Top Ten Arsenal Players of All Time

Arsenal is one of the most successful English clubs with many domestic titles under their belt. The North London club is now one of the major four clubs of English premier league in terms of league success. The club’s history traces back to 1886. Arsenal won 13 English Premiership titles so far. Naturally, the club has got many great players in its history who helped the club winning many successes. Here, I have made a list of top ten Arsenal footballers of all time. However, I would like make it clear that the list given below is based on my personal opinion. You may have your own choices in this regard. Now, enjoy the list of top ten Arsenal footballers of all time with a short introduction for each of them below:

Thierry Henry

This French striker is considered to be one of the most gifted strikers of present time. Thierry Henry holds the highest scoring record for Arsenal with 226 goals appearing in 369 matches. He got nomination for the FIFA World Player of the Year award twice but won PFA Players' Player of the Year award for two times. To many, Thierry Henry is the greatest ever footballer Arsenal got so far in the history of the club. Henry possesses the perfect blend of a striker with tremendous shooting perfection, speed, placement skill and movement. He is a versatile player capable of playing both as a striker and winger. He started his club football career in AS Monaco in 1995 and then spent a season in Juventus before his joining Arsenal.

Henry joined Arsenal in 1999 and continued playing for Arsenal. He has broken almost all the scoring records of the club before his move to Barcelona in 2007. Though his performance in AS Monaco and Juventus was not satisfactory at all, Arsenal coach Arsene Wenger realized the talent of Henry and drafted him in as a striker.

Thierry Henry did not take much time to prove his talent and started becoming the main strength of Arsenal. Henry captained Arsenal in his last two year in Arsenal. He also holds the highest scoring record of France with 44 goals from 97 appearances. With Arsenal, he won two premier league titles, three FA Cup titles and in 2006 he led Arsenal to the final of Champions league. Henry played a great role behind France’s progress to the final of 2006 world cup football.

Jimmy Brain

Jimmy Brain played for Arsenal from 1923-1931 with sheer consistency. This center forward is one of the most prolific goal scorers of all time for Arsenal with 139 goals from his 232 appearances for Arsenal. Brian was in his prime form of his career from 1924-25 to 1928-29 becoming the highest scorer of Arsenal in these four consecutive seasons. As a center forward, Jimmy Brain dominated English leagues throughout his career. However, he could never make it to the England national team despite an unsuccessful trial. However, I think, there will have hardly any argument from the Arsenal fans o the inclusion of Jimmy Brain in the list of top ten footballers of Arsenal.

Ian Wright

Ian Wright is one of the most prolific goal scorers Arsenal had ever. This skilled striker started his professional football for Greenwich Borough in 1984. However, Ian Wright joined Crystal Palace in the following season and gradually became a reliable striker of the club. Wright moved to Arsenal in 1991 with a record transfer fee of £2.5m at that time. Ian Wright continued to play for Arsenal until 1998. During his playing career in Arsenal, he scored 185 goals for the Gunners playing 288 matches. In his way to become the highest goal scorer of Arsenal, he broke the longstanding record of 178 goals made by Cliff Bastin in 1939. However, Iran Wright is the second highest goals corer for Arsenal after Thierry Henry. Ian Wright played 31 matches for England national team.

Cliff Bastin

The English footballer played for Arsenal at the golden era of the club. Joining the club in 1929, he went on to play for Arsenal till 1947 with 178 scoring from 396 appearances. Cliff Bastin held the record till 1997 when it was broken by Ian Wright. Playing at the outside left position in the field, this prolific goal scorer helped Arsenal winning lots of success in English league during his playing career. Cliff Bastin started his club career in 1928-29 for Exeter City at the age of 16. In the following season, he moved to Arsenal at the age of 17 where he ended his career. He also played 21 international matches for England team in his career scoring 12 goals. However, it was his club performance that made him one of the legendary footballers of England.

David Jack

His full name is David Bone Nightingale Jack. Jack has some record under his belt that no one will be bale to broke. First of all, he is the first footballer in the world who was transferred for more than £10,000 of transfer fee. David Jack played in Arsenal form 1928 to 1934. Scoring 124 goals from 208 matches, he is now one of the highest goal scorers of Arsenal ever. However, David Jack earlier played for Bolton Wanderers before moving to the Gunners. Though he was successful in his club career, David Jack could not make any impression in the England national team.

David O'Leary

O'Leary is the most capped Arsenal player ever with 722 appearances. This Irish international played in the center back position with sheer consistency. Coming from Arsenal youth team, he gradually became the most reliable player of Arsenal. David O'Leary started playing for Arsenal in 1975 and continued playing till 1993. He had 68 international appearances for Ireland.

Liam Brady

He is another most prolific figure of Arsenal club. As a midfielder, Liam Brady played for seven years with 307 appearances for Arsenal. Liam Brady scored 59 goals for Arsenal in his playing career. The Irish playmaker was technically skilled and played with sheer dominance throughout his career. He was in the 1979 FA Cup winner Arsenal team. Liam Brady played 72 matches for Ireland national team.

Tony Adams

Tony Adams played for Arsenal from 1984 to 2002. This talented defender helped Arsenal winning many domestic successes in his career. Tony Adams is one of those Arsenal players who played for Arsenal throughout their club football career. He is the second most capped player of Arsenal with 668 appearances for Arsenal. This English defender also made 66 national team appearances. So, I did not think twice to include him in the list of top ten Arsenal players of all time.

Douglas Lishman

Douglas John Lishman is the full name of this English footballer. Though he never could make it to the national team, he was tremendous in his club football career. Playing 244 matches for Arsenal, he scored 137 goals for Arsenal. Douglas Lishman spent his prime time of his career in Arsenal helping the side in various domestic competitions. He joined the club in 1948 and continued playing till 1956. During his career with Arsenal, he was the club’s highest scorer for five consecutive seasons. To many, he is one of the greatest ever goal scorers Arsenal got so far. In fact, there is no doubt regarding his greatness as a footballer. However, it is still a mystery that why he was not given any chance to the England national team despite his influential performances in the club level.

David Seaman

Without a goal keeper can you even think off a football match? No; not at all. I think, all of you will agree with me in this regard. What you may not agree is the inclusion of David Seaman in the list. Well, the former England international has played 563 matches for Arsenal in his 13 year stay with Arsenal. When a goal keeper can hold his place in a club for so many years with sheer consistency then it reveals the quality of the player. David Seaman was the no. 1 choice for Arsenal almost throughout his career and helped the club winning many titles. David Seaman played 75 matches for England national team.

Here are some other players who could have made it to the list of top ten footballers of Arsenal:

Joe Hulme, Patrick Vieira, Dennis Bergkamp, Nigel Winterburn, Lee Dixon, George Armstrong, Peter Storey, Cesc Fabregas, Patrick James Rice etc.

It is really very difficult to make a list of top ten footballers of a great club like Arsenal where there were so many great players played for this club. So, it is impossible to make all of you happy with the list. However, I am telling you again that this is the list which was based on my personal opinion. So, if you have your own choices about the top ten players of Arsenal then feel free to let me know about your opinion in the comment section.

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