From Tony Adams to Sol Campbell, the Arsenal boys from England are plenty despite the influx of foreign players into London.
Tony Adams
The Arsenal legend Tony Adams played his entire 22-year career as center-back with the club, captaining 14 of them. He also remains the only player in Premiership history captain to win three titles in three different decades. Known as “Mr Arsenal,” Adams is one of 5 player statues commemorated at Emirates Stadium.
Sol Campbell
Criticized by Tottenham fans for his controversial move to crosstown rivals Arsenal in 2001, Sol Campbell developed into a cornerstone for the Gunner defense. The man Arsene Wenger often referred to as a ‘super rock,’ helped the club achieve the double in 2002 and played an important role on the side that went undefeated in the 2003-04 season.
Ashley Cole
Ashley Cole played for his boy club Arsenal for seven seasons before a messy transfer saga led to his departure to Chelsea. Cole played 156 games for the Gunners, helping them win two league titles and three FA Cups. He’s considered by some to be the best left back in the world in his prime, much of the time he spent Chelsea.
Ian Wright
A prolific goal-scorer, Ian Wright spent seven years with the Gunners where he notched 185 goals and won five trophies. He remains second on Arsenal’s all-time scoring list behind the one and only, Thierry Henry. Wright’s antics both on and off the field also made him a cult favorite among fans.
David Seaman
Signed in 1990 by then Arsenal coach George Graham, David Seaman went on to win the 1990-91 league title while conceding just 18 goals all season. He won the Double twice after that with Arsene Wenger at the helm, in both the 1998 and 2002 seasons.
Martin Keown
The Arsenal legend played a central role in the Arsenal defense, helping provide well-timed tackles to break up offensive attacks. A three-time Premier League champion and four-time FA Cup winner, Keown played eleven years in 310 domestic matches with Arsenal.
Lee Dixon
The right-back made 616 appearances in his 14-year career at Arsenal, helping the team win the league and cup double twice during Wenger’s tenure. Although a defender he had an attacker’s mindset and scored 28 goals in his career.
David Rocastle
Nicknamed ‘Rocky,’ the skillful and pacy midfielder David Rocastle earned 228 caps with the club, scoring 23 goals and helping Arsenal win the league twice. With his sudden passing at the age of 33 due to cancer, Arsenal established April 1 as “David Rocastle Day,” in addition to naming a training facility after him.
Ray Parlour
The 14-year Gooner earned 464 caps and scored 32 times, playing an important role in the team’s two FA Cup and league doubles in the 1997/98 and 2001/02 seasons. During his tenure, the team won three titles, four FA Cups, a League Cup, and a European Cup Winners’ Cup.
Nigel Winterburn
The left-back played 584 games with the Gunners throughout thirteen years, extending his Arsenal career to play under the reign of Arsene Wenger. The Englishman won two First Division titles, a Premier League and two FA Cups.
Brian Talbot
Known for his industriousness, the English midfielder Brian Talbot scored to seal the victory over Manchester United in the 1979 FA Cup final. He had won the title the year before with his former club, Ipswich Town, becoming the first player in a century to win back to back FA Cups. He scored 49 goals in 327 matches, helping the Arsenal side to a runner’s up at the European Cup Winners’ Cup and another FA cup as well.
