Who Is The Best Arsenal Playmaker?
The seventh in a series of articles on all of the best modern Arsenal players in every position.

So you’ve chosen the keeper. You’ve chosen the back four to go in front of him and a defensive midfielder. Well that’s enough ‘defending’ – let’s talk about the attack.

Before we get to the wide players and the strikers we need a playmaker in the middle. With the all action midfields of recent years this type of player seems to have slipped out of vogue, although it appears that Wenger and Cesc are tying to remind the world…

George Graham

1966-1972

308 appearances (77 goals)

Championship Winners Medal, FA Cup Winners Medal, Fairs Cup Winner Medal, 12 Scotland caps (3 goals)

Those that only know George Graham as a manager wouldn’t recognise George Graham the player because (as he’s often said) he would never have picked himself!

‘Stroller’ was a fitting nickname because although he came to Arsenal as a forward with an eye for goal he had no pace to speak of. If he’d stayed up front he’d never have become an Arsenal legend but the emergence of Charlie George allowed Bertie Mee to move him back to midfield where he became vital to the Double Winners and was Man of the Match in the FA Cup Final.

Returned to Arsenal as manager and became one of our most successful managers ever before leaving in unfortunate circumstances.

Alan Ball

1971-1976

217 appearances (52 goals)

72 England caps (8 goals)

Only a few months after the double had been sealed Bertie Mee was breaking the British transfer record to sign the flame haired World Cup Winner. At the time it looked like the signing that would propel Arsenal to the next level but it ended up being the signing that broke up the double team.

A gritty, skilful player he became our captain and main penalty taker without ever really winning over the crowd who frequently heard rumours of disquiet behind the scenes and saw favourites like George and McLintock leave.

Liam Brady

1973-1980

306 appearances (59 goals)

FA Cup Winners Medal, 72 Republic of Ireland caps (9 goals)

‘Chippy’ came through the ranks to inherit Charlie George’s place as ‘King of Highbury’. Had the sweetest of left foots but was also tough enough to survive the central midfield of the late ‘70s. Everyone remembers his goal in N17 when we won 5-0, but people rarely remember that he won the ball himself to create the chance.

Informed the club (and fans) at the start of the 1979/80 season that he was going abroad at the end of it he became one of the brightest stars of Italian football before returning to England to run down his career with the Arsenal old folks home at the Boleyn Ground. Had a spell in management before returning to Highbury where he runs the Youth set up.

Steve Williams

1984-1988

121 appearances (5 goals)

6 England caps

An Arsenal fan as a boy who knows how far his career could have gone if he could have kept his mouth shut. Never far from controversy, or a match winning performance, he was a hit with the fans who could see his constant 100% effort.

Could have been the mainstay of George Graham’s midfield but one to many arguments with the boss saw him shipped out just before the team started to peak. Definitely a case of what might have been.

Paul Davis

1979-1995

445 appearances (37 goals)

2 Championship Winners Medals, FA Cup Winners Medal, 2 League Cup Winners Medals, ECWC Winners Medal.

Paul had the misfortune of being the cultured young midfielder who the fans wanted to replace the irreplaceable Liam Brady. No one could but Davo was cruelly underrated for most of his time at Arsenal and unfairly the whipping boy for some fans.

Missed out on England caps due to breaking Cockerill’s jaw with a beautiful punch he fell out of favour with George Graham but was one of the few players that forced his way back into the team and was instrumental in out Cup Winners Cup victory.

Emmanuel Petit

1997-2000

116 appearances (11 goals)

Championship Winners Medal, FA Cup Winners Medal, 63 France caps (6 goals)

Not strictly speaking a play maker but since he played the modern version of the role…

Came to Arsenal as a defender (many thought to replace Winterburn) he immediately formed a superb partnership with Vieira for Arsenal, and France. Within 12 months of joining Arsenal he’d won the double in England and the World Cup in France – revelling in his midfield role.

Could also put it about (as you’d expect from an ex-defender) but was never the same after a knee injury and when Barcelona offered an obscene amount of money for him to accompany Overmars to Spain Arsenal let him go.

Cesc Fabregas

2003-present

99 appearances (9 goals)

FA Cup Winners Medal, 8 Spain caps

Maybe too early for Cesc but he fits the bill. THE young star of the last few years he’s not only competed with his opponents in the middle of the park, he’s excelled against most of them from day one.

As well as his obvious attributes of vision and good incisive passing he shows no fear. One moment in the FA Cup Final of 2005 sums that up. He went sliding into a 40:60 tackle with Roy Keane. He did Keane with a ‘wedding tackle tackle’. Minutes later Cesc was shielding the ball with Keane charging in and he just passed the ball calmly away.

Recently signed an eight year contract with the club - I personally hope he signs for another eight after that!

Please note – for all players only club honours won with Arsenal are included, although the caps shown are a career total and may include caps won whilst at other clubs. All stats are intended to be correct at the start of the season.

The Best Keeper, Back Four and Defensive Midfielder Articles are Here...