Arsenal: 30 Greatest Players Of All Time

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5. Alex James

The captain and talisman of Arsenal’s triple winning title side between 1933-1935, Alex James, like Cliff Bastin, was a player beyond his era. A touch of magic, his flair and creativity caused havoc for opposition defenses. Playing inside forward, James dropped into the modern day No. 10 role. He controlled matches, prodded and probed defenses, pulled and moved center backs with his intelligence and movement and dictated play with his touch and technique.

Sir Tom Finney described James as “pure magic”, labeling him his hero. The regard that James held displays the sheer quality of his play throughout the dominant decade under Herbert Chapman. His baggy shorts created a famous image. His goal scoring was not particularly impressive. However, it was the goals of the team that set James apart. His most impressive season was 32/32, where Arsenal scored a club record 118 league goals, most supplied by the nous of James.

The captain and best player of one of Arsenal’s greatest eras, it was never in doubt that James would be placed so high up this list. Unfortunately, injuries limited his playing time for the Gunners. However, the memory of his magical touch has lived through the years, showing the quality of the player.

Next: 4. Patrick Viera