Steeped in rich history and an abundance of talented footballers, Arsenal will always remain a force to be reckoned with in English football. They may not have the trophy cabinet to match that of Liverpool or Manchester United – but they are still recognised as one of the biggest in the land.
By virtue of that fact, it’s no secret that they’ve boasted all level of talent over the years.
Arsene Wenger’s reign of the capital club saw the Gunners become of the fun-to-watch teams, inspired by their ‘sexy football’, and they have won 13 league titles since their inception in 1886, when they were founded.
But who are the creme da le creme of Arsenal footballers from past and present? There’s the likes of Declan Rice and Bukayo Saka who could be knocking on the door in the future but they do not make the cut at present.
5. Ian Wright
Now a regular on your television screens thanks to his made-for-consumption personality, many remember Ian Wright for bagging goals right, left and centre for Arsenal. He was the club’s record goalscorer for years and remains a beloved figure by supporters.
Uncle Wrighty – whose stratospheric rise to fame is one to cherish – was nothing short of clinical in the final third, as evidenced by his 185 strikes in 288 outings.
Beyond his potency and the glory of being a goal-getting centre-forward, Wright helped bridge the gap between the days of George Graham and Arsene Wenger in what were tricky times for the Gunners.
By the time he left north of the capital in 1998, the London-born striker had won the Premier League just once but, on a personal level, had established himself as one of the best to do it in Arsenal colours.
4. Tony Adams
Monikered ‘Mr. Arsenal’ for good reason, Tony Adams had the club’s ethos running through his veins. The bruising centre-back spent his entire 19-year career in north London, marshalling the back line and wearing the skipper’s armband with utter pride.
In that period, Adams played 699 times for the club and picked up four league titles – two First Divisions and the same number of Premier Leagues – and is thoroughly deserving of a spot in the top five.
He may not have captivated audiences like his fellow list-makers but the domineering leader was in a league of his own.
The defender’s brilliance was rooted in his peerless capabilities to lead a team to greatness, having done so in a period that spanned three decades. His tactical intelligence is not to be sniffed at either!
3. Patrick Vieira
Would Roy Keane agree? Well, despite their middle-of-the-park battles over the years, the Manchester United legend probably would. Patrick Vieira had that sort of arrogance about him – but he could certainly back it up with his performances.
A powerhouse of the highest standard in the engine room, the Frenchman often dwarfed his opponents – in terms of size and talent – and he also possessed the ability to drive with the ball.
Often brushing through his opposite number, Vieira redefined the role of a box-to-box midfielder after arriving as an unknown quantity at 20 years of age.
Vieira was the literal and metaphorical nucleus to the success of the Wenger era and, all in all, he played 405 matches in Arsenal red before moving to Italy to play for Juventus. A true Emirates legend is Patrick.
2. Dennis Bergkamp
You’d be hard-pressed to find a footballer in Premier League history that made football look more like performance art, wouldn’t you? Dennis Bergkamp was a joy to watch, a maverick in the truest sense, and his displays earned him the nickname ‘The Iceman’.
“If he played in the snow, he wouldn’t leave any footprints,” John Hartson once said about the Dutchman. And he’s quite right!
The Dutchman had a cute elegance about him, he did everything he wanted without warning and you could argue that he should sit at the top of the pile if we’re talking about innate talent.
Bergkamp joined from Inter Milan in 1995 and spent the latter stages of his career in England. Still, he plundered 236 goal involvements in 422 appearances, all while becoming a three-time winner of the Premier League. They just don’t make them like Bergkamp anymore.
1. Thierry Henry
The one, the only, it’s Thierry Henry. Arriving from Juventus in 1999 as a winger, who knew what the Frenchman had in store for the adoring Emirates Stadium faithful. Countless memories is the answer to that.
Whether the Gunners will possess a player of Henry’s ilk ever again remains to be seen: he had bags of pace, a lethal finish on him and he often left defenders quaking in their boots just at the mere sight of the Frenchman running at them.
Not only is he the club’s all-time record goalscorer (228 strikes) but is the most iconic of the lot. There’s no doubt about that!
As ruthless as he was stylish, Henry was a perfect all-rounder at the top of the tree and the greatest of them all. Rivals fans wished he was theirs but the Emirates Stadium faithful revelled in his beauty, week-on-week.
