List of Arsenal F.C. players

Arsenal Football Club, an association football club based in Islington, London, was founded in 1886 as Dial Square. They became the first southern member[nb 1] admitted into the Football League in 1893, having spent their first four seasons solely participating in cup tournaments and friendlies.[3] The club's name, which shortly changed to Woolwich Arsenal, was shortened to Arsenal in 1914, a year after moving to Highbury.[4] Despite finishing fifth in the Second Division in 1914–15, Arsenal rejoined the First Division at the expense of local rivals Tottenham Hotspur when football resumed after the First World War.[5] Since that time, they have not fallen below the first tier of the English football league system and hold the record for the longest uninterrupted period in the top flight.[6] The club's first team has competed in numerous nationally and internationally organised competitions, and all players who have played in 100 or more such matches are listed below.

David O'Leary has played 722 times for Arsenal, more than any other player.

David O'Leary holds the record for the greatest number of appearances for Arsenal. Between 1975 and 1993 the Irish defender played 722 times for the club.[7] As of 2009, seven other players have made more than 500 appearances for Arsenal, including four of the so-called "famous five" defenders of the 1990s,[8] Tony Adams, Lee Dixon, David Seaman and Nigel Winterburn. The club's goalscoring record is held by Thierry Henry, who scored 228 goals in all competitions between 1999 and 2007 and during a loan spell with the club in 2012.[9] He surpassed the previous record of 185 goals, held by Ian Wright, in 2005,[10] and became the first player to score 200 goals for Arsenal the following year.[11]

In 2013, Arsenal launched the "100 Club" to formally recognise retired players with over 100 league appearances. As of September 2016, 75 living players have been inducted with a further 26 automatically enrolled once they end their careers.[12]

Key

  • The list is ordered first by date of debut, and then if necessary in alphabetical order.
  • Appearances as a substitute are included. This feature of the game was introduced in the Football League at the start of the 1965–66 season.[13]
  • Statistics are correct up to and including the match played on 23 October 2022. Where a player left the club permanently after this date, his statistics are updated to his date of leaving.
Positions key
Pre-1960s 1960s–
GK Goalkeeper
FB Full-back DF Defender
HB Half-back MF Midfielder
FW Forward
Nationality
Unless otherwise noted, the nationality of a player is determined by the country/countries which he has played for, or if said person has not played international football, their country of birth.
Position
Playing positions are listed according to the tactical formations that were employed at the time. Thus, the change in the names of defensive and midfield positions reflects the tactical evolution that occurred from the 1960s onwards.
Club career
Club career is defined as the first and last calendar years in which the player appeared for the club in any of the competitions listed below.
Total appearances and Total goals
Total appearances and goals comprise those in the Football League, Premier League, FA Cup, Football League Cup, FA Charity/Community Shield, European Cup/UEFA Champions League, UEFA Cup/UEFA Europa League, Inter-Cities Fairs Cup, UEFA Cup Winners' Cup, Football League Centenary Trophy and European Super Cup. Matches in the United League, Southern District Combination, London League and wartime competitions are excluded.

Players

Tony Adams, who lies second in the all-time appearance list with 669. He was also captain from 1988 to 2002.
Percy Sands made 350 appearances in the early years, when the team was known as Woolwich Arsenal.
Another early player, Joe Shaw made 326 appearances.
Bob Wilson made 308 appearances for the club in the 1960s and 70s.
Frank McLintock made 403 appearances for the Gunners.
Nicknamed "The Romford Pelé", Ray Parlour has 464 appearances.
Seen here during his time with Portsmouth, Paul Merson has 423 appearances.
Dennis Bergkamp has more appearances than any other overseas player.
Patrick Vieira was captain from 2002 to 2005.
Kenny Sansom preceded Tony Adams as captain, holding the post until 1988.
Record goalscorer Thierry Henry, who was also captain from 2005 to 2007.
Kolo Touré made 326 appearances for Arsenal.
Cesc Fàbregas is Arsenal's youngest-ever goalscorer, and captained the side from 2008 to 2011.
Per Mertesacker made 221 appearances for Arsenal and is the current Arsenal Academy manager.
Mikel Arteta made 150 appearances for Arsenal and is the current manager.

Players highlighted in bold are still actively playing at Arsenal.

List of Arsenal F.C. players with 100 or more appearances
Player Nationality Pos Club career Starts Subs Total Goals
Appearances
Gavin Crawford  Scotland FW1891–1898138013818
Fred Davis  England HB1893–1899150015010
John Anderson  England HB1896–1903153015311
John Dick  Scotland HB1898–1912284028413
Duncan McNichol  Scotland FB1899–190311201121
Jimmy Jackson  Scotland FB1899–190520402041
Archie Cross  England FB1900–191014901490
Jimmy Ashcroft  England GK1900–190830303030
Tommy Briercliffe  England FW1901–1905133013334
Bill Gooing  England FW1901–1905106010648
Tim Coleman  England FW1902–1908196019684
Roddy McEachrane  Scotland HB1902–191534603460
Percy Sands  England HB1902–1919350035012
Archie Gray  Scotland FB1904–191220002000
David Neave  Scotland FW1904–1912168016832
Charlie Satterthwaite  England FW1904–1910141014148
Andy Ducat  England HB1905–1912188018821
Jimmy Sharp  Scotland FB1905–190811601165
Hugh McDonald  Scotland GK1906
1908–1910
1912–1913
10301030
Charles Lewis  England FW1907–1920220022034
Joe Shaw  England FB1907–192332603260
David Greenaway  Scotland FW1908–1921170017013
Angus McKinnon  Scotland HB1908–192221702174
Pat Flanagan  England FW1910–1917121012128
Alex Graham  Scotland HB1911–1924179017920
Jock Rutherford  England FW1913–1923
1923–1926[nb 2]
232023227
Billy Blyth  Scotland HB1914–1929343034351
Frank Bradshaw  England FB1914–1923142014214
Jack Butler  England HB1914–193029602968
Arthur Hutchins  England FB1919–192310801081
Henry White  England FW1919–1923109010945
Joe Toner  Ireland FW1919–192610001006
Ernest Williamson  England GK1919–192311301130
Alf Baker  England HB1919–1931351035126
Alec Mackie  Ireland FB1921–192611801181
Billy Milne  Scotland HB1921–192712401243
Jock Robson  Scotland GK1921–192510101010
Bob John  Wales HB1922–1937470047013
Andy Kennedy  Ireland FB1922–192812901290
Jimmy Brain  England FW1924–19312320232139
Sidney Hoar  England FW1924–1929117011718
Dan Lewis  Wales GK1924–193116701670
Charlie Buchan  England FW1925–1928120012056
Joe Hulme  England FW1926–19373740374125
Jack Lambert  England FW1926–19331610161109
Tom Parker  England FB1926–1932294029417
Herbie Roberts  England HB1926–193733503355
Eddie Hapgood  England FB1927–193944004402
David Jack  England HB1928–19342080208124
Charlie Jones  Wales FW1928–193419501958
Cliff Bastin  England FW1929–19473960396178
Alex James  Scotland HB1929–1937261026127
Leslie Compton  England HB1930–195027302736
George Male  England FB1930–194831803180
Frank Moss  England GK1931–193616101611
Ray Bowden  England FW1933–1937138013848
Wilf Copping  England HB1934–193918901890
Jack Crayston  England HB1934–1939187018717
Ted Drake  England FW1934–19391840184139
Alf Kirchen  England FW1935–1939101010145
Reg Lewis  England FW1935–19531760176118
George Swindin  England GK1936–195329702970
Walley Barnes  Wales FB1946–1955294029412
Jimmy Logie  Scotland HB1946–1955328032876
Ian McPherson  Scotland FW1946–1951163016321
Joe Mercer  England HB1946–195427502752
Laurie Scott  England FB1946–195112601260
Archie Macaulay  Scotland HB1947–195010801081
Don Roper  England FW1947–1956321032195
Alex Forbes  Scotland HB1948–1956240024020
Doug Lishman  England FW1948–19552440244137
Lionel Smith  England FB1948–195418101810
Peter Goring  England FW/MF1949–1959240024053
Jack Kelsey  Wales GK1949–196235203520
Cliff Holton  England FW1950–1958217021788
Dave Bowen  Wales HB1951–195916201622
Dennis Evans  England FB1951–1960207020712
Bill Dodgin  England HB1953–196020702071
Len Wills  England FB1953–196120902094
Jimmy Bloomfield  England FW1954–1960227022756
Danny Clapton  England FW1954–1962225022527
Joe Haverty  Republic of Ireland FW1954–1961122012226
Derek Tapscott  Wales HB1954–1958132013268
Stan Charlton  England FB1955–195811001103
Vic Groves  England HB1955–1964203020337
David Herd  Scotland FW1955–19611800180107
John Barnwell  England HB1957–1964151015124
Jackie Henderson  Scotland FW1958–1961111011129
Billy McCullough  Northern Ireland DF1958–196626802685
Eddie Magill  Northern Ireland DF1959–196513101310
George Eastham  England FW1960–1966223022341
Terry Neill  Northern Ireland DF1960–1970272327510
Alan Skirton  England MF1960–1966153115454
Geoff Strong  England FW1960–1964137013777
Laurie Brown  England DF1961–196310901092
Johnny MacLeod  Scotland MF1961–1964112011228
George Armstrong  England MF1962–19776071462168
Joe Baker  England FW1962–19661560156100
David Court  England MF1962–19701941020418
Jim Furnell  England GK1963–196816701670
Jon Sammels  England MF1963–1971226427052
Ian Ure  Scotland DF1963–196920202022
Bob Wilson  Scotland GK1963–197430803080
Frank McLintock  Scotland DF1964–1973401240332
John Radford  England FW1964–19764756481149
Peter Simpson  England DF1964–19784581947715
Peter Storey  England DF1965–1977494750117
George Graham  Scotland FW1966–19722961230877
Bob McNab  England DF1966–197536233656
Pat Rice  Northern Ireland DF1967–1980521752813
Charlie George  England FW1969–19751572217949
Eddie Kelly  Scotland MF1969–19752111122219
Ray Kennedy  England FW1969–1974206621271
Sammy Nelson  Northern Ireland DF1969–19813251433912
Alan Ball  England MF1971–1976217021752
Liam Brady  Republic of Ireland MF1973–19802951230759
David Price  England MF1973–19811651117619
Jimmy Rimmer  England GK1974–197714601460
David O'Leary  Republic of Ireland DF1973–19936814172214
Frank Stapleton  Republic of Ireland FW1975–19812973300108
John Devine  Republic of Ireland DF1976–198310831110
Malcolm Macdonald  England FW1976–1979107110857
Pat Jennings  Northern Ireland GK1977–198432703270
Graham Rix  England MF1977–19884471746451
Alan Sunderland  England FW1977–1983278328192
Willie Young  Scotland DF1977–1981236123719
John Hollins  England MF1979–1983164917213
Brian Talbot  England MF1979–19853111632749
Paul Davis  England MF1980–19944163144737
Kenny Sansom  England DF1980–198839403946
Stewart Robson  England MF1981–1986185118621
Chris Whyte  England DF1981–198510851138
Tony Woodcock  England FW1982–1986164516968
Tony Adams  England DF1983–2002663666948
Ian Allinson  England MF1983–1987753010523
Charlie Nicholas  Scotland FW1983–1987176818454
Viv Anderson  England DF1984–1987150015015
Steve Williams  England MF1984–198811921215
John Lukic  England GK1984–1990
1996–2001
29802980
Martin Hayes  England MF1985–1990924013234
David Rocastle  England MF1985–19922601727734
Martin Keown  England DF1985–1986
1993–2004
408414498
Perry Groves  England MF1986–19921208320328
Paul Merson  England FW1986–19973814442599
Alan Smith  England FW1987–199531829347115
Kevin Richardson  England MF1987–1990111111218
Michael Thomas  England MF1987–19911872120830
Steve Bould  England DF1988–19993482437222
Kevin Campbell  England FW1988–19951666222859
Lee Dixon  England DF1988–20025982161828
Nigel Winterburn  England DF1987–20005721258412
David Hillier  England MF1990–1996113301432
Anders Limpar  Sweden MF1990–1994962011620
Andy Linighan  England DF1990–1996135211568
David Seaman  England GK1990–200356405640
Ian Wright  England FW1991–19982799288185
John Jensen  Denmark MF1992–199613081381
Ray Parlour  England MF1992–20043907646432
Dennis Bergkamp  Netherlands FW1995–200634578423120
David Platt  England MF1995–1998773110815
Patrick Vieira  France MF1996–20053961040633
Gilles Grimandi  France DF/MF1997–2002128421706
Marc Overmars  Netherlands MF1997–20001271514241
Emmanuel Petit  France MF1997–2000114411811
Freddie Ljungberg  Sweden MF1998–20072854332872
Ashley Cole  England DF1999–2006218102289
Thierry Henry  France FW1999–2007
2012
33740377228
Nwankwo Kanu  Nigeria FW1999–20041049419844
Oleh Luzhnyi  Ukraine DF1999–200391191100
Sylvain Wiltord  France FW2000–20041245117649
Robert Pires  France MF2000–20062384628484
Lauren  Cameroon DF2000–2007227142419
Sol Campbell  England DF2001–2006
2010
208321112
Edu  Brazil MF2001–2005765112715
Gilberto Silva  Brazil MF2002–20082133124424
Kolo Touré  Ivory Coast DF2002–20092953132614
Jens Lehmann  Germany GK2003–2008
2011
19912000
Cesc Fàbregas  Spain MF2003–20112663730357
Gaël Clichy  France DF2003–2011230342642
Philippe Senderos   Switzerland DF2003–2010105121174
Manuel Almunia  Spain GK2004–201217321750
José Antonio Reyes  Spain FW2004–2007892111023
Robin van Persie  Netherlands FW2004–201221167278132
Mathieu Flamini  France MF2004–2008
2013–2016
1747224613
Johan Djourou   Switzerland DF2004–2014123211441
Emmanuel Eboué  Ivory Coast DF2005–20111595521410
Alexander Hleb  Belarus MF2005–20081092113010
Nicklas Bendtner  Denmark FW2005–2014838817147
Alex Song  Cameroon MF2005–20121792520410
Emmanuel Adebayor  Togo FW2006–20091142814262
William Gallas  France DF2006–2010142014217
Theo Walcott  England FW2006–2018252145397108
Abou Diaby  France MF2006–20151364418019
Tomáš Rosický  Czech Republic MF2006–20161588824628
Denílson  Brazil MF2006–20131203315310
Bacary Sagna  France DF2007–2014272122845
Kieran Gibbs  England DF2007–2017183472306
Aaron Ramsey  Wales MF2008–201926110836964
Samir Nasri  France MF2008–20111101512527
Jack Wilshere  England MF2008–20181504719714
Francis Coquelin  France MF2008–2018115451600
Andrey Arshavin  Russia MF2009–2013974714431
Thomas Vermaelen  Belgium DF2009–20141361415015
Wojciech Szczęsny  Poland GK2009–201718101810
Laurent Koscielny  France DF2010–20193421135327
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain  England MF2011–20171158319820
Per Mertesacker  Germany DF2011–2018215622110
Mikel Arteta  Spain MF2011–20161311915016
Olivier Giroud  France FW2012–201816984253105
Santi Cazorla  Spain MF2012–20181661418029
Nacho Monreal  Spain DF2013–20192232825110
Mesut Özil  Germany MF2013–20212371725444
Héctor Bellerín  Spain DF2013–2022220192399
Alexis Sánchez  Chile FW2014–20181531316680
Calum Chambers  England DF2014–202287351225
Danny Welbeck  England FW2014–2019784812632
Ainsley Maitland-Niles  England MF2014–88441323
Petr Čech  Czech Republic GK2015–201913901390
Alex Iwobi  Nigeria MF2015–20191034614915
Mohamed Elneny  Egypt MF2016–104441485
Rob Holding  England DF2016–121241454
Granit Xhaka   Switzerland MF2016–2501526518
Shkodran Mustafi  Germany DF2016–202114291519
Sead Kolašinac  Bosnia and Herzegovina DF2017–202294241185
Alexandre Lacazette  France FW2017–20221505620671
Eddie Nketiah  England FW2017–436410725
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang  Gabon FW2018–20221422116392
Bernd Leno  Germany GK2018–202212411250
Bukayo Saka  England MF2018–1242214628
Nicolas Pépé  Ivory Coast FW2019–674511227
Kieran Tierney  Scotland DF2019–83181014

Captains

64 players have captained Arsenal since it was founded as Dial Square F.C. in 1886, the first being club founder David Danskin, who captained the team until he was forced to retire due to injury in 1889. The club's longest-serving captain is Tony Adams, who captained the club for 14 years between 1988–2002, and is frequently known as "Mr. Arsenal" for this achievement. The current captain is Martin Ødegaard.[14]

Dates Captain[15][16]
1886–1889 David Danskin
1889 Arthur Brown
1889–1890 Morris Bates
1890–1891 Bill Julian
1891–1892[nb 3] Sandy Robertson[17]
Robert Buist
David Howat[18]
Tom Graham
William Stewart
1892–1893 Charles Booth
1893–1894 Joe Powell
1894–1895 David Howat
1895–1896 Caesar Jenkyns
1896–1898 Gavin Crawford
1898–1899 John Anderson
1899–1900 Joe Murphy
1900–1901 Duncan McNichol
1901–1905 Jimmy Jackson
1905–1906 John Dick
1906–1919 Percy Sands
1919–1920 Joe Shaw
1920–1922 Frank Bradshaw
1922–1923 Alex Graham
1923–1924 Billy Blyth
1924–1925 Alf Baker
1925–1928 Charlie Buchan
1928–1929 Billy Blyth
1929–1932 Tom Parker
1932–1933 Charlie Jones
1933–1937 Alex James
1937–1944 Eddie Hapgood
1944–1946 George Male
1946–1954 Joe Mercer
1954 Jimmy Logie
1954–1955 Walley Barnes
1955–1956 Don Roper
1956 Cliff Holton
1956–1957 Peter Goring
1957 Cliff Holton
1957–1958 Dennis Evans
1958–1959 Dave Bowen
1959–1962 Vic Groves
1962–1963 Terry Neill
1963–1966 George Eastham
1966–1967 Don Howe
1967–1973 Frank McLintock
1973–1974 Bob McNab
1974–1975 Alan Ball[19]
1975 Eddie Kelly[20][21]
1975–1976 Alan Ball
1976–1980 Pat Rice
1980–1983 David O'Leary
1983–1986 Graham Rix
1986–1987 Kenny Sansom
1988–2002 Tony Adams[nb 4]
2002–2005 Patrick Vieira[nb 5]
2005–2007 Thierry Henry
2007–2008 William Gallas
2008–2011 Cesc Fabregas
2011–2012 Robin van Persie
2012–2014 Thomas Vermaelen
2014–2016 Mikel Arteta
2016–2018 Per Mertesacker
2018–2019 Laurent Koscielny
2019 Granit Xhaka
2019–2021 Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang[nb 6]
2021–2022 Alexandre Lacazette
2022–present Martin Ødegaard

Notes

  1. A club located in the southern counties of England. Initially these were amateur clubs, as professionalism in football was not as readily accepted in the south as in the north. In the 1893–94 season, Arsenal (under its former name Woolwich Arsenal) turned professional and became the first southern club admitted to the northern-oriented Football League. The following year saw the creation of the Southern Football League, which was composed of amateur and professional teams. By the 1920–21 season, the top division of the Southern Football League was absorbed by the Football League, to create its third division.[1][2]
  2. Rutherford left Arsenal to join Stoke in March 1923, but returned six months later.
  3. Sandy Robertson replaced Bill Julian as captain in October 1891, and was the second of six captains to serve in the 1891–92 season. However, sources are unclear as to the specific dates of the captaincies of Buist, Howat, Graham, and Stewart.
  4. Longest-serving captain.
  5. First captain from outside the British Isles.
  6. First non-European captain.

References

General

  • "Player Database". Arsenal F.C. Archived from the original on 6 May 2016. Retrieved 28 September 2009.
  • Joy, Bernard (1952). Forward, Arsenal!. London: GCR Books. ISBN 0-9559211-1-2.
  • Harris, Jeff (1995). Hogg, Tony (ed.). Arsenal Who's Who. London: Independent UK Sports. ISBN 1-899429-03-4.
  • Kelly, Andy (29 July 2015). "Every Arsenal player in chronological order". The Arsenal History. Archived from the original on 26 August 2016. Retrieved 21 July 2016.
  • "Arsenal first team line-ups". The Arsenal History. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 21 July 2016.
  • Soar, Phil; Tyler, Martin (2011). Arsenal 125: The Official Illustrated History 1886–2011. London: Hamlyn. ISBN 978-0-600-35871-8.
  • Spragg, Iain; Clarke, Adrian (2015). The Official Arsenal FC Book of Records (2nd ed.). London: Carlton Books Ltd. ISBN 978-1-78097-668-6.
  • "Arsenal". UEFA. Archived from the original on 9 June 2016. Retrieved 21 July 2016.

Specific

  1. Tomlinson, Alan (2010). A Dictionary of Sports Studies. Oxford University Press. p. 196. ISBN 978-0-19-921381-8.
  2. Freeman, Nicholas (2011). 1895: Drama, Disaster and Disgrace in Late Victoian Britain. Edinburgh University Press. p. 39. ISBN 978-0-7486-4056-0.
  3. Joy (1952), p. 9.
  4. Joy (1952), p. 32.
  5. Joy (1952), p. 28.
  6. "Club profile – Arsenal". Premier League. Archived from the original on 15 April 2016. Retrieved 21 July 2016.
  7. Fearon, Matthew (18 March 2009). "Dream Teams: Arsenal". The Independent. London. Retrieved 28 September 2009.
  8. Pearce, Jonathan (18 September 2009). "Missing link is hurting Gunners". BBC Sport. Retrieved 28 September 2009.
  9. "Thierry Henry Arsenal return would be a masterstroke – John Hartson". BBC Sport. 2 December 2014. Retrieved 21 July 2016.
  10. Davies, Christopher (19 October 2005). "Henry strikes twice to secure Arsenal record". The Daily Telegraph. London. Retrieved 29 September 2009.
  11. "Henry scores 200th goal for Arsenal". Arsenal F.C. 6 February 2006. Archived from the original on 9 August 2016. Retrieved 21 July 2016.
  12. "The Arsenal 100 Club". Arsenal F.C. 30 September 2016. Retrieved 21 July 2016.
  13. Watts, Nick. "1963 to 1988". The Football League. Archived from the original on 17 April 2016. Retrieved 21 July 2016.
  14. "Martin Odegaard named captain". Arsenal F.C. 30 July 2022. Retrieved 30 July 2022.
  15. Kelly, Andy (17 November 2014). "Arsenal's captains from day one". thearsenalhistory.com. Retrieved 22 October 2020.
  16. "Arsenal's greatest captain? Join the debate". arsenal.com. Archived from the original on 9 July 2009. Retrieved 22 October 2020.
  17. "Sandy Robertson - Arsenal's First Invincible". thearsenalhistory.com. Retrieved 28 October 2020.
  18. "David Howat". arsenal.com. Retrieved 22 October 2020.
  19. "Greatest 50 Players - 45. Alan Ball". arsenal.com. 1 June 2017. Retrieved 22 October 2020.
  20. Jones, Max (6 January 2016). "Eddie Kelly". arsenal.com. Retrieved 22 October 2020.
  21. Lawrence, Gary (23 July 2017). "Arsenal's Youngest Captain – Too Much too Young for Eddie Kelly". gunnerstown.com. Retrieved 22 October 2020.
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