Arsenal: 30 Greatest Players Of All Time

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21. David Jack

Described by Herbert Chapman as one of the best signings he ever made, scorer of the first goal at Wembley, the first player to be transferred for over £10,000, and a vital part of the Arsenal team that dominated English football in the 1930s, David Jack was one of the first footballing superstars. Chapman signed him at the ripe old age of 29 for a world record fee of £10,890, nearly double the previous record.

His hefty price tag, at an age, considered past his best, induced pressure on Chapman’s decision. However, Jack went on to score goals galore, leading the line of a great Arsenal side to three league titles in four years. In an era where goals were harder to come by, Jack had an astonishing goal scoring record. In his first year for the Gunners, Jack scored 25 goals in 31 games, becoming the clubs top scorer. Over the next few years, the star striker went on to complete 208 games, scoring 124 goals.

In modern times, many forget the quality of past teams. Herbet Chapman’s side in the ’30s is one of Arsenal’s most successful sides of all time, and Jack was an integral cog in the machine. It is only right to pay homage to such a team and such a player by including Jack on this list. While he retired after the 1934 league victory and only played for five years at Highbury, Jack’s goals fired Arsenal to success after success, something that had not been seen before Jack’s arrival.

Next: 20. Martin Keown