tactical setups. Pires’ transition to the left flank, urged by his Metz coach Philippe Hinschberger, proved pivotal. “He convinced me that I could thrive on the left,” Pires reflected during an interview with The Athletic. “I said, ‘But, coach, I’m right-footed. I can’t play on the left!’ But after trying it, I felt comfortable.”

This comfort led to newfound advantages as Pires adjusted his gameplay to exploit opposing defenses. Utilizing his right foot while positioned on the left often left defenders guessing. “Defenders weren’t prepared for a right-footer cutting inside,” he explained. “They didn’t know what to do with me.”

His signature ‘stop-start’ dribble became a hallmark of his style. Pires would feign to accelerate past defenders before abruptly halting, leaving them unbalanced. “It developed into my trademark,” he said. “Once your brain has got hold of something like that, it becomes instinctive.”

One notable example was against Liverpool in December 2001, where Pires danced around Steven Gerrard, creating an assist for Freddie Ljungberg. “Game over,” he said while grinning at review footage. “That was a huge moment.”

Manager Arsène Wenger promoted Pires primarily as a left winger upon his arrival at Arsenal, a decision that required some adjustment. Pires took pride in his contributions to Arsenal’s style during his tenure, mentioning that modern wingers have adopted his approach, “I think Arsène revolutionised things by putting me on the left. It unsettled teams.”

Now a pundit for French TV, Pires remains involved in football analysis. During recent evaluations of modern wingers, he highlighted players like Bukayo Saka and Mohamed Salah as exemplary talents. “Saka is among Europe’s best,” he observed. “He knows when to attack and always offers a pass.” Pires further praised Salah’s positional awareness and anticipation, noting that both players embody aspects of modern wing play that he helped popularize.

Reflecting on his influence within the sport, Pires summarized his impact succinctly: “I find it incredible that young players today play inverted. Thirty years later, they’re all like that.”