Arsenal: 30 Greatest Players Of All Time

By Ronnie Macdonald (Flickr: Dennis Bergkamp statue) [CC BY 2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons
By Ronnie Macdonald (Flickr: Dennis Bergkamp statue) [CC BY 2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons /
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16. John Radford

Another member of Bertie Mee’s side in the ’60s and ’70s, John Radford joined the club as an apprentice in 1962 and didn’t leave until 1976. His 14-year tenure at Highbury and 12-year professional career spanned the season with Berie Mee at the helm, and Radford was an essential part of the successful side. Originally playing as a tricky winger, Radford swapped between playing up front, in behind the striker and out on the right flank throughout his career. His versatility in the forward positions pays testament to his talent and quality on the ball.

The goal scoring machine enjoyed his best years as Arsenal enjoyed theirs under Mee. Hitting his prime at the turn of the decade, Radford, from the wing, scored 19, 19 and then 21 goals in consecutive years. His 21 goal season, while playing up front with Ray Kennedy, fired Arsenal to the double, and his partnership with Kennedy resulted in a total of 47 goals.

While goals were the name of the game, Radford offered much more to the side. His touch was excellent, his link-up play superb, and he was considered a provider as well as a scorer of goals. His goal-scoring rate slowed as injuries and age caught up with him. However, by the time Radford left Arsenal, he had scored 149 goals in 481 games, good for fourth on the all-time list. John Radford is a true Arsenal legend, and he is most deserving of a top 20 spot in the greatest Arsenal players of all time.

Next: 15. Sol Campbell