Arsenal: 30 Greatest Players Of All Time

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22. Ray Parlour

‘The Romford Pele’ is not known for his sheer brilliance and quality. He is, however, one of the most underrated players of a generation. The ironic nickname indicates his perceived lack of talent. And while Parlour’s game is not as polished as many during his era, his hard work, his engine, and commitment were loved by pundits and fans alike.

That is why he played at Highbury for so many years. A squad player for his first few years under Graham, Parlour did not see the field too often. However, as the years passed, Parlour’s role increased, and he became a regular fixture in the Arsenal side when Wenger took the helm in 1996.

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Playing either on the right or in central midfield, Parlour was crucial to Arsenal’s double winning season in 1998 and went to claim man of the match in the FA Cup final victory over Newcastle. In fact, Parlour had a knack for turning up in the big games. Perhaps most famously, the London local opened the scoring in Arsenal’s 2002 FA Cup final victory over Chelsea with a 30-yard thinker. A Soccer AM commentary pitted Arsenal fan Bradley Walsh against Chelsea fan Tim Lovejoy, and as Parlour received the ball, it was the infamous words of Lovejoy: “It’s alright, it’s only Ray Parlour” that have immortalized such a wonderful goal.

Like many of the English contingent during the early years under Arsene Wenger, Parlour was the definition of dependable. Like Winterburn, Dixon and Adams, Parlour was solid and reliable. When accompanied with the flair and creativity of players like Bergkamp and Anelka, Arsenal’s squad was full of winners. Parlour, while often overlooked in favor of more illustrious players, was an excellent player. Underrated, but he will always be a fan favorite.

Next: 21. David Jack

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