When Arsene Wenger descended on Highbury and metaphorically planted the blue, white and red tricolour in 1996, it opened the door to an influx of France's finest talents making the switch to Arsenal.
A total of 26 players joined the club during Wenger's tenure as manager and a number of those were vital in the club's trophy-laden success in the early phases of his reign through to the start of the 21st century.
More have donned the famous Arsenal shirt since Wenger departed, although William Saliba is currently the Gunners' sole French representee.
We've taken a look at the French players who have made the most appearances for Arsenal in all competitions.
180 appearances
Joining from Auxerre in 2006 at the age of 20, Diaby was blighted by injuries through his stint in north London but still managed to clock up 180 appearances over a nine-year period for Marseille.
206 appearances
Lacazette was purchased from Lyon for a club-record fee in 2017 and scored 71 goals for club, helping them to lift the FA Cup trophy in 2020.
The striker remained with the Gunners until 2022 when he returned to Lyon upon the expiration of his contract.
246 appearances
A dependable utility player during his time with Arsenal, Flamini clocked over 200 appearances for the club across two spells.
The central midfielder left the Gunners to join Milan in 2008 but returned after an injury-disrupted five years in Italy, earning a contract after initially returning to London Colney to maintain his fitness.
His second stint lasted three years before a switch to Crystal Palace followed.
253 appearances
Hot property following a title-winning campaign with Montpellier in 2012, Arsenal won the race to acquire Giroud's services for a £9.6m fee.
Considered a cult icon on the terraces of the Emirates, the striker netted 105 goals for the Gunners in a six-year stay, including his famous scorpion kick against Crystal Palace.
264 appearances
Clichy was just 18 when Wenger personally made the trip to his family home in Tournefeuille with the offer of an Arsenal contract.
Initially covering for Ashley Cole, the left-back made the position his own following the Englishman's departure to Chelsea and Clichy was a mainstay in the Gunners backline before joining Manchester City in 2011.
284 appearances
Courtesy of Wenger's shrewd transfer dealing, Pires was plucked from Metz for £6m in 2000 and would prove to be a vital cog in Arsenal's all-conquering machine in the early 2000s.
A member of Arsenal's Invincibles, the fleet-footed winger was named in the PFA Team of the Year three seasons running.
He joined Villarreal in 2006 but remains revered by the Gunners faithful.
284 appearances
Tied with Pires on 284 appearances for Arsenal, Sagna joined the Gunners from Auxerre in 2007 and immediately endeared himself to supporters with an eye-catching maiden campaign that resulted in his PFA Team of the Year inclusion.
He helped the club to FA Cup glory in 2014 before leaving for pastures new upon the expiry of his contract, where he joined Manchester City.
353 appearances
Koscielny was purchased from Lorient in 2010 with Arsenal facing a shortage of personnel in defence and was a constant figure in the Gunners' backline under Wenger's stewardship.
The central defender had the honour of captaining the club and added three FA Cup titles to his trophy haul, although his time in N7 concluded in somewhat acrimonious circumstances.
377 appearances
The blistering speed, exquisite technique and sublime finishing: Henry remains Arsenal's greatest ever player.
Signed from Juventus following an unsettling spell in Turin, Henry was moulded into a striker by Wenger and became one of the Premier League's most prolific goalscorers.
By the time the Frenchman departed for Barcelona in 2007, he'd scored a club record 228 goals for the Gunners.
405 appearances
Arriving alongside Wenger in 1996, Vieira was a relative unknown following a brief spell with Milan.
Almost instantly, the physically imposing central midfielder stamped his authority on the Premier League and was the centrepiece of Arsenal's glory years.
One of the greatest players to have graced England's top flight, Vieira's last act in an Arsenal shirt was to score the decisive spot-kick against Manchester United in the 2005 FA Cup final.