Arsenal have had some of the best footballers in the world over the years, with plenty of different skills in their possession.
Whether it’s the mixture of leadership, grit and quality in The Invincibles team or the modern-day stars who are lighting up the big stages, there have been those stars who seem to have an abundance of skill.
Arsenal fans have witnessed these aces through the years, shouting from the rooftops about their quality, but that has been backed up by pundits as well.
Alan Shearer is the latest to suggest that one Arsenal legend is among the fastest he has ever seen, continuing a long list of stars to praise him.
Alan Shearer picks Thierry Henry’s speed for his perfect footballer
It’s fair to say that Thierry Henry is one of Arsenal’s greatest-ever players.
His combination of speed, skill and finishing made him a nightmare for the opposition, as he is often cited as one of the hardest players for defenders of that era to face.
Henry nearly won it all at the club, landing several titles, but missing out on the Champions League in the final against Barcelona – something he went on to win with the Blaugrana after he left Arsenal.
Such is his quality, former Premier League ace Alan Shearer named him as the player he would take speed from to make his “perfect footballer” with the Daily Mail.
He joins the likes of Wayne Rooney and Ryan Giggs in the list, showing the great company he is in when it comes to those attributes.
Henry’s pace was certainly frightening, as it made defenders back off and react in unnatural ways to his ability.
Combining that with his control of the ball and an ability to finish made him the legendary figure he is now.
Henry’s impact on Arsenal is still felt today and has helped to keep the club bringing in the talent who want to replicate his feat.
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Who is the quickest player at Arsenal this season
It is often difficult to judge just how quick a player really is when they have to combine ball control and match situations into their sprinting.
FotMob data has revealed which players have been the fastest in the Premier League this season, of which one Arsenal star features in the top ten.
That is Gabriel Martinelli, who ranks fourth in the league for 2025/26 so far, clocking in at 35.5 kilometres per hour.
The pace of the Brazilian is no real surprise, as he can hit some top speeds, but it’s the other parts of his game that Arsenal need him to improve on.
If he can go on to add the same finishing power and trickery to his game that Henry had, then that left side will be his for years to come.
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