13 greatest Arsenal academy graduates of all time

Arsenal have developed some incredible talent and brought plenty of outstanding footballers through their academy.

Many club legends started their careers with the Gunners after progressing through the ranks at youth level. Twelve graduates of Arsenal's academy stand out as the greatest in history.

1. Charlie George

Charlie George turned professional in 1968 after spending two years at youth level for Arsenal. He made his first team debut against Everton in 1969 and became a regular starter in the 1969-70 season.

He was an important factor in the Gunners' successful 1969-70 Inter-Cities Fairs Cup campaign, scoring against teams such as Dinamo Bacau and Ajax on the way to the final. George was then part of the club's iconic 1970-71 double-winning side and scored the winning goal to beat Liverpool 2-1 in that season's FA Cup final.

After suffering with injuries and a falling out with manager Bertie Mee, George was sold to Derby County in 1975. He left Arsenal having scored 49 goals in 179 appearances for the club.

2. David O'Leary

David O'Leary joined the Gunners as an apprentice in 1973 and made his debut aged 17 two years later. He was a regular first team member until the late 1980s when the likes of Tony Adams and Steve Bould were introduced to the team.

Despite falling out of favour, he remained at the club until 1993 and in doing so was part of the teams that won the 1988-89 and 1990-91 First Division titles. He also won two FA Cups and two League Cups during his time with the club.

O'Leary left for Leeds United in 1993 as Arsenal's record appearance maker with 722 to his name and still comfortably holds the achievement to this day.

3. Liam Brady

Liam Brady joined the club in 1971 and turned professional two years later. He made his debut against Birmingham City in 1973 before becoming a first-team regular from the 1974-75 season onwards.

The Republic of Ireland international played an important part in Alan Sunderland's famous last-gasp winner against Manchester United in the 1979 FA Cup final. He also helped Arsenal reach the final of the 1979-80 Cup Winners' Cup, which they lost to Valencia in a penalty shootout.

Affectionately nicknamed 'Chippy' due to his supposed love for fish and chips, Brady scored 59 goals in 307 appearances for the club before joining Juventus for a £500,000 fee in 1980.

Brady rejoined Arsenal as Head of Youth Development and Academy Director in 1996 and stayed in the role for 18 years. He has served as an ambassador for the Arsenal Foundation since 2017.

4. Pat Rice

Pat Rice joined Arsenal as an apprentice in 1964 and turned professional in 1966. He made his club debut in 1967 and became a first-team regular in the 1970-71 double-winning season.

He was made club captain in 1977 and lead his side to FA Cup glory in the 1978-79 campaign. Rice also captained the Gunners to the 1980 Cup Winners' Cup final. He joined Watford in 1980, ending his Arsenal playing career with 528 appearances.

Rice returned to the club in 1984 as a youth team coach. He briefly acted as caretaker manager in 1996 before becoming assistant to Arsene Wenger, being part of the Frenchman's coaching staff for 16 years.

5. Martin Keown

Martin Keown came to Arsenal on a schoolboy contract in 1980 and made his debut in 1985. He left the club a year later in a permanent move to Aston Villa.

The centre back returned to the Gunners in 1993 after spells with Villa and Everton and became a regular part of the defence. He picked up a winners medal after Arsenal won the 1993-94 Cup Winners' Cup, despite missing the 1-0 final victory over Parma due to injury.

Keown was a part of the double-winning sides of the 1997-98 and 2001-02 seasons and won another FA Cup in 2003. Perhaps his most famous moment as an Arsenal player came in the 'Invincibles season when he and his teammates confronted Ruud van Nistelrooy after his last-minute penalty miss in what is now known as the 'Battle of Old Trafford.' Keown made his tenth league appearance of the season on the final day, meaning he was eligible for a winners medal.

He left on a free transfer at the end of that season having made 449 appearances over his two spells at Arsenal. Keown is fondly remembered by Gooners as one of the underrated defenders in the history of the club.

6. Tony Adams

The man who is literally 'Mr. Arsenal,' Tony Adams, signed for the club as a schoolboy in 1980 and made his debut aged 17 in 1983. He became a regular fixture in the side from the 1986-87 season and was eventually part of the club's famous back four alongside Lee Dixon, Nigel Winterburn, and Steve Bould.

He was named club captain in 1988 when he was still only 21 years old and led his side to the First Division title in the 1988-89 and 1990-91 seasons. Adams also captained the team to a cup double in 1992-93 and their first European title in the 1993-94 Cup Winners' Cup.

Adams remained in the side after the appointment of Arsene Wenger amid struggles with alcoholism. He won two doubles with the club in the 1997-98 and 2001-02 campaigns before retiring as a one-club man after the latter.

To this day, Adams is the most successful captain in Arsenal's history, having won four league titles, four domestic cups, and a European title during his time as captain. He is the club's second-highest appearance maker, having played in 629 matches.

7. Michael Thomas

Michael Thomas turned professional in 1984 after joining the club's academy two years prior. He made his debut against Tottenham in 1987 and was a regular part of the side a season later.

He won the club's Player of the Season award for the 1987-88 campaign and then won the First Division title the following year. Thomas scored arguably the most iconic goal in Arsenal's history when he secured a 2-0 victory away to Liverpool in the 91st minute of the final game of the 1988-89 season. His goal defied all the odds and handed the Gunners the title.

He was also an important part of the club's 1990-91 title-winning side before leaving to join Liverpool at the end of that season. During his time at Arsenal, Michael Thomas scored 30 goals in 206 appearances.

8. David Rocastle

David Rocastle was part of Arsenal's academy for two years before turning professional in 1984. He made his debut a year later and was a regular part of the team from there.

Nicknamed "Rocky", he played an important part in the club's 1988-89 and 1990-91 league winning sides. He scored his most famous goal for Arsenal in 1991, a brilliant lob from 25 yards in a 1-1 draw with Manchester United.

Rocastle left for Leeds United in 1992 having scored 34 goals in 277 appearances for Arsenal. He passed away in 2001 at the untimely age of 33 and is still well-remembered by fans.

9. Paul Merson

Paul Merson joined Arsenal as an apprentice in 1984 and made his debut in 1986 before establishing himself as a regular fixture under George Graham.

On the pitch, he enjoyed plenty of success, winning two league titles, a cup double, and the Cup Winners' Cup, but struggled with addiction off it. However, this made him no less of a fan favorite, and he is still fondly remembered by Gooners.

Merson departed the club after Arsene Wenger's first season in charge when he was sold to Middlesbrough. Throughout his Arsenal career, he scored 99 goals in 417 appearances.

10. Ray Parlour

Ray Parlour signed on as a trainee in 1989 and made his debut three years later. He then went onto become a regular part of the first team after Arsene Wenger joined the club in 1996.

He won the double in 1997-98 and 2001-02, scoring in the FA Cup final of the latter. He opened the scoring with a sensational effort from 30 yards in an eventual 2-0 win over Chelsea at the Millennium Stadium. Parlour was then part of the 'Invincibles' side in the 2003-04 campaign before departing for Middlesbrough.

Parlour remains a favorite among Arsenal fans due to his great character and reputation as a joker within the squad. He was an incredibly talented but underrated footballer and never really got the respect he deserved.

During his time with the Gunners, he scored 32 goals in 466 appearances and is the club's record Premier League appearance maker having played 333 times in the competition.

11. Ashley Cole

Ashley Cole is now a name that leaves a sour taste in the mouths of Arsenal fans around the globe, but it is important to remember just how good he was. Having joined the academy in 1997, he made his debut in 1999 before breaking into the first team after a loan spell at Crystal Palace.

He was an integral part of both the double-winning side of the 2001-02 season and the 'Invincibles'. Cole left Arsenal to join London rivals Chelsea in 2006 in what is viewed by many as one of the most controversial transfers of all time.

Throughout his Gunners career, he scored nine goals in 228 appearances, and it is at least refreshing to think that arguably the Premier League and England's greatest-ever left-back is a product of Arsenal's academy.

12. Cesc Fabregas

Cesc Fabregas joined Arsenal's academy from Barcelona in 2003 and made his first team debut soon after. He became the club's youngest ever player when he appeared in a League Cup tie against Rotherham United at just 16 years and 177 days old.

He began to break into the first team properly in the 2004-05 season and put in impressive displays as he helped his side to the 2006 Champions League final. While at Arsenal, he also won Euro 2008 and the 2010 World Cup with Spain.

Fabregas was named club captain in 2008 and held the role until he returned to his boyhood club Barcelona in 2011. After three years in Catalonia, he returned to the Premier League to join Chelsea, damaging his reputation in the eyes of Arsenal fans.

He scored 57 goals in 303 appearances for Arsenal and is by far one of the most talented and techincally gifted footballers to ever play for the club.

13. Bukayo Saka

Recency bias aside, Bukayo Saka is no doubt one of the greatest players to have graduated from Arsenal's academy. He made his first team debut in 2018 after ten years in the youth ranks and impressed instantly.

He became a more regular feature in the side during the transition from Unai Emery to Mikel Arteta and has since became one of the best players in the Premier League.

Saka has scored 58 goals in 226 appearances so far in his Arsenal career and already looks to be a club legend. There is no doubt that he will lead this very impressive Gunners team to much success over the next few years.

Honourable mention: Kevin Campbell

Kevin Campbell came to Arsenal as a schoolboy in 1985 and after making his debut in 1988, he became a regular feature in the early 1990s.

He was part of the 1990-91 First Division title winning side and continued to play for the club, despite the introduction of Ian Wright, until he was sold to Nottingham Forest in 1995.

Campbell scored 59 goals in 213 appearances for the club. Despite not having an overly successful career with Arsenal, he was a fan favourite, as was shown in reactions to his tragic passing in June of this year.