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By Ronnie Macdonald (Flickr: Dennis Bergkamp statue) [CC BY 2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons
Arsenal: 30 Greatest Players Of All Time
27. Frank McLintock
Arriving for a club record £80, 000, Frank McLintock certainly came with a lot of expectation on his shoulders. When he signed in 1964, McLintock struggled to adapt to the new system deployed by Billy Wright. Playing in central midfield in his first few years at Highbury, McLintock struggled greatly, as did Arsenal. It wasn’t until a change in coaches and a change in position that the Scottish international was able to display his true quality.
McLintock was named Arsenal’s Player of the Year in 1968, and under the tutelage of Bertie Mee, McLintock’s standards increased again, along with gaining the club captaincy and moving back to center half as his legs waned due to his older age.
This change in position was the making of a world class player, as McLintock captained Arsenal to the Fairs Cup ( the equivalent of the Europa League) in 1970, and then onto the one of the most successful seasons in Arsenal history, winning the league and cup double in 1971.
The team, under Mee, was built on hard work and defensive solidarity, encapsulated by the qualities of McLintock. However, when assistant Don Howe left in the summer of 71, the success of this Arsenal side tailed off, and as the captain’s age increased, his prominent role in the squad diminished. He was, however, the leader of an excellent Arsenal side, and that is why he makes this list.
</div> <h2><h3 style="font-size:34px;">30. Nigel Winterburn</h3></h2> <p>Nigel Winterburn, like all on this list, is an Arsenal legend. Playing in one of the greatest defenses that have ever graced the Highbury pitch, Winterburn was a stalwart at fullback. The Arsenal defense that transcended eras between George Graham and Arsene Wenger was astronomically good. They were stingy, tough and mean. All excellent qualities for a title-winning defense.<div class="recent-posts "> <h4>More from <b>Pain in the Arsenal</b></h4> <ul> <li> <a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2015/11/28/30-greatest-arsenal-players/5/"https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/11/10/arsenal-interest-miguel-gutierrez-girona/"> Fabrizio Romano confirms Arsenal interest in Girona star </a> <li> <a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2015/11/28/30-greatest-arsenal-players/5/"https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/11/10/when-will-martin-odegaard-return-from-his-injury/"> When will Martin Odegaard return from his injury? </a> <li> <a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2015/11/28/30-greatest-arsenal-players/5/"https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/11/10/2-midfielders-arsenal-could-sign-in-january-transfer-window/"> 2 midfielders Arsenal could sign in January transfer window </a> <li> <a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2015/11/28/30-greatest-arsenal-players/5/"https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/11/10/thomas-partey-unlikely-to-play-for-arsenal-again-in-2023/"> Thomas Partey unlikely to play for Arsenal again in 2023 </a> <li> <a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2015/11/28/30-greatest-arsenal-players/5/"https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/11/10/predicted-arsenal-lineup-vs-burnley-saka-fit-to-start/"> Predicted Arsenal lineup vs Burnley: Saka fit to start? </a> </ul> </div></p> <p>Winterburn, the opposite of fellow full-back, Lee Dixon, was ever-present in the Arsenal side, playing in 440 games in a 13 year Arsenal career. He and Dixon often come hand in hand, and the two were the best pair of full backs in English football during the ’90s. It was a truly tremendous defense, anchored by captain fantastic Tony Adams alongside Steve Bould and Martin Keown. Such a miserly defense was only improved by such consistently quality performances by Winterburn at left back.</p> <p>Throughout the ’90s, Arsenal had great success and the star left back was an integral part of such success. With a wand of a left foot, Winterburn was an attacking threat like no other in the ’90s. And yet, his defensive duties did not suffer at the hands of his attacking prowess. He won three division titles under Graham and Wenger, as well as two FA Cups and a League Cup, completing the domestic set. He was also apart of the 1998 double winning side under Arsene Wenger, and will be forever remembered as one of Arsenal’s greatest players.</p> <div class="next-post amp-get-next-post lg slider"><a class="location" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-post-shortcode" href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2015/11/28/30-greatest-arsenal-players/5/"#"><span class="next amp-next-post-teaser">Next: </span><span class="amp-get-next-post">29. Alan Smith</span></a></div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div class="getty embed image" style="background-color: #fff; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue',Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; color: #a7a7a7; font-size: 11px; width: 100%;"> <div style="overflow: hidden; height: 0; padding: 68.350168% 0 0 0; width: 100%;"><iframe loading="lazy" src=https://paininthearsenal.com/2015/11/28/30-greatest-arsenal-players/5/"//embed.gettyimages.com/embed/480649130?et=1DXN9XtaQbx-0TK7MK7bqg&viewMoreLink=on&sig=JvHqIjCnjkaKiyNjnc_S7FrKqZl8jiUulmdsJvtCKfI=&caption=true%22 scrolling="no" height="406" width="594" style="width: 100%; height: 100%;"></iframe></div> <div style="padding: 0; margin: 0 0 0 10px; text-align: left;"><a style="color: #a7a7a7; text-decoration: none; font-weight: normal !important; border: none;" href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2015/11/28/30-greatest-arsenal-players/5/"http://www.gettyimages.com/detail/480649130">View image</a> | <a style="color: #a7a7a7; text-decoration: none; font-weight: normal !important; border: none;" href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2015/11/28/30-greatest-arsenal-players/5/"http://www.gettyimages.com">gettyimages.com!["arsenal,](https://paininthearsenal.com/2015/11/28/30-greatest-arsenal-players/5/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_393,w_590/https%3A%2F%2Fpaininthearsenal.com%2Ffiles%2F2015%2F11%2FDennis_Bergkamp_statue_2-590x900.jpg")
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<p>On this list, we have tried to be impartial as possible with respect to position and era. Paying homage to the great Arsenal side under Herbert Chapman in the ’30s, the hard working sides of George Graham through the ’80s and ’90s and then the wonderful, silky sooth championship winning sides under Arsene Wenger. This list incorporates players from many eras.<div class="recent-posts ">
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<p>In the current side, Arsenal has a plethora of great players. From Mesut Ozil with a wand of a left foot to the ever consistent Laurent Koscielny to the hard working, the hustle and bustle of Alexis Sanchez.</p>
<p>However, with the lack of longevity of many of the better players in Arsene Wenger’s current, none has cracked the top 30 list. Come back in five years, and there may well be much more on this list, but as of 2015, the achievements year upon year are not substantial enough to merit inclusion.</p>
<p>Clearly, there is no objective result, and any list that has been developed is clearly an opinion. Whether you agree with all of it or none of it, we hope that you enjoy the discussion of all the great players that have played for the Gunners. First up, Nigel Winterburn</p>
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