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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26. George Armstrong

While Frank McLintock was Captain Fantastic during the Bertie Mee era, George Armstrong was the tricky, creative winger. One of the best players in a talented Arsenal side, Armstrong was renowned for a wand of a right foot. His passing, crossing, flair and creativity were wonderful to watch, and the amount of chances he created was outstanding.

The tireless winger’s most impressive asset, however, was his longevity. Armstrong played for 16 years at Highbury. He notched 621 appearances for the Gunners, bettered by only David O’Leary and Tony Adams, and played with consistent quality throughout his tenure. Armstrong played more than 30 games every season while in London, displaying great durability throughout his elongated career.

During the successful years under Mee, Armstrong was instrumental in Arsenal’s offensive firepower. During Arsenal’s Fairs Cup winning season, Armstrong was highly influential from the wing and was voted Arsenal’s player of the season. The next season, Armstrong again matched his high standards and helped lead the Gunners to the league and cup double, chipping in with goals, creating chances and running matches. He again matched his performances in later years, and although the success of the team was not maintained, Armstrong’s quality cannot be doubted.

Next: 25. Paul Merson