The best ten players ever to wear the famous red shirt of Arsenal. This article was courtesy of the always brilliant fanatix.
10. Pat Jennings
Pat Jennings is one of Arsenal’s greatest ever goalkeepers, despite a long career at rivals Tottenham Hotspur prior to his move to Highbury.
Jennings was the first player to ever reach 1000 appearances in the English top flight, as well as the record caps holder for Northern Ireland with 119.
9. Charlie George
Charlie George was an exciting player for Arsenal, with a talent for both creativity and goalscoring.
The boyhood Gunners supporter played 179 matches for the Gunners, scoring 49 goals, and was a vital cog in their double winning side of 1970-71.
8. Liam Brady
Liam Brady was an aesthetically pleasing midfielder to watch, with his wonderful left foot and fantastic technique helping him dominate the centre of the pitch for Arsenal.
He was instrumental in the Gunners’ FA Cup victory of 1979, and after an impressive career in Italy with the likes of Juventus and Inter Milan, Brady went on to be a hugely influential coach in Arsenal’s youth academy.
7. David Seaman
David Seaman may have pioneered the ponytail / moustache combo, but we shouldn’t hold that against him, because it’s a lesson we all learned from.
The Gunners goalkeeper was known as ‘safe hands’ for a reason, and won many plaudits for his stunning reflexes, great command of his area and underrated distribution.
6. Robert Pires
Speaking of questionable facial hair, Robert Pires.
The Frenchman was a wonderful talent on the football pitch though, gliding past players at will as Arsenal scythed through teams with their relentless counterattacking.
Pires also befriended Santi Cazorla whilst the pair were at Villarreal together, and he may have played a crucial role in the latter’s move to Emirates Stadium.
5. Patrick Vieira
Patrick Vieira has taken on near-mythical status at Arsenal, with his departure viewed as the moment the Gunners stopped challenging for trophies.
In truth, it was more likely the financing of the stadium, but it is testament to Vieira’s impact on the club that he was regarded so highly.
The French midfield general drove his team on with brilliant leadership, breaking up opposition attacks and beginning those of Arsenal, and he was one of the last great box to box players.
4. Ian Wright
Ian Wright claimed the position of highest ever Arsenal goalscorer in 1997, with 185 goals in 279 starts for the club.
He was the top goalscorer for the north London side in six consecutive seasons, and Wright deservedly goes down in history as an Arsenal legend.
3. Tony Adams
Tony Adams was Arsenal skippered in some of their brightest moments, and thanks to Arsene Wenger sticking with him despite admitting to alcohol addiction, he captained the side to Premier League and FA Cup doubles in two different decades – becoming the first player ever to do so.
Adams played 672 times for the Gunners, scoring 44 goals in a stellar career.
2. Dennis Bergkamp
Prior to the signing of Mesut Ozil, Dennis Bergkamp’s arrival at Arsenal was arguably the most glamorous transfer in modern Gunners history.
The Dutchman was an established international for his country, and was bought by Bruce Rioch from Internazionale to Highbury for a club record fee.
Despite doubts over his ability due to a tough time in Milan, Bergkamp flourished, and his style of play was glorious, easy on the eye and dangerously effective.
1. Thierry Henry
Thierry Henry overtook Ian Wright as Arsenal’s record goalscorer in 2007, and scored 228 goals for the north London side.
His long gaiting sprints into the left channel, only to cut inside and curl a low shot into the far corner became something of a trademark, and he had a habit of scoring spectacular strikes at vital moments.
Henry returned to Arsenal on loan from New York Red Bulls in 2012, scoring brilliantly from the bench against Leeds United in the FA Cup and Sunderland in the Premier League to only enhance his legend.
Like Dennis Bergkamp and Tony Adams in this list, he has been honoured with a statue by the Gunners.