1. Thiery Henry
The Frenchman had exquisite technique, searing pace and surprising strength. And like the typical schoolboy superstar, he did pretty much everything for his team. Henry was the captain, the talisman, the dead-ball expert, the penalty-taker and the assist-maker.
Then there's the goals, a club record 228 of them to be precise. And what a portfolio Henry built up during his eight years as Arsenal. Thumping drives, delicate chips, jinking runs, audacious backheels, even the odd header - the Frenchman had myriad ways to find the net.
2. Dennis Bergkamp
The Dutch playmaker spent 11-years in his career with Arsenal and he is quite simply a legend of the game.
In the last two decades many one-time unknowns have left Highbury with a fearsome reputation and much-warranted acclaim. But, in a way, Dennis was an exception; he came, and left, with a world-class calibre.
His arrival signalled a daring change in outlook from the men in charge at Arsenal. George Graham had been replaced by Bruce Rioch and ‘Boring, Boring Arsenal’ was to be replaced by something altogether more beautiful. Bergkamp was the catalyst.
3. Tony Adams
Fourteen years as captain, 669 appearances and 10 major trophies, including league titles in three different decades. It's no surprise that 'Mr. Arsenal' himself is regarded as one of the Gunners' greatest-ever players.
Adams was the ultimate one-club man - a rarity in modern football - and a rock at the heart of Arsenal's defence. He thrived as the leader of the famous Back Four, developing an instinctive understanding with his centre-back partner Steve Bould and full-backs Lee Dixon and Nigel Winterburn. On an individual level, it's hard to think of a more committed, more gutsy and more inspirational footballer in Arsenal's history.
13. Nwankwo Kanu
Nigerian Olympic Gold medal winner Kanu arrived at Arsenal in 1999 already boasting an impressive haul of accolades and trophies. By the time he left north London five years later, he had added two Premier League titles and two FA Cup medals.
But it wasn’t always plain-sailing for the Nigerian striker.
In 1996, after leading his nation to Olympic glory in Atlanta, Kanu underwent a medical examination at Inter Milan - he had moved to the Italian giants from Dutch outfit Ajax Amsterdam with whom he won the Champions League - and the result was harrowing. It was revealed that the marksman was suffering a serious heart defect, and in November of that year Kanu had surgery to replace an aortic valve.
Far from let the adversity get him down, Kanu used his experience, and already escalating fame in Africa, to set up the Kanu Heart Foundation, an organisation that helps predominantly young people on the continent.
His philanthropic work is just an example of his human touch. Kanu’s touch was equally good on the football pitch.
He joined the Gunners in the wake of Nicolas Anelka’s departure to Real Madrid and, at first, failed to woo the crowd with his languid demeanour around the pitch. Soon, though, Kanu’s attributes became apparent and the cheeky smile he carried with him throughout won over the Highbury faithful.
Kanu could operate both as a target man or as a deep-sitting conductor of play. He had the ability to bamboozle defenders in the blink of an eye, using superb close control to wriggle out of tight spots. He was often the scorer of great goals, too.
His delicious flick-of-the heel goal in a 6-1 rout against Middlesbrough springs straight to mind, as does the time in a north London derby when he scooped the ball over a despairing Luke Young before emphatically burying the ball beyond Ian Walker.
Read more at Arsenal Greatest 50 Players
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