Arsenal FC: Ranking the 10 Best Midfielders in the Club's History

Arsenal FC is one of the greatest clubs in football history. The club has had some great midfielders over the years.

First comes the Spanish wizard Cesc Fabregas, the French defensive midfielder Patrick Vieira, and then the Irish-legend Liam Brady. Two other outstanding figures in the club's history were Robert Pires, a French wide midfielder who had flair and skill, and Fredrik Ljungberg, Pires's less eye-catching counterpart on the other wing.

Later comes the English winger with so much skill and flair that a youth coach said " I've seen a lad who plays like a Brazilian". His name was David Rocastle. Then there is the hub around which Herbert Chapman's "Invincibles" rotated, He was a Scottish goalscorer-turned playmaker called Alex James, who signed from Preston North End.

At the twlight of the George Graham era at Arsenal, the team was built around an attacking midfiedler called  Paul Merson. who had passing ability in abundance as well as an ability to strike the ball as well as Brady could. 

Patrick Vieira

Vieira was the captain of the Arsenal side in 2004, which went through the League unbeaten. He was one of Arsene Wenger's first signings at Arsenal football club. It was a brilliant signing.

He had immaculate touch, passing and tackling ability. What set Vieira apart, however, were his intangibles, and mainly his determination.

Cesc Fabregas

. Fabregas is an immaculate passer. He is an out-and-out playmaker, an expert in the incisive long pass.Fabregas led Arsenal for the stagnant years at the club, from 2006-2011. He was an integral part and driving force of the Arsenal side.

Even though he has now departed to Barcelona, he reamins one of the club's legends.

Liam Brady

Liam Brady was the Irishman who was an Arsenal youth product. He was a creative midfielder who could pass and shoot . He was famous for his passing and his ability to delicately strike the ball.

He later moved to Juventus where he won two scudetti with Juventus.

Robert Pires

Pires arrived at Arsenal from Metz, Arsene Wenger's old club. Pires was already known across Europe as a tricky winger with great flair , and touch.It seemed that Pires could not adapt to the physical style of the Premier League, but he terrorized English defenses for years and years.

Fredrik Ljungberg

Ljungberg was a promising Swedish winger at Halmstad when he was signed up by Arsene Wenger in 1998. He had a great career at Arsenal, playing 216 league games and scoring 46 times. He was a winger and more hard working than skillful. The attention wingers paid to Pires allowed him more space to go forward and score, combining with Lauren very effectively. 

David Rocastle

David Rocastle was Arsenal, and he was proud. An attacking midfielder who wan't afraid to put his foot in, he was also renowned for his skill and flair. Rocastle was as ingenious as he was tenacious, and he had some great battles with full-back Stuart Pearce. 

Charlie George

Charlie George was a playmaker at the time that attacking playmaker were a rare breed in English  football. His skill and ingenuity earned him many plauditrs and he  played in a great attacking partnership with George Graham, which won Arsenal the double in 1971.

Paul Merson

Merson was the playmaker of that "Boring, Boring Arsenal" George Graham side, and was the talisman of the Arsenal side in the 1991-92 season. He wore a Number 10, for the Arsenal. He had great shooting ability and passing ability.

Alex James

Alex James was one of the great Invincibles of Herbert Chapman. He came from Preston North End at a teim when they were called " Alex James and 10 Others". At the time it was surprising that the then Arsenal manager Herbert Chapman managed to sign a then superstar. He was then converted from the goalscorer role to a playmaker role on the wing. Many of Cliff Bastin's goals came from Alex James's passes 

Cliff Bastin

Bastin is best summed up as one of the first inverted winger the game had ever see. He used to cut in from the wings to find the space from Alex James's passes. He was one of the best players Chapman ever had.