Pain in the Arsenal
Fansided

Ranking the 5 best Arsenal goalkeepers of all-time

By James Cormack

19 Apr 1999: Arsenal keeper David Seaman throws out against Wimbledon in the FA Carling Premiership match at Highbury in London. Arsenal won 5-1. \ Mandatory Credit: Gary M Prior/Allsport
19 Apr 1999: Arsenal keeper David Seaman throws out against Wimbledon in the FA Carling Premiership match at Highbury in London. Arsenal won 5-1. \ Mandatory Credit: Gary M Prior/Allsport /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
2 of 5
Next

4. Bob Wilson

Scottish goalkeeper Bob Wilson of Arsenal FC at White Hart Lane during the derby against Tottenham Hotspur FC, London, UK, 15th August 1968. (Photo by Evening Standard/Hulton Archive/Getty Images)
Scottish goalkeeper Bob Wilson of Arsenal FC at White Hart Lane during the derby against Tottenham Hotspur FC, London, UK, 15th August 1968. (Photo by Evening Standard/Hulton Archive/Getty Images) /

A year after Kelsey’s retirement in 1962, Arsenal signed Bob Wilson from Wolves in a move worth a meagre £7,500.

Like Kelsey, Wilson, who joined as an amateur, was forced to play second fiddle for several years before an error by then-number one Jim Furnell in an FA Cup tie against Birmingham in March 1968 gifted Wilson an opportunity he wouldn’t relinquish.

The goalkeeper would go on to be a cornerstone of Arsenal for the next decade, making over 300 appearances for the club. His first trophy with the Gunners arrived in the form of the 1969/70 Inter-Cities Fairs Cup before he was named Player of the Season during the double-winning campaign of 1970/71.

Wilson remained the club’s first choice up until 1974 before he called it quits on a stellar career at the age of 32. He then went on to serve as Arsenal’s goalkeeping coach for almost three decades, passing on his wisdom to the likes of Pat Jennings and David Seaman.

Continued on the next slide…

Home/Arsenal All-Time Lists