Top 10 Best Arsenal Players Of All Time
- Gunther Ruler
- Nov 2
- 6 min read
Arsenal has been in top form recently, with their title charge that could bring them near the Premier League in the 2025/26 season. There is no other team that looks close to Arsenal
However, we cannot ignore the great team Arsenal has had in its history, and now we have combined the list with the top 10 Arsenal legends who have contributed so many brilliant performances for the club
This list was submitted by someone who has been following Arsenal since the 70's, so the guy is best known for his constructive criticism on Twitter. We have helped combine this list and bring it to life.
So, here is a detailed, well-reasoned ranking of the Top 10 Best Arsenal players of all time, considering their impact, legacy, achievements, and fan reverence:
10. Cliff Bastin
One of Arsenal’s earliest legends, Bastin was a prolific forward who set club scoring records in the 1930s.
His longevity and goal threat helped lay the foundation for Arsenal’s tradition of success.
His stats show how effective he was during his time at Arsenal, and at modern times, football may seem to have forgotten what Cliff stood for.
Bastin scored 178 goals in 396 games for Arsenal, making him the club's top goalscorer from 1939 until 1997, and currently third all-time.
He won five First Division titles (1931, 1933, 1934, 1935, 1938), two FA Cups (1930, 1936), and five Charity Shields, helping Arsenal dominate English football during that period.
Bastin’s career was interrupted and curtailed by injury and World War II, but he still managed to contribute significantly in wartime games and serve as an Air Raid Precautions Warden at Highbury.
Even though not a Fairytale retirement but a significant contribution was made for the Arsenal football club.
9. Freddie Ljungberg
Energetic and stylish, Ljungberg was a key player during Arsenal’s early 2000s dominance.
Known for his crucial goals and relentless work rate, he won two Premier League titles and earned a spot among Arsenal's greats.
During his Arsenal career, Ljungberg achieved significant success, winning two Premier League titles (2001-02 and 2003-04) and three FA Cups (2002, 2003, and 2005).
He scored in two FA Cup finals, including the 2002 victory over Chelsea, becoming the first player in 40 years to score in consecutive finals.
Ljungberg was instrumental in Arsenal's famous "Invincibles" season in 2003-04, where the team went undefeated in the league.
Yes, correct, he was also the main reason why Arsenal was invincible that season.
8. Charlie George
An Arsenal legend best remembered for scoring the winning goal in the 1971 FA Cup Final, which secured Arsenal's first-ever League and Cup double.
The goal came in extra time against Liverpool and is iconic not only for its importance but also for George's celebrated collapse on the Wembley turf after scoring, a moment that has become a lasting image in Arsenal history.
The trophy also came at a very crucial time as Arsenal was facing a trophy drought, and the legend delivered it to the Arsenal fans.
7. Robert Pires
A creatively gifted winger pivotal for Arsene Wenger's team during the early 2000s, Pires scored 62 league goals and provided many assists.
His contributions to Arsenal’s attacking fluidity and flair under Wenger are still fondly remembered by fans.
He was a creative and skilful left winger who contributed significantly to Arsenal winning two Premier League titles (2001-02 and 2003-04) and three FA Cups (2002, 2003, and 2005).
Pires was vital in the famous "Invincibles" 2003-04 season when Arsenal went unbeaten in the league, scoring 14 goals and providing 7 assists in the Premier League that season.
Notable moments include a spectacular chip goal against Southampton and key performances in North London derbies against Tottenham. Pires made over 280 appearances for Arsenal, scoring 84 goals, and was named the Football Writers' Association Player of the Year in 2002.
6. David Seaman
Arsenal’s long-serving goalkeeper who was a consistent presence between the sticks for over a decade.
Seaman kept goal during some of Arsenal’s most successful periods, winning three league titles and four FA Cups, known for his reliability and leadership.
5. Ian Wright
Ian Wright is one of Arsenal's most iconic and prolific strikers, playing for the club from 1991 to 1998.
Wright was signed for a then-club record fee of £2.5 million and had an immediate impact, scoring on his debut and netting a hat-trick in his first league game.
He became Arsenal's top scorer for six consecutive seasons and scored a total of 185 goals in 288 appearances, making him the club's all-time leading scorer until 1997.
Wright played a crucial role in Arsenal's successes during the 1990s, helping the team win the Premier League in the 1997-98 season, two FA Cups (1993 and 1998), the League Cup (1993), and the European Cup Winners' Cup in 1994.
He scored in both the 1993 FA Cup final and its replay, and was instrumental in Arsenal's European campaigns, although he missed the 1994 final due to suspension.
Known for his pace, instinct, and goal-scoring ability, Wright was a constant threat in the attacking third and a fan favorite for his charismatic personality and passion.
4. Patrick Vieira
The commanding midfield enforcer and leader during the early Wenger era, Vieira was crucial in winning three Premier League titles and four FA Cups.
His major achievements with Arsenal include winning three Premier League titles (1997-98, 2001-02, and 2003-04) and four FA Cups.
He was a central figure in the legendary 2003-04 "Invincibles" team that went unbeaten throughout the Premier League season, famously scoring the goal that helped seal that undefeated campaign.
Known for his fierce battles, particularly with Roy Keane of Manchester United, Vieira embodied the perfect blend of aggression, control, and tactical intelligence in midfield.
His dominance, drive, and box-to-box ability defined Arsenal’s midfield and made him one of the Premier League’s best midfielders ever.
3. Tony Adams
A legendary defensive stalwart and captain, Adams personified Arsenal's spirit and grit for almost two decades.
Adams captained Arsenal to four English league titles (1988-89, 1990-91, 1997-98, and 2001-02), including two Premier League titles under Arsène Wenger.
He also won three FA Cups (1993, 1998, 2002), two Football League Cups (1987, 1993), a UEFA Cup Winners' Cup in 1994 (the last Arsenal captain to lift a European trophy), and three FA Community Shields.
He uniquely captained Arsenal to league titles in three different decades.
Known for his leadership, defensive prowess, and the ability to score important goals, Adams famously scored a last-minute goal to clinch the 1998 Premier League title in a 4-0 victory over Everton.
He kept 115 clean sheets in 255 Premier League appearances, an outstanding record.
His leadership on and off the pitch made him Arsenal royalty.
2. Dennis Bergkamp
A true maestro with sublime technique and vision, Bergkamp was the creative genius behind Arsenal’s attacking style in the late 90s and early 2000s.
Bergkamp joined Arsenal in 1995 and became a talismanic figure known for his exquisite technique, vision, and intelligent play.
He played a major role in Arsenal’s dominance in English football, helping them secure three Premier League titles (1998, 2002, 2004) and four FA Cups.
Bergkamp was Arsenal’s top scorer in the 1997-98 season and was instrumental in their league and cup double that year.
He is remembered for iconic goals, such as a masterful flick and finish against Newcastle in 2002, celebrated as one of the Premier League’s greatest goals.
Bergkamp won the PFA Players’ Player of the Year in 1998 and is regarded as one of the finest foreign players ever to play in England
He scored 120 goals and provided countless assists while helping the club win three league titles and four FA Cups. His elegant style left a lasting impression in English football.
1. Thierry Henry
The undisputed greatest Arsenal player, Henry is the club’s all-time leading scorer and a symbol of Arsenal’s golden era under Wenger.
Henry joined Arsenal in 1999 and became the club’s all-time leading scorer with 228 goals in all competitions.
Known for his incredible finishing, skill, speed, and creativity, he won two Premier League titles (2002 and 2004) and three FA Cups (2002, 2003, 2005).
Henry was a key figure in the Invincibles team of 2003-04 that went unbeaten throughout the league season.
He won the Premier League Golden Boot four times and was named the Football Writers' Association Footballer of the Year three times.
Henry also captained Arsenal in his later years and led them to the 2006 UEFA Champions League final.
His impact and legacy at the club are immortalised with a bronze statue outside the Emirates Stadium.
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