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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30. Nigel Winterburn

Nigel Winterburn, like all on this list, is an Arsenal legend. Playing in one of the greatest defenses that have ever graced the Highbury pitch, Winterburn was a stalwart at fullback. The Arsenal defense that transcended eras between George Graham and Arsene Wenger was astronomically good. They were stingy, tough and mean. All excellent qualities for a title-winning defense.

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Winterburn, the opposite of fellow full-back, Lee Dixon, was ever-present in the Arsenal side, playing in 440 games in a 13 year Arsenal career. He and Dixon often come hand in hand, and the two were the best pair of full backs in English football during the ’90s. It was a truly tremendous defense, anchored by captain fantastic Tony Adams alongside Steve Bould and Martin Keown. Such a miserly defense was only improved by such consistently quality performances by Winterburn at left back.

Throughout the ’90s, Arsenal had great success and the star left back was an integral part of such success. With a wand of a left foot, Winterburn was an attacking threat like no other in the ’90s. And yet, his defensive duties did not suffer at the hands of his attacking prowess. He won three division titles under Graham and Wenger, as well as two FA Cups and a League Cup, completing the domestic set. He was also apart of the 1998 double winning side under Arsene Wenger, and will be forever remembered as one of Arsenal’s greatest players.

Next: 29. Alan Smith