Pain in the Arsenal
Fansided

Ranking the 5 best Arsenal central defenders of all-time

By Adam Schultz

26 Dec 2000: Tony Adams celebrates his goal for Arsenal during the FA Carling Premier League match against Leicester City played at Highbury in London. Arsenal won the game 6-1. \ Mandatory Credit: Mike Hewitt /Allsport
26 Dec 2000: Tony Adams celebrates his goal for Arsenal during the FA Carling Premier League match against Leicester City played at Highbury in London. Arsenal won the game 6-1. \ Mandatory Credit: Mike Hewitt /Allsport /
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LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM: Arsenal’s Captain Tony Adams salutes the crowd during the game against Sunderland in the Premier League match at Highbury in London 30 March 2002. Adams playing his 500th league gam, captained his team to a 3-0 victory. AFP PHOTO Adrian DENNIS (Photo credit should read ADRIAN DENNIS/AFP via Getty Images)
LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM: Arsenal’s Captain Tony Adams salutes the crowd during the game against Sunderland in the Premier League match at Highbury in London 30 March 2002. Adams playing his 500th league gam, captained his team to a 3-0 victory. AFP PHOTO Adrian DENNIS (Photo credit should read ADRIAN DENNIS/AFP via Getty Images) /

1. Tony Adams

Who else but Mr Arsenal himself? Tony Adams was everything fans wanted in a player and captain. He had the talent, the drive, the leadership, was physically gifted, and was the ultimate motivator.

He is regarded by many as the greatest captain the club has ever had, and it’s hard to argue against that. 669 appearances for the club over nearly two decades, he also helped himself when going forward, scoring 48 goals.

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A true defender in every sense of the word. Tough, hard, gritty, and he never gave in. Adams was always the player teammates turned to when things got tough, and more often than not, he was the shining light that brought the team forward.

During his time with the Gunners, Adams was a serial winner. Four league titles, two League Cups, three FA Cups, and a European Cup Winners’ Cup for good measure.

It is highly unlikely we will ever see a defender like Tony Adams again. He was superb in everything he did, both on and off the pitch. If you look up the word leader in the dictionary, a picture of Tony Adams will be right alongside it.

When the team has a statue of you outside the Emirates Stadium, you know you have done okay in your career. Adams did more than that; he was legendary.

Mr Arsenal is the club’s greatest ever centre-back.

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