THE TELEGRAPH
Our list of the greatest players ever to grace Highbury and the Emirates for
Arsenal
Michael Thomas “Thomas,
charging through the middle … it’s up for the grabs now. Thomas! Right
at the end!” The words of Brian Moore that described perhaps the most
famous goal in English League history. It is enough to justify his place
on this list.
Frank Stapleton Made
the controversial move from Arsenal to Manchester United in 1981 but,
before that, he spent eight years at Arsenal and played in three
consecutive FA finals from 1978 to 1980. Scorer of the second goal in
the 1979 triumph against Manchester United.
Kolo Touré Arrived
at Arsenal as a midfielder in 2002 but was transformed into a
centre-back and missed only one game in the historic ‘Invincible’ season
of 2003-04.
Aaron Ramsey Should
still climb further up this list but his brilliant FA Cup-winning goal
in 2014 – to end that nine year wait for silverware – has already
guaranteed his place in Arsenal history.
David Rocastle A
player who added both pace and flair to the successful George Graham
sides of the late 1980s and early 1990s. Revered at Arsenal; his death
at the age of only 33 in March 2001 was one of the club’s saddest days.
Jens Lehmann A
key ingredient both on and off the pitch of the 2003-04 ‘Invincible’
team. He also kept 10 consecutive clean sheets in the 2005-06 Champions
League but his campaign ultimately ended with being sent off in the
final.
Paul Davis His
career at Arsenal spanned three decades and also included six trophies
although he is perhaps as well remembered for the punch that broke Glenn
Cockerill’s jaw.
Cesc Fabregas A
player with wonderful touch, vision and drive from midfield but was
sadly to leave Arsenal largely unfulfilled just as his peak years were
approaching. In hindsight, he was perhaps pushed forward too quickly by
Arsène Wenger, both into the first team and a captaincy role.
Alan Sunderland Effective
during the late 1970s and early 1980s both as a midfielderor as
striking cover for Malcolm MacDonald or Frank Stapleton. His dramatic
late winner in the 1979 FA Cup final has gone down in Arsenal folklore.
Joe Baker Played
only four seasons at Arsenal but was the top scorer in each of those,
totalling 100 goals in only 156 matches from 1962 until 1966. His pace
made him one of the most feared strikers of his era.
Robin van Persie His
decision to agitate to leave for Manchester United in 2012 will always
leave a sour taste for most Arsenal fans but his final 18 months at the
club were brilliant.
Alan Ball Man
of the match in the 1966 World Cup final and then a British record
signing in 1971 at Arsenal. Did not win a trophy at the club but scored
52 goals in 217 games and was undoubtedly one of the best midfielders in
Arsenal history.
George Graham Became
better known as the architect of Arsenal’s great defence but was a
midfielder of huge quality and a major figure in the Double-winning team
of 1971, delivering a man of the match performance in the FA Cup final.
Bob Wilson Ever-present
in Bertie Mee’s Double-winning team of 1970-1 and also helped Arsenal
to the Fairs Cup in the previous year. Went on to become the club’s
goalkeeping coach for 28 years and remains one of Arsenal’s most loyal
and popular characters.
Nicolas Anelka Another
likes Marc Overmars and Emmanuel Petit who perhaps left prematurely but
delivered the best football of their career during Arsène Wenger’s
first Double winning season in 1997-98.
Gilberto Silva The
perfect foil for Patrick Vieira in the great Invincible team of
20030-4. Arsenal have been searching for a holding midfielder of
comparable presence since his departure in 2008.
Brian Talbot A
midfielder of prodigious workrate who helped provide the foundations on
which Liam Brady could shine. Scored for Arsenal in the 1979 FA Cup
final and then played in all 70 games for the club in the 1979-80
season.
Nigel Winterburn Played
almost 600 games for Arsenal, peaking with his contribution to the
famous miserly defence of George Graham but he was still there for the
first of Arsène Wenger’s Double winning team in 1997-98.
Emmanuel Petit Combined
brilliantly with Patrick Vieira to form the midfield axis on which
Arsenal won the 1997-98 Double but was to leave for Barcelona after only
three seasons at the club.
Pat Rice Best
known in most recent years as Arsène Wenger’s loyal assistant but was
also one of the club’s great players. Joined the club as a 15-year-old
apprentice in 1964 and was part of the Double winning team of 1970-71.
Marc Overmars Just
three seasons at Arsenal but left lasting memories. His pace was a
vital component in Arsène Wenger’s first double winning team of 1997-98
and he scored the vital goal in a 1-0 win that season against Manchester
United.
Peter Storey Scored
the penalty against Gordon Banks in 1971 to help take Arsenal into the
FA Cup final and was a key part of Bertie Mee’s Double-winning squad. A
fearsome defender who was named by Johnny Giles as the hardest player he
faced.
David O’Leary Still
the all-time appearance record holder during 20 seasons at Arsenal that
spanned the mid 1970s until the start of the Premier League era. Helped
Arsenal win the 1979 FA Cup but was more of a squad player during the
winning years of George Graham.
Martin Keown His
career was a testament to his mental strength. Allowed to leave by
George Graham in 1986 but subsequently returned in 1993 and became a
trusted part of Arsène Wenger’s best squads from 1997 until 2004.
Kenny Sansom Replaced
another legendary figure in Sammy Nelson at left-back and, although he
won only a solitary League Cup with Arsenal, his place for eight
straight years in the PFA team of the year was an illustration of his
quality.
Paul Merson His
creative flair and exuberant personality are best remembered but was
also highly effective in some great Arsenal teams, particularly in
partnership with Alan Smith. Won five major trophies with Arsenal.
Ray Parlour Another
who straddled the successful teams of George Graham and Arsène Wenger
to become one of the most decorated and popular players in Arsenal
history with nine major trophies.
Lee Dixon Spent
15 seasons at Highbury and, like Tony Adams, adapted brilliantly to the
differing philosophies of George Graham and Arsène Wenger. A complete
full-back whose quality surely merited more than 22 England games in
just about any other era.
Alan Smith An
all-round striker who brought far more than his 115 goals to the
Arsenal team. He was, though, still the scorer of two of the most
important goals in Arsenal’s history. He scored the first (and set up
the second) when Arsenal beat Liverpool 2-0 to win the 1989-90 League
title and then scored the winning goal in the 1994 European Cup Winners’
Cup final.
Ashley Cole His
contribution was inevitably sullied by the circumstances that
surrounded his departure but still an authentic Arsenal (and Chelsea)
great. Linked brilliantly down the left with Robert Pires and Thierry
Henry in the wonderful Arsenal teams of 2001-02 and 2003-04.
Eddie Hapgood Played
440 times for Arsenal spanning 17 years in what was a golden era for
the club. An Arsenal captain, he was the winner of five league titles
and two FA Cups during the 1930s.
Freddie Ljungberg Not
quite at the level of a Robert Pires or a Dennis Bergkamp but not so
very far behind. A tireless worker for the team, the scorer of important
goals and particularly influential in the Double-winning season of
2001-02.
John Radford Behind
only Cliff Bastin, Thierry Henry and Ian Wright in the all-time list of
Arsenal goalscorers. Scored in the 1970s Fairs Cup final and, as well
as scoring 21 times in the Double-winning team season of 1970-71, he
provided the assists for the two goals that clinched the 1971 FA Cup.
David Jack Described
by Herbert Chapman as one of the best signings he ever made. Scorer of
the first ever goal at Wembley and a vital part of the Arsenal team that
dominated English football in the 1930s.
Frank McLintock Arrived
at Arsenal for a club record £80,000 and ultimately led them both to
the Fairs Cup of 1970 and then their first league and FA Cup double in
the following season.
Sol Campbell His
move from Tottenham to Arsenal in 2001 was hugely controversial but he
helped Arsenal deliver regular silverware over the next four years. The
defensive rock in the Invincible team and also scored in the 2006
Champions League final.
Charlie George Watched
Arsenal from the stands as a boy and then delivered one of the greatest
moments in the club’s history when he sealed the club’s first Double in
1970-71 with a wonderful strike past Ray Clemence in extra-time of the
FA Cup final.
Pat Jennings Achieved
the rare feat of legendary status both at Arsenal and Tottenham for his
brilliance as a goalkeeper. Helped Arsenal win the 1979 FA Cup and also
reach the subsequent European Cup Winners’ Cup final.
George Armstrong Behind
only David O’Leary in the list of all-time Arsenal appearances. A
provider of numerous goals in the 1970-71 Double-winning team and later
returned to the club on George Graham’s coaching staff.
Ted Drake A
phenomenal strike-rate of 134 goals in 184 games meant that he topped
the scoring charts in each of his five full seasons at Arsenal during
the 1930s. He also helped the team to two league titles and an FA Cup.
Liam Brady His
curling shot against Tottenham in the 5-0 win at White Hart Lane in
1978 remains the stuff of legend and was among Europe’s best for a
period in the 1970s and 1980s. The only slight caveat for Arsenal was
that the 1979 FA Cup win was his only trophy in seven years at the club.
Ian Wright A
true cult hero among fans, a huge dressing-room personality and a
brilliant goalscorer. Finished his Arsenal career with 185 goals and
five trophies.
David Seaman His
signing for £1.3 million was considered a gamble in 1990. By the time
he left on the high of winning the 2003 FA Cup, it looked like one of
George Graham’s most astute decisions.
Robert Pires Arrived
as the replacement for Marc Overmars and duly proved himself to be a
considerable upgrade. A goalscoring winger who reached his peak at the
same time as Arsenal between 2001 and 2004.
Cliff Bastin Spotted
by the legendary Herbert Chapman at the age of 17. Scored 178 times in
398 games but more striking still is the five league titles and two FA
Cups. Would have won even more had war nor intervened.
Alex James The
captain and talisman of the Arsenal team that won a hat-trick of titles
from 1933-1935. His swagger made him a huge crowd favourite. Tom Finney
said that he was “pure magic” and his hero.
Dennis Bergkamp His
creative brilliance and moments of wizardry were what set him apart but
also a pure winner in helping Arsenal to seven trophies in his 11
seasons at the club.
Patrick Vieira Arsenal’s
on-field leader in the finest team in their history. It was no
coincidence that, after his departure in 2005, the wait for another
trophy lasted almost a decade.
Tony Adams An
iconic figure in English football’s most revered defence. Played almost
700 games for Arsenal, largely as captain, and was part of trophy
winning teams that spanned great eras of both George Graham and Arsène
Wenger.
Thierry Henry The
club’s greatest goalscorer and surely also their finest player. Was
blessed to play alongside Dennis Bergkamp, Robert Pires and Patrick
Vieira but his pace, finishing and sheer desire would have made him a
great in any era.