List of Arsenal F.C. players

File:David O'Leary (1981).jpg

David O'Leary has played 722 times for Arsenal, more than any other player.

Arsenal Football Club, an association football club based in Islington, London, was founded in 1886 as Dial Square. They became the first southern memberTemplate:Refn admitted into the Football League in 1893, having spent their first four seasons solely participating in cup tournaments and friendlies.Template:Sfnp The club's name, which shortly changed to Woolwich Arsenal, was shortened to Arsenal in 1914, a year after the club moved to Highbury.Template:Sfnp Despite finishing fifth in the Second Division in 1914–15, Arsenal rejoined the First Division at the expense of local rivals Tottenham Hotspur when football resumed after the First World War.Template:Sfnp Since that time, they have not fallen below the first tier of the English football league system and hold the record for the longest uninterrupted period in the top flight. The club's first team has competed in numerous nationally and internationally organised competitions, and all players who have played in 100 or more such matches are listed below.

David O'Leary holds the record for the greatest number of appearances for Arsenal. Between 1975 and 1993 the Irish defender played 722 times for the club. As of 2024, only eight players have made more than 500 appearances for Arsenal, including four of the so-called "famous five" defenders of the 1990s, Tony Adams, Lee Dixon, David Seaman and Nigel Winterburn. The club's goalscoring record is held by Thierry Henry, who scored 228 goals in all competitions between 1999 and 2007 and during a loan spell with the club in 2012. He surpassed the previous record of 185 goals, held by Ian Wright, in 2005, and became the first player to score 200 goals for Arsenal the following year.

In 2013, Arsenal launched the "100 Club" to formally recognise retired players with over 100 league appearances. As of September 2016, 75 living players have been inducted with a further 26 automatically enrolled once they end their careers.

As of 30 January 2025, a total of 914 players have played at least one official match for Arsenal throughout history. Alongside the British Isles, players from 65 different nationalities have played for Arsenal. Outside of the British Isles, France are the most represented with 29 players throughout history, followed by Spain with 16 players, and then Brazil with 15 players.

Key

• The list is ordered first by date of debut, and then if necessary in alphabetical order.
• Appearances as a substitute are included. This feature of the game was introduced in the Football League at the start of the 1965–66 season.

Positions key

Pre-1960s		1960s–
GK	Goalkeeper
FB	Full-back	DF	Defender
HB	Half-back	MF	Midfielder
FW	Forward

<dt id="" >Nationality Template:Defn <dt id="" >Position Template:Defn <dt id="" >Club career Template:Defn <dt id="" >Total appearances and Total goals Template:Defn

Players

File:Adams, Tony.jpg

Tony Adams, who lies second in the all-time appearance list with 669. He was also captain from 1988 to 2002.

File:Percy Robert Sands.jpg

Percy Sands made 350 appearances in the early years, when the team was known as Woolwich Arsenal.

File:Joseph Ebenezer Shaw.jpg

Another early player, Joe Shaw made 326 appearances.

File:Bob Wilson in 2009 (cropped).jpg

Bob Wilson made 308 appearances for the club in the 1960s and 70s.

File:Frank McLintock.jpg

Frank McLintock made 403 appearances for the Gunners.

File:Ray Parlour.jpg

Nicknamed "The Romford Pelé", Ray Parlour has 464 appearances.

File:Paul Merson.jpg

Seen here during his time with Portsmouth, Paul Merson has 423 appearances.

File:Ian Wright from Lee Dixon interview 1.jpg

Ian Wright is Arsenal's second-highest all-time goalscorer.

File:Dennis Bergkamp cropped.JPG

Dennis Bergkamp has more appearances than any other overseas player.

File:Patrick Vieira.jpg

Patrick Vieira was captain from 2002 to 2005.

File:Kenny Sansom April 2011 TB.jpg

Kenny Sansom preceded Tony Adams as captain, holding the post until 1988.

File:Thierry Henry Arsenal U19s Vs Olympiacos (21650432628).jpg

Thierry Henry is the all-time record goalscorer, and was also captain from 2005 to 2007.

File:Kolo Toure 2008.jpg

Kolo Touré made 326 appearances for Arsenal.

File:Fabregas newcastle emirates.jpg

Cesc Fàbregas is Arsenal's youngest-ever goalscorer, and captained the side from 2008 to 2011.

File:FIFA WC-qualification 2014 - Austria vs. Germany 2012-09-11 - Per Mertesacker 01 (cropped).JPG

Per Mertesacker made 221 appearances for Arsenal and is the current Arsenal Academy manager.

File:Mikel Arteta (cropped).jpg

Mikel Arteta made 150 appearances for Arsenal and is the current manager.

Players highlighted in bold are still actively playing at Arsenal.

Statistics are correct up to and including the match played on 25 May 2025

List of Arsenal F.C. players with 100 or more appearances

Player	Nationality	Pos	Club career	Starts	Subs	Total	Goals
				Appearances
	Template:Fba	FW	1891–1898	138	0	138	18
	Template:Fba	HB	1893–1899	150	0	150	10
	Template:Fba	HB	1896–1903	153	0	153	11
	Template:Fba	HB	1898–1912	284	0	284	13
	Template:Fba	FB	1899–1903	112	0	112	1
	Template:Fba	FB	1899–1905	204	0	204	1
	Template:Fba	FB	1900–1910	149	0	149	0
	Template:Fba	GK	1900–1908	303	0	303	0
	Template:Fba	FW	1901–1905	133	0	133	34
	Template:Fba	FW	1901–1905	106	0	106	48
	Template:Fba	FW	1902–1908	196	0	196	84
	Template:Fba	HB	1902–1915	346	0	346	0
	Template:Fba	HB	1902–1919	350	0	350	12
	Template:Fba	FB	1904–1912	200	0	200	0
	Template:Fba	FW	1904–1912	168	0	168	32
	Template:Fba	FW	1904–1910	141	0	141	48
	Template:Fba	HB	1905–1912	188	0	188	21
	Template:Fba	FB	1905–1908	116	0	116	5
	Template:Fba	GK	1906 1908–1910 1912–1913	103	0	103	0
	Template:Fba	FW	1907–1920	220	0	220	34
	Template:Fba	FB	1907–1923	326	0	326	0
	Template:Fba	FW	1908–1921	170	0	170	13
	Template:Fba	HB	1908–1922	217	0	217	4
	Template:Fba	FW	1910–1917	121	0	121	28
	Template:Fba	HB	1911–1924	179	0	179	20
	Template:Fba	FW	1913–1923 1923–1926Template:Refn	232	0	232	27
	Template:Fba	HB	1914–1929	343	0	343	51
	Template:Fba	FB	1914–1923	142	0	142	14
	Template:Fba	HB	1914–1930	296	0	296	8
	Template:Fba	FB	1919–1923	108	0	108	1
	Template:Fba	FW	1919–1923	109	0	109	45
	Template:Fba	FW	1919–1926	100	0	100	6
	Template:Fba	GK	1919–1923	113	0	113	0
	Template:Fba	HB	1919–1931	351	0	351	26
	Template:Fba	FB	1921–1926	118	0	118	1
	Template:Fba	HB	1921–1927	124	0	124	3
	Template:Fba	GK	1921–1925	101	0	101	0
	Template:Fba	HB	1922–1937	470	0	470	13
	Template:Fba	FB	1922–1928	129	0	129	0
	Template:Fba	FW	1924–1931	232	0	232	139
	Template:Fba	FW	1924–1929	117	0	117	18
	Template:Fba	GK	1924–1931	167	0	167	0
	Template:Fba	FW	1925–1928	120	0	120	56
	Template:Fba	FW	1926–1937	374	0	374	125
	Template:Fba	FW	1926–1933	161	0	161	109
	Template:Fba	FB	1926–1932	294	0	294	17
	Template:Fba	HB	1926–1937	335	0	335	5
	Template:Fba	FB	1927–1939	440	0	440	2
	Template:Fba	HB	1928–1934	208	0	208	124
	Template:Fba	FW	1928–1934	195	0	195	8
	Template:Fba	FW	1929–1947	396	0	396	178
	Template:Fba	HB	1929–1937	261	0	261	27
	Template:Fba	HB	1930–1950	273	0	273	6
	Template:Fba	FB	1930–1948	318	0	318	0
	Template:Fba	GK	1931–1936	161	0	161	1
	Template:Fba	FW	1933–1937	138	0	138	48
	Template:Fba	HB	1934–1939	189	0	189	0
	Template:Fba	HB	1934–1939	187	0	187	17
	Template:Fba	FW	1934–1939	184	0	184	139
	Template:Fba	FW	1935–1939	101	0	101	45
	Template:Fba	FW	1935–1953	176	0	176	118
	Template:Fba	GK	1936–1953	297	0	297	0
	Template:Fba	FB	1946–1955	294	0	294	12
	Template:Fba	HB	1946–1955	328	0	328	76
	Template:Fba	FW	1946–1951	163	0	163	21
	Template:Fba	HB	1946–1954	275	0	275	2
	Template:Fba	FB	1946–1951	126	0	126	0
	Template:Fba	HB	1947–1950	108	0	108	1
	Template:Fba	FW	1947–1956	321	0	321	95
	Template:Fba	HB	1948–1956	240	0	240	20
	Template:Fba	FW	1948–1955	244	0	244	137
	Template:Fba	FB	1948–1954	181	0	181	0
	Template:Fba	FW	1949–1959	240	0	240	53
	Template:Fba	GK	1949–1962	352	0	352	0
	Template:Fba	FW	1950–1958	217	0	217	88
	Template:Fba	HB	1951–1959	162	0	162	2
	Template:Fba	FB	1951–1960	207	0	207	12
	Template:Fba	HB	1953–1960	207	0	207	1
	Template:Fba	FB	1953–1961	209	0	209	4
	Template:Fba	FW	1954–1960	227	0	227	56
	Template:Fba	FW	1954–1962	225	0	225	27
	Template:Fba	FW	1954–1961	122	0	122	26
	Template:Fba	HB	1954–1958	132	0	132	68
	Template:Fba	FB	1955–1958	110	0	110	3
	Template:Fba	HB	1955–1964	203	0	203	37
	Template:Fba	FW	1955–1961	180	0	180	107
	Template:Fba	HB	1957–1964	151	0	151	24
	Template:Fba	FW	1958–1961	111	0	111	29
	Template:Fba	DF	1958–1966	268	0	268	5
	Template:Fba	DF	1959–1965	131	0	131	0
	Template:Fba	FW	1960–1966	223	0	223	41
	Template:Fba	DF	1960–1970	272	3	275	10
	Template:Fba	MF	1960–1966	153	1	154	54
	Template:Fba	FW	1960–1964	137	0	137	77
	Template:Fba	DF	1961–1963	109	0	109	2
	Template:Fba	MF	1961–1964	112	0	112	28
	Template:Fba	MF	1962–1977	607	14	621	68
	Template:Fba	FW	1962–1966	156	0	156	100
	Template:Fba	MF	1962–1970	194	10	204	18
	Template:Fba	GK	1963–1968	167	0	167	0
	Template:Fba	MF	1963–1971	266	4	270	52
	Template:Fba	DF	1963–1969	202	0	202	2
	Template:Fba	GK	1963–1974	308	0	308	0
	Template:Fba	DF	1964–1973	401	2	403	32
	Template:Fba	FW	1964–1976	475	6	481	149
	Template:Fba	DF	1964–1978	458	19	477	15
	Template:Fba	DF	1965–1977	494	7	501	17
	Template:Fba	FW	1966–1972	296	12	308	77
	Template:Fba	DF	1966–1975	362	3	365	6
	Template:Fba	DF	1967–1980	521	7	528	13
	Template:Fba	FW	1969–1975	157	22	179	49
	Template:Fba	MF	1969–1975	211	11	222	19
	Template:Fba	FW	1969–1974	206	6	212	71
	Template:Fba	DF	1969–1981	325	14	339	12
	Template:Fba	MF	1971–1976	217	0	217	52
	Template:Fba	MF	1973–1980	295	12	307	59
	Template:Fba	MF	1973–1981	165	11	176	19
	Template:Fba	GK	1974–1977	146	0	146	0
	Template:Fba	DF	1973–1993	681	41	722	14
	Template:Fba	FW	1975–1981	297	3	300	108
	Template:Fba	DF	1976–1983	108	3	111	0
	Template:Fba	FW	1976–1979	107	1	108	57
	Template:Fba	GK	1977–1984	327	0	327	0
	Template:Fba	MF	1977–1988	447	17	464	51
	Template:Fba	FW	1977–1983	278	3	281	92
	Template:Fba	DF	1977–1981	236	1	237	19
	Template:Fba	MF	1979–1983	163	9	172	13
	Template:Fba	MF	1979–1985	311	16	327	49
	Template:Fba	MF	1980–1994	416	31	447	37
	Template:Fba	DF	1980–1988	394	0	394	6
	Template:Fba	MF	1981–1986	185	1	186	21
	Template:Fba	DF	1981–1985	108	5	113	8
	Template:Fba	FW	1982–1986	164	5	169	68
	Template:Fba	DF	1983–2002	663	6	669	48
	Template:Fba	MF	1983–1987	75	30	105	23
	Template:Fba	FW	1983–1987	176	8	184	54
	Template:Fba	DF	1984–1987	150	0	150	15
	Template:Fba	MF	1984–1988	119	2	121	5
	Template:Fba	GK	1984–1990 1996–2001	298	0	298	0
	Template:Fba	MF	1985–1990	92	40	132	34
	Template:Fba	MF	1985–1992	260	17	277	34
	Template:Fba	DF	1985–1986 1993–2004	408	41	449	8
	Template:Fba	MF	1986–1992	120	83	203	28
	Template:Fba	FW	1986–1997	381	44	425	99
	Template:Fba	FW	1987–1995	318	29	347	115
	Template:Fba	MF	1987–1990	111	11	122	8
	Template:Fba	MF	1987–1991	187	21	208	30
	Template:Fba	DF	1988–1999	348	24	372	22
	Template:Fba	FW	1988–1995	166	62	228	59
	Template:Fba	DF	1988–2002	598	21	619	28
	Template:Fba	DF	1987–2000	572	12	584	12
	Template:Fba	MF	1990–1996	113	30	143	2
	Template:Fba	MF	1990–1994	96	20	116	20
	Template:Fba	DF	1990–1996	135	21	156	8
	Template:Fba	GK	1990–2003	564	0	564	0
	Template:Fba	FW	1991–1998	279	9	288	185
	Template:Fba	MF	1992–1996	130	8	138	1
	Template:Fba	MF	1992–2004	390	76	466	32
	Template:Fba	FW	1995–2006	345	78	423	120
	Template:Fba	MF	1995–1998	77	31	108	15
	Template:Fba	MF	1996–2005	396	10	406	33
	Template:Fba	DF	1997–2002	128	42	170	6
	Template:Fba	MF	1997–2000	127	15	142	41
	Template:Fba	MF	1997–2000	114	4	118	11
	Template:Fba	MF	1998–2007	285	43	328	72
	Template:Fba	DF	1999–2006	218	10	228	9
	Template:Fba	FW	1999–2007 2012	337	40	377	228
	Template:Fba	FW	1999–2004	104	94	198	44
	Template:Fba	DF	1999–2003	91	19	110	0
	Template:Fba	FW	2000–2004	124	51	175	49
	Template:Fba	MF	2000–2006	238	46	284	84
Lauren	Template:Fba	DF	2000–2007	227	14	241	9
	Template:Fba	DF	2001–2006 2010	208	3	211	12
Edu	Template:Fba	MF	2001–2005	76	51	127	15
	Template:Fba	MF	2002–2008	213	31	244	24
	Template:Fba	DF	2002–2009	295	31	326	14
	Template:Fba	GK	2003–2008 2011	199	1	200	0
	Template:Fba	MF	2003–2011	266	37	303	57
	Template:Fba	DF	2003–2011	230	34	264	2
	Template:Fba	DF	2003–2010	105	12	117	4
	Template:Fba	GK	2004–2012	173	2	175	0
	Template:Fba	FW	2004–2007	89	21	110	23
	Template:Fba	FW	2004–2012	211	67	278	132
	Template:Fba	MF	2004–2008 2013–2016	174	72	246	13
	Template:Fba	DF	2004–2014	123	21	144	1
	Template:Fba	DF	2005–2011	159	55	214	10
	Template:Fba	MF	2005–2008	109	21	130	10
	Template:Fba	FW	2005–2014	83	88	171	47
	Template:Fba	MF	2005–2012	179	25	204	10
	Template:Fba	MF	2006–2015	136	44	180	19
	Template:Fba	FW	2006–2009	114	28	142	62
	Template:Fba	MF	2006–2016	158	88	246	28
	Template:Fba	FW	2006–2018	252	145	397	108
	Template:Fba	DF	2006–2010	142	0	142	17
	Template:Fba	MF	2006–2013	120	33	153	10
	Template:Fba	DF	2007–2014	272	12	284	5
	Template:Fba	DF	2007–2017	183	47	230	6
	Template:Fba	MF	2008–2019	261	108	369	64
	Template:Fba	MF	2008–2011	110	15	125	27
	Template:Fba	MF	2008–2018	150	47	197	14
	Template:Fba	MF	2008–2018	115	45	160	0
	Template:Fba	MF	2009–2013	97	47	144	31
	Template:Fba	DF	2009–2014	136	14	150	15
	Template:Fba	GK	2009–2017	181	0	181	0
	Template:Fba	DF	2010–2019	342	11	353	27
	Template:Fba	MF	2011–2017	115	83	198	20
	Template:Fba	DF	2011–2018	215	6	221	10
	Template:Fba	MF	2011–2016	131	19	150	16
	Template:Fba	FW	2012–2018	169	84	253	105
	Template:Fba	MF	2012–2018	166	14	180	29
	Template:Fba	DF	2013–2019	223	28	251	10
	Template:Fba	MF	2013–2021	237	17	254	44
	Template:Fba	DF	2013–2021	220	19	239	9
	Template:Fba	FW	2014–2018	153	13	166	80
	Template:Fba	DF	2014–2022	87	35	122	5
	Template:Fba	FW	2014–2019	78	48	126	32
	Template:Fba	MF	2014–2023	88	44	132	3
	Template:Fba	GK	2015–2019	139	0	139	0
	Template:Fba	MF	2015–2019	103	46	149	15
	Template:Fba	MF	2016–2024	108	53	161	6
	Template:Fba	DF	2016–2023	132	30	162	5
	Template:Fba	MF	2016–2023	279	18	297	23
	Template:Fba	DF	2016–2021	142	9	151	9
	Template:Fba	DF	2017–2022	94	24	118	5
	Template:Fba	FW	2017–2022	150	56	206	71
	Template:Fba	FW	2017–2024	70	98	168	38
	Template:Fba	FW	2018–2022	142	21	163	92
	Template:Fba	GK	2018–2022	124	1	125	0
	Template:Fba	MF	2018–2024	63	52	115	18
	Template:Fba	FW	2018–	229	34	263	70
	Template:Fba	FW	2019–2023	67	45	112	27
	Template:Fba	FW	2019–	161	64	225	51
	Template:Fba	DF	2019–2025	95	49	144	6
	Template:Fba	DF	2020–	201	9	210	20
	Template:Fba	MF	2020–2025	132	35	167	9
	Template:Fba	MF	2021–	172	26	198	41
	Template:Fba	DF	2021–	139	21	160	6
	Template:Fba	DF	2022–	132	2	134	7
	Template:Fba	FW	2023–	73	51	124	28
	Template:Fba	MF	2023–	96	7	103	16

Captains

64 players have captained Arsenal since it was founded as Dial Square F.C. in 1886, the first being club founder David Danskin, who captained the team until he was forced to retire due to injury in 1889. The club's longest-serving captain is Tony Adams, who captained the club for 14 years between 1988 and 2002, and is frequently known as "Mr. Arsenal" for this achievement. The current captain is Martin Ødegaard.

Dates	Captain
1886–1889	Template:Fbaicon David Danskin
1889	Template:Fbaicon Arthur Brown
1889–1890	Template:Fbaicon Morris Bates
1890–1891	Template:Fbaicon Bill Julian
1891–1892Template:Refn	Template:Fbaicon Sandy Robertson Template:Fbaicon Robert Buist Template:Fbaicon David Howat Template:Fbaicon Tom Graham Template:Fbaicon William Stewart
1892–1893	Template:Fbaicon Charles Booth
1893–1894	Template:Fbaicon Joe Powell
1894–1895	Template:Fbaicon David Howat
1895–1896	Template:Fbaicon Caesar Jenkyns
1896–1898	Template:Fbaicon Gavin Crawford
1898–1899	Template:Fbaicon John Anderson
1899–1900	Template:Fbaicon Joe Murphy
1900–1901	Template:Fbaicon Duncan McNichol
1901–1905	Template:Fbaicon Jimmy Jackson
1905–1906	Template:Fbaicon John Dick
1906–1919	Template:Fbaicon Percy Sands
1919–1920	Template:Fbaicon Joe Shaw
1920–1922	Template:Fbaicon Frank Bradshaw
1922–1923	Template:Fbaicon Alex Graham
1923–1924	Template:Fbaicon Billy Blyth
1924–1925	Template:Fbaicon Alf Baker
1925–1928	Template:Fbaicon Charlie Buchan
1928–1929	Template:Fbaicon Billy Blyth
1929–1932	Template:Fbaicon Tom Parker
1932–1933	Template:Fbaicon Charlie Jones
1933–1937	Template:Fbaicon Alex James
1937–1944	Template:Fbaicon Eddie Hapgood
1944–1947	Template:Fbaicon George Male
1947–1954	Template:Fbaicon Joe Mercer
1954	Template:Fbaicon Jimmy Logie
1954–1955	Template:Fbaicon Walley Barnes
1955–1956	Template:Fbaicon Don Roper
1956	Template:Fbaicon Cliff Holton
1956–1957	Template:Fbaicon Peter Goring
1957	Template:Fbaicon Cliff Holton
1957–1958	Template:Fbaicon Dennis Evans
1958–1959	Template:Fbaicon Dave Bowen
1959–1962	Template:Fbaicon Vic Groves
1962–1963	Template:Fbaicon Terry Neill
1963–1966	Template:Fbaicon George Eastham
1966–1967	Template:Fbaicon Don Howe
1967–1973	Template:Fbaicon Frank McLintock
1973–1974	Template:Fbaicon Bob McNab
1974–1975	Template:Fbaicon Alan Ball
1975	Template:Fbaicon Eddie Kelly
1975–1976	Template:Fbaicon Alan Ball
1976–1980	Template:Fbaicon Pat Rice
1980–1983	Template:Fbaicon David O'LearyTemplate:Refn
1983–1986	Template:Fbaicon Graham Rix
1986–1988	Template:Fbaicon Kenny Sansom
1988–2002	Template:Fbaicon Tony AdamsTemplate:Refn
2002–2005	Template:Fbaicon Patrick VieiraTemplate:Refn
2005–2007	Template:Fbaicon Thierry Henry
2007–2008	Template:Fbaicon William Gallas
2008–2011	Template:Fbaicon Cesc Fabregas
2011–2012	Template:Fbaicon Robin van Persie
2012–2014	Template:Fbaicon Thomas Vermaelen
2014–2016	Template:Fbaicon Mikel Arteta
2016–2018	Template:Fbaicon Per Mertesacker
2018–2019	Template:Fbaicon Laurent Koscielny
2019	Template:Fbaicon Granit Xhaka
2019–2021	Template:Fbaicon Pierre-Emerick AubameyangTemplate:Refn
2021–2022	Template:Fbaicon Alexandre Lacazette
2022–present	Template:Fbaicon Martin Ødegaard

References

General

Specific