MY ACCOUNT
There has been no shortage of superstars at Highbury and the Emirates Stadium over the past 30 years.
From the double winners of 1997-98 to the ‘Invincibles’ of 2003-04, Arsenal supporters have witnessed their fair share of the game’s greatest talents strut their stuff in North London.
But which Gunners icons stood out above all the rest?
LiveScore turn the spotlight on the five greatest players to pull on a red and white shirt during the Premier League era.
Tony Adams
Only David O’Leary has played more times for Arsenal than one-club man Tony Adams.
The legendary Gunners captain racked up a staggering 672 appearances across all competitions, lifting an impressive nine major trophies over a 19-year career.
Adams’ greatest strength was his ability to move with the times — winning major honours in the 80s, the early Premier League years and after Arsene Wenger’s revolution at Highbury.
A powerful leader on the pitch despite battling alcoholism in his personal life, nobody is more synonymous with Arsenal than their long-serving centre-back.
Ian Wright
With 185 goals in just seven seasons at Highbury, Ian Wright is a bona fide legend in North London.
The charismatic frontman hit 30 goals or more in four separate campaigns, netting a career-best 35 in 1993-94.
He won the European Cup Winners’ Cup that year — despite missing the final against Parma — after securing a domestic cup double the previous season.
A key figure in the side up until his departure in 1998, it took until 2005 for Thierry Henry to break Wright’s all-time club goalscoring record.
Patrick Vieira
Patrick Vieira’s infamous midfield battles with Roy Keane epitomised Arsenal and Manchester United’s title fights in the late 90s and early 2000s.
And, speaking in 2016, Keane was full of praise for his old adversary.
He said: “I don’t think we’ll ever be bosom buddies buying each other a drink in the pub but out of everybody I ever faced as a player, he drove me to become better.
“Obviously Arsenal were the team that really challenged Manchester United and, for a short time, went past us. And as their leader Patrick was immense.
“Without doubt I’d put him alongside [Zinedine] Zidane, [Paul] Scholes, [Steven] Gerrard and [Frank] Lampard as one of the very best I’ve ever played with or against, he was that good.
“On his day, when he was driving Arsenal on with the sheer force of his personality, he was unplayable.”
One of Wenger’s most transformative signings, Vieira succeeded Adams as captain and won seven major honours with the Gunners — most notably skippering the 2003-04 team that went an entire season unbeaten.
Dennis Bergkamp
Arsenal’s transition into a modern footballing force was spearheaded by Dennis Bergkamp following his arrival from Inter Milan in 1995.
A remarkable technician with a deadly first touch and an abundance of flair, the Dutch star scored a series of sensational goals in his 11 years with the Gunners.
The best of the bunch was his bamboozling turn and finish against Newcastle during the 2001-02 campaign, voted the best goal of the Premier League era in 2017.
Though never prolific — hitting double figures in the league for the last time in 1999 — Bergkamp’s unique combination of creativity and potency in the penalty area made him one of the top-flight’s most unpredictable attackers.
Thierry Henry
With four Premier League Golden Boot awards to his name, there can be little doubt that Thierry Henry is the greatest striker ever to play for the Gunners.
The numbers speak for themselves — Arsenal’s legendary No14 scored 228 times in 377 matches, helping the North Londoners win two league titles, two FA Cups and make it to the Champions League final in 2006.
Originally a winger before being converted into a centre forward by Wenger, the Frenchman reached the 30-goal mark in five different seasons and struck fear into the hearts of defences throughout England.
An effortless finisher with sublime movement, Henry will go down in history as one of the greatest players ever to grace the Premier League.
