Chris Sutton says Arsenal legend was a way better captain than Roy Keane or John Terry

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Arsenal have had several Premier League icons over the years, and some Gunners from the past are still revered to this day.

Whilst Thierry Henry and Dennis Bergkamp are often the go-to names when thinking about Arsenal’s legendary players, there were several other stars, both in the Invincibles side and before, who are among the best ever to have graced the Premier League.

Patrick Vieira was the captain of the Invincibles side, and whilst he is widely regarded as one of the best captains in the history of the league, Arsenal had an even better one in Tony Adams.

Adams is one of three players alongside Bergkamp and Henry to have statues outside the Emirates Stadium, and is one of the biggest legends in the history of the club and the English top-flight.

Chris Sutton names Tony Adams as best-ever PL captain

Former Chelsea striker and pundit Chris Sutton has now claimed that Adams was the best captain in the history of the Premier League, but did not name Vieira in his top five.

Taking to X, Sutton claimed that Manchester United legend Roy Keane, Chelsea icon John Terry, and Leicester and Blackburn heroes Tim Sherwood and Wes Morgan were in his top five behind the former Arsenal centre-back.

What made Tony Adams an incredible Arsenal captain?

Adams was a rare example of a one-club man as he spent his entire career at Highbury, and won four titles across three decades.

Two of his four top-flight titles were in the first division before the formation of the Premier League, one of which was the iconic 1989 triumph where Arsenal won the league at Anfield in the final minutes of the game.

Adams was an exceptional leader across several squads which included high-profile stars such as Ian Wright and Nicolas Anelka, whilst also establishing himself as one of the best centre-backs in the world.

The defender was also England captain, and became Arsenal captain in 1988 at the age of 21, until his retirement 14 years later.

Whilst Terry and Keane were more successful in terms of silverware, Adams’ longevity at Arsenal, which saw him score in the game which saw Arsene Wenger’s side lift their first title in 1998.

Morgan and Sherwood did win iconic titles, but won just one each compared to Adams’s two in the Premier League era, whilst a potential Liverpool contender in Steven Gerrard failed to win the trophy.

Adams was a crucial leader in George Graham’s iconic Arsenal back four, as well as a key component in title victories in Wenger’s more attacking system, and his legacy as a defender and a captain at the club will be almost impossible to match.