By Jointy Rhodes Football throwback is a series where we focus on the glorious legends of the beautiful game. This post focuses on Arsenal’s legend who revolutionized the English game..
Pat Jennings
Position-Goalkeeper Nationality- Northern Irish Clubs- Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal 
Goalkeepers using their feet to save goals is a common sight in football these days, but before Pat Jennings it was a rare thing. He saved from his feet with a frequency, that was unheard of in his days. He started his premiership career with Arsenal’s local rival Tottenham Hotspurs. He stared in 13 seasons for the Spurs, starting in 472 league games. He even managed to score a goal for Spurs, against Manchester United, in the 1967 Charity Shield. Spurs, who thought his career was coming to end at the age of 32, sold Jennings to arch rival Arsenal in August 1977. Arsenal fans were in disbelief, an early Christmas present from spurs- he went on to have 327 appearances for the gunners, in a career spanning eight years.
Well of those I have seen, Seaman , who I coached for 15 years being a great goalkeeper….Schmeichel…. Gordon Banks, who was of my time and who was a World Cup winner, but if you are talking about the most naturally gifted, unique style, everything about him that gave him this presence ….I guess that I will probably put Patrick Anthony Jennings.- Bob Wilson, Former Arsenal Keeper and Goalkeeper coach.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r9fp4aD3X-E Pat Jennings led the gunners into three F.A. cup finals and one European Cup Winners Cup final in his first three seasons, though they only won one- the 1979 FA against Manchester United . He was a beloved fixture in the Arsenal team and “Good morning God ” was how he was often greeted by his team mates. Pat Jennings broke many records for his country and clubs, some of which he still holds -First keeper to win the PFA player’s player of the year in 1975-76. -In 1983, Pat Jennings became the first player in England to appear in 1,000 senior matches. He marked the occasion with a clean sheet for Arsenal in a 0-0 draw against West Bromwich Albion. -He represented Northern Ireland in 119 international games (still a Northern Ireland record), a World record for international appearances at the time. -In the 1986 World Cup, Pat Jennings(41) became the older player to start in a World Cup game at that time.
Tony Adams
Position-Center back Nationality- English Clubs- Arsenal Tony Adam made his Arsenal debut at 17 and by 21 he had the captain’s armband, which he would keep for another 14 years. He was the leader of George Graham’s famous four back line, which also constituted of Steve Bould, Nigel Winterburn and Lee DIxon. This back-line revolutionized the use of the offside trap in English football.
There is the upright arm when George Graham was manager as they all stepped forward in unison to claim yet another offside, on the way to a 1-0 victory inevitably. -Jon Champion, Premier league and League Cup commentator.
Onside….not on my watch.
Tony Adams was a born leader and one who led by example. He was the first one to raise the spirits of the team when things weren’t going their way. Truly a talismanic figure, attitude wise he could be compared to John Terry in modern football. He spent his entire 22 year old career at Arsenal during which he won two Premier League titles, two league cups, 3 FA cups and a European Cup-Winners Cup. His hard tackling, no-nonsense defending, bravado head first diving into danger, sheer determination, winning mentality and loyalty to Arsenal club earned him the nickname ‘Mr. Arsenal’. During his reign, it was a common thing to hear the Highbury roar up the 1-0 to Arsenal chant.
Opposition team’s knew that if we scored, that was virtually game over. That was a great psychological tool to have because you could see that it actually deflated the opposition team as soon as we scored. The reputation around this back four was- it doesn’t concede goals. -Perry Groves, Former Arsenal player
But not everything was smooth for Adams in his time with Arsenal- he was nicknamed ‘Donkey’ in his earlier year because of his alcoholism. He got into fights at nightclubs often and even started a game drunk, but his darkest hour of his alcoholic days came when he was imprisoned for drunk driving for four month (later reduced to two). He also confessed to Radio 5 Live listeners that his alcoholism had led him to hit “rock bottom” and he even contemplated suicide. But Adams didn’t let alcohol erode him and his football career. Just like on field, he rose to the challenge. He admitted to the public that he was an alcoholic and sought help from Alcoholic Anonymous. Arsène Wenger also played an important role-he bought new scientific methods to Arsenal’s training ground-players’ diets were revised and the free bar at the club stadium was closed. Wenger helped his team realize that by avoiding alcohol they could prolong their career and Adams did well to heed the advice.
Adams on-field and off-field life is a source of inspiration for everyone. The man who didn’t know quitting, who went face to face with his demons, was defiant despite some early defeats and finally emerged victorious. Football’s Winston Churchill.
Kenny Sansom
Position-Full back Nationality- English Clubs- Crystal Palace and Arsenal
“He defended soundly, tackled crisply, distributed the ball intelligently, and got up to support the attack- so he was the all round package.”- Charlie George, Former Arsenal forward.
Kenny Sansom forged his ‘all-round’ reputation at Crystal Palace which eventually earned him a move to Arsenal. In the summer of 1980, Arsenal bought Sansom in exchange for Clive Allen plus £1 million. Sansom took no time to settle in Highbury and had an instant impact from day one. He was voted as the club’s Player of the Year by Arsenal supporters at the end of his first season. Intelligent and always aware, Sansom was perfect at reading the game and breaking play. In his entire career he didn’t get booked, let alone sent off. Despite his small stature (5’8”, roughly 150 pounds), Sansom was physically strong and hard to beat in the air-an all round full-back. Sansom’s lone honour for Arsenal came in the 1987 league cup vs Liverpool- a thrilling game where Arsenal came down from a goal down to claim a 2-1 win. Kenny Sansom was involved in the buildup for the winner. 
He faded prematurely due to injuries, alcoholism and manager George Graham (who eventually replaced him with Nigel Winterburn) losing trust in him. But Sansom still left a lasting impact for the gunners, and was an inspirational figure for the young defenders, especially future legends Tony Adams and Nigel Winterburn,
Patrick Vieira
Position-Center midfield
Nationality- French
Clubs- Arsenal, Juventus, Internazionale, Manchester City
“Patrick, I saw him the first time, for 45 minutes against Monaco at the end of a season game and he was 17 years of age and he dominated the midfield. It was his first game for Caen and straight away after the game I said ‘this guy will make a great career’. And when I knew I was coming here (Arsenal), I asked him to come here. He is an unbelievable player because he had everything you dreamed of having in the middle of the park…. tall but quick feet… good technique but fantastic in the fight …aggressive but kind as well as very brave .. he didn’t tire from anybody and the more you gave him the stronger he became.”
-Arsène Wenger, Current Arsenal manager.
Considered by many to be the best box to box midfielder of his era, Patrick Vieira was an absolute revelation under Arsène Wenger. He was a midfield general with great stamina, passing ability, good first touch and an unbelievable tenacity. He was physically imposing yet technically blessed, and these characteristics mix earned him the nickname ‘La Pieuvre'(The octopus). He was a cornerstone of the invincible team and went on to win three premier league titles and four FA cups in his nine seasons with Arsenal. He, along with other peers, was responsible for the popularity of the term box to box midfielder.
Cliff Bastin
Position-Winger Forward
Nationality- English
Clubs- Exeter City and Arsenal
Arjen Robben, Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, Frank Ribery-all made their career at one point or the other as inverted winger. Boy Bastin did the same thing 80 years ago. Despite his career being disrupted by the Second World War, Cliff Bastin would remain Arsenal’s top scorer in all competition until 1997 when Ian Wright overtook him. His 150 league goals for Arsenal is only bested by Thierry Henry’s 176.
A revered right footed left winger, this is what Jeff Harris had to say about Bastin in his book- Arsenal’s Who’s Who
“The reason that Bastin was so deadly was that unlike any other winger, he stood at least ten yards in from the touch line so that his alert football brain could thrive on the brilliance of [Alex] James threading through defence splitting passes with his lethal finishing completing the job.”
Arsenal had signed Bastin in 1929 for £2,000-an astronomical sum at that time for a teenager. He became the youngest player, at 18 years 43 days, to play in a FA cup final- in 1930 which Arsenal won 2-0. Next season Arsenal clinched the first division championship with a record 66 points. Bastin contributed to 28 goals. In the meantime he also got capped for England, so by the age of nineteen Bastin had won a League title, FA Cup and appeared for the England national team, making him the youngest player ever to do all three.
Herbert Chapman,the legendary Arsenal manager, played an important role in Bastin’s goal scoring exploits.The reason for their success is best explained by the Official Illustrated History of Arsenal
“In 1932-33 Bastin and Hulme scored 53 goals between them, perfect evidence that Arsenal did play the game very differently from their contemporaries, who tended to continue to rely on the wingers making goals for the centre-forward, rather than scoring themselves. By playing the wingers this way, Chapman was able to have one more man in midfield, and thus control the supply of the ball, primarily through Alex James.”
Dennis Bergkamp
Position-Second striker Nationality- Dutch Clubs- Ajax, Internazionale and Arsenal
Describing the next two players on this post-Dennis Bergkamp and Thierry Henry- is an exhausting task. Try it, you will run out of superlatives.
He was the first really top class…world class player to come to England at his peak, rather than on the slide looking for a late payday. He was absolutely at his peak. Yes he was a flop at Inter but everyone knew he would get in a World XI at that time and he was the first one to be seduced by the new money washing through English football.
-Jon Champion, Commentator
Personally I define happiness as watching Dennis the menace showcasing the perfect touch, nimbly spinning around opponents, slipping clever passes and finishing a brilliant move with his outside right. Bergkamp was the perfect Arsenal signing to transform them from Graham’s 1-0 to Wenger’s beautiful vision. It also showed great intent from Arsenal who hadn’t won the premier league in its modern format. Signing Bergkamp attracted other world class signings (in particular Overmars, Vieira and Henry) and by the time the cool-calm-collected ‘iceman’ left Arsenal, they had three premier league titles.
Bergkamp was a scorer of beautiful goals-he once finished first, second and third in BBC’s goal of the month. His goal against Newcastle can’t be described without using the the word magic. He demanded the ball from Pires and collected it while waltzing around a defender, thanks to an unconventional yet perfect one touch, his trusty right finished the job as calmly as ever-wizard.
But Bergkamp’s real revolution was the position he took on the pitch-withdrawn, in between the opposition center back and center midfield. Sports writer, Michael Cox explains it very well in Issue Zero of The Blizzard.
Bergkamp, for example, made such an impact at Arsenal because he seemed innovative, almost a different concept: defences didn’t know how to mark him. A centre-back moving up the pitch left his partner exposed, whilst a central midfielder dropping deep conceded the midfield ground to the opposition.
-Michael Cox, Blizzard
This exploitation of space allowed Bergkamp to play both the role of a scorer and a perfect provider. His 94 premier league assists is the most for an Arsenal player. Add to that his 87 Premier league goals and you can see why he is an absolute legend.
Thierry Henry
Position-Center Forward Nationality- French Clubs- Monaco, Juventus, Arsenal, Barca and NY Red Bulls
It was such a common view-Henry starts a perfect run racing past defenders,beating the offside trap, and unleashing a lethal finish, most probably to the corner. Yet one never got tired of it. Arsenal’s record goalscorer won two league titles and three FA Cups with the Gunners, was twice the runner-up for the FIFA World Player of the Year, won the PFA Players’ Player of the Year twice, the FWA Footballer of the Year thrice. He also led the team to the 2006 UEFA Champions League Final, which they lost to Barcelona.
Arsenal’s most prolific forward wasn’t always the player we know him today as. He had earned a move to Juventus from AS Monaco but had been labelled a flop. There, he was deemed a winger and Carlo Ancelloti was the first manager to shift him to the center but in the midfield. The experiment failed. But Thierry Henry was still young and Wenger remembered him from his time in AS Monaco. He bought the meek winger from Juventus and worked with him, filled him with his ideas and turned the malleable young winger into one of the most devastating spearhead in the Premiership. The transformation was not a complete one, Henry still preferred drifting to the left during games and this was to work wonders for him and Arsenal. Drifting left had two main advantages-first, Henry could evade the attention of the center backs and create an overload on the left wing; second, Henry when cutting inside could shoot with his preferred right. The Arsenal’s left side of Ashley Cole, Robert Pires and Thierry Henry is perhaps as good as any left side one will ever see. Wenger’s greatest contribution to Arsenal has to be the rediscovery of Thierry Henry and the faith he put on the youngster, Henry’s greatest contribution-repaying that faith.
A video doesn’t do him justice, so here is the whole Thierry Henry documentary.
the cultured left footer 