Longevity is something you don’t really see in football these days. Arsene Wenger’s departure from Arsenal brought an end to that on the managerial front, but it’s no different with players as well in the modern game.
Playing for multiple clubs in different countries is the new ambition for most. Gone are the days where representing one club throughout a player’s career was a sign of strength. The Tony Adams‘ of the past era are mostly gone today.
A list of Arsenal‘s highest appearance makers shows just how difficult it is for players to keep playing for a big club at a really high level for years and years. Not one Gunner from the past 15 years makes it into the top 10.
David O’Leary has played the most games in Arsenal history
David O’Leary
Games: 722
An Irish football legend, David O’Leary racked up a staggering 722 appearances in all competitions for Arsenal during his 18 years in north London.
Key to O’Leary’s appearance tally was both his ability as a centre-back, and his ability to stay fit too. Between 1976/77 and 1986/87, the defender racked up at least 40 appearances every single season bar one – a 1980/81 campaign that was interrupted by a rare injury.
O’Leary managed to win two First Division titles and two FA Cups during his stint with the Gunners.
Tony Adams
Games: 669
Arguably the greatest player in Arsenal history, and definitely the best captain in Arsenal history, Tony Adams was the rock at the heart of the defence of some of the best English club teams of all time.
Both George Graham and Arsene Wenger relied heavily on the leadership and quality of Adams, with the centre-back winning two league titles under each manager respectively.
George Armstrong
Games: 621
A legendary figure thanks to his exploits on the wing in the 1960s and 1970s, George Armstrong remains a favourite of many Arsenal fans to this day.
Armstrong’s greatest season at Highbury was undoubtedly the double-winning 1970/71 campaign, in which he was the creative force behind both the First Division title and FA Cup triumphs.
Lee Dixon
Games: 619
A regular face on our screens thanks to his punditry work, Lee Dixon was also a regular for Arsenal on the pitch for the better part of two decades between 1988 and 2002.
Alongside Tony Adams and co., Dixon racked up four league title wins and three FA Cups during his time with the club.
Nigel Winterburn
Games: 584
Another player from the famous Arsenal sides of the 1990s, Nigel Winterburn was one of the best left-backs in England.
Winterburn won three league titles with the Gunners.
David Seaman
Games: 564
For many Arsenal fans, David Seaman is the greatest goalkeeper in the club’s history.
And judging by his array of brilliant performances for the club throughout the years, it’s easy to see why. In particular, his performance and jaw-dropping save in the FA Cup semi-final clash with Sheffield United is still talked about to this day.
Pat Rice
Games: 528
Pat Rice is probably best known to modern fans as Arsene Wenger’s right-hand man and long-term assistant manager, but he was also quite the player in his day too.
Rice was an incredibly dependable right-back for the Gunners throughout the 1970s, and played a key role in the double-winning season in 1970/71.
Peter Storey
Games: 501
Another member of the 1970/71 double-winning side, Peter Storey was a hard-working full-back who gave his all every time he stepped on the Highbury turf.
John Radford
Games: 481
Yet another double-winner, John Radford actually had the best season of his 12 year career with Arsenal in 1970/71.
The striker netted a career-high tally of 21 goals, and he also assisted the winning goal of Arsenal’s FA Cup semi-final replay win over Stoke City.
Radford would later play for West Ham and Blackburn before retiring from the game in 1983.
Peter Simpson
Games: 477
Promoted to the Arsenal first team in 1966 after coming through the Arsenal academy, Simpson is widely regarded as a true homegrown legend in north London.
He won the Arsenal Player of the Season award for his efforts during the 1968/69 season.
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