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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15. Sol Campbell

‘Judas’, as Sol Campbell was known to Spurs fans after his controversial transfer across North London in 2001, is closer to Jesus among the Arsenal contingent. Whether a traitor or a savior, one thing that cannot be contested is the world class quality of the center-half. And Campbell entered the fray at Highbury at a crucial time. With both Tony Adams and Martin Keown coming to the end of their careers, Wenger saw Campbell as an ideal leader to continue Arsenal’s imperious defensive record.

Campbell hit the ground running under Wenger, winning the double in his first year. He played alongside both of Adams and Keown throughout the year. Campbell was the best center back in England for three seasons while at Arsenal, being named to the PFA Team of the Year in 2003 and 2004. After Adams and Keown had retired, Campbell developed a new partnership with Kolo Toure, which developed the foundations of a 49-match unbeaten run and won the league in 03/04 without losing a single game.

The physically imposing center back was a monster. He was tactically astute and quick and dominant in the air. He was a complete defender, and although he did not play at Arsenal for the same amount of time as many on this list, his quality of performance, physical talent and sheer success place him among the greatest to ever pull on an Arsenal shirt.

Next: 14. Charlie George