Mail Sport with the help of our readers is on a mission to find the greatest player of all-time at each of the 20 Premier League clubs.
Today it’s the turn to look at the legends of Arsenal from 1930s hero Cliff Bastin to Thierry Henry and Patrick Vieira.
And once you’ve made up your mind who is all the best-ever, it’s time to vote…
Arsenal have been in England’s top division since 1919, won more championships (13) than anyone bar Manchester United and Liverpool and have lifted the FA Cup a record 14 times.
Herbert Chapman built their first great team which won a hat-trick of consecutive league titles in the 1930s.
Cliff Bastin was Arsenal’s biggest star in the 1930s and found the net with regularity
Alex James (left) often caused numerous problems for Arsenal’s opponents
Ted Drake achieved the remarkable feat of scoring seven goals in one game against Aston Villa
Cliff Bastin was their biggest star, his tally of record of 178 goals in 395 games remaining until broken by Ian Wright decades later. He was the prototype for Mo Salah, a winger who cut inside and scored regularly. He won a total of five championships for Arsenal.
Often the assists were provided by Alex James, ‘Wee Alex’ who barely topped five foot tall ‘left the opposition looking on his departing figure with amazement’ according to George Allison, who succeeded Chapman in the hot seat.
Ted Drake was immortalised by scoring seven goals in a single game at Aston Villa in 1935 – something that’s never been repeated in the First Division or Premier League since.
But Arsenal only scaled those heights again as a team when they won the Fairs Cup in 1970 and a first League and FA Cup Double the following year.
Captain Frank McLintock was regarded as an incredible leader and winger George Armstrong served the club for almost two decades – his total of 622 appearances is still third on the all-time list. ‘Geordie’ as he was known either scored or assisted almost half of the Gunners goals in their ’71 league triumph.
Local hero Charlie George was the fans’ favourite and marked his FA Cup winner against Liverpool with the game’s most famous celebration, flat on his back arms outstretched on the Wembley turf.
Frank McLintock, a remarkable leader, served Arsenal superbly for almost two decades
Local hero Charlie George was a fan favourite and produced some iconic moments
World class star Liam Brady was sensational for Arsenal and ended up signing for Juventus
The Irish contingent were integral to Arsenal reaching three consecutive FA Cup finals 1978-80. Liam Brady was considered world-class and ended up at Juventus as the sole permitted overseas star, winning Serie A alongside Zoff, Cabrini, Scirea and Gentile.
Brady’s Republic of Ireland team-mate David O’Leary played a record 722 times for Arsenal, spanning the Terry Neill era to George Graham’s all-conquering side of the late 1980s and early 90s.
Arsenal won six major trophies under Graham including the 1989 league title captured in the dying seconds at the home of rivals Liverpool.
Tony Adams was Graham’s eyes and ears on the pitch and regarded as one of the best leaders ever seen in the British game. He was England’s captain at Euro 96.
David Rocastle was the fans’ idol and hugely influential in encouraging a generation of black fans to watch football at a time and help turn the tide against racism.
David O’Leary played 722 times for Arsenal and remains the club’s record appearance maker
Tony Adams possessed superb leadership qualities and spent his entire career at Arsenal
David Rocastle was the fans’ idol and hugely influential in encouraging a generation of black fans to watch football
Alan Smith scored the winner against Parma in the 1994 Cup Winners’ Cup final
Ian Wright remains hugely popular with Arsenal supporters for his contribution to the club
Alan Smith twice won the Golden Boot for league top scorer in Arsenal’s championship seasons and scored the winner in the 1994 European Cup-Winners’ Cup Final. By then, Ian Wright was at the club and was pure box office for the manner in which he scored all types of goals. ‘Ian Wright, Wright, Wright’ was the primary terrace chant as he eventually broke Bastin’s goal record.
Arsenal were then revolutionised under Arsene Wenger whose impact on the whole Premier League was seismic.
Their creative genius was Dennis Bergkamp, whose goals sometimes defied the laws of physics. His flick and turn past Newcastle’s Nikolas Dabizas to score in 2002 was so audacious, people still dispute two decades later whether he meant it.
When Thierry Henry was asked for the best player he worked with, the Frenchman ignored the claims of his former Barcelona team-mate Lionel Messi to reply: ‘Dennis Bergkamp.’
Bergkamp was still at Arsenal when The Invincibles became the first and so far only team to go through a whole league season unbeaten in 2003-04.
Dennis Bergkamp’s unbelievable goal against Newcastle sums up his unique qualities
Thierry Henry is Arsenal’s all-time record scorer and was a crucial key for the Invincibles
Patrick Vieira also played a hugely important part in some of Arsenal’s successes
But by then the two most influential players were both French, Thierry Henry and Patrick Vieira.
Vieira became the Arsenal captain and an irresistible force, his duels with Roy Keane of Manchester United becoming the stuff of legend.
As for Henry, there is now a statue of him outside their new stadium at The Emirates. Mention the phrase va-va-voom in a football context, and it can only mean him. He’s still famous enough to front an advertising campaign for Walker’s crisps with David Beckham.
Regarded as a genius, he regularly tops votes for the Premier League’s greatest overseas star.
Arsenal haven’t been champions since he left despite the best efforts of Robin van Persie and Cesc Fabregas. Maybe in five or 10 years, Bukayo Saka will deserve to be mentioned in the same breath.
Cesc Fabregas’ amazing passing ability was a joy to watch for Arsenal supporters
Robin van Persie scored 132 goals for Arsenal before leaving for Manchester United
Current star Bukayo Saka could eventually lay claim to being Arsenal’s greatest ever player
To select your greatest Arsenal player, click on the voting button or email [email protected] if you want to choose someone not on the shortlist.
We will reveal the results of the greatest all-time player for all 20 Premier League clubs before the start of the 2024-25 season.