Ask any Arsenal fan to name the one player who defines the club, and you’ll get a different answer depending on the era they grew up in — the Gunners’ squad history is so rich that the “best” player often shifts with each generation. This guide cuts through the debate with verified facts on the current squad, the legends, the highest earners, and the questions fans search for most.
All-time top scorer: Thierry Henry (228 goals) ·
Most appearances: David O’Leary (722) ·
Current captain: Martin Ødegaard ·
Youngest player: Cesc Fàbregas (16 years 177 days) ·
Most assists in a season: Thierry Henry (20 in 2002-03)
Quick snapshot
- Leading goal scorers 2024-25 WorldFootball.net
- Key midfielders Soccerbase (squad data)
- Defensive anchors UEFA (squad list)
- Thierry Henry
- Tony Adams
- Dennis Bergkamp
- Patrick Vieira
- Bukayo Saka ESPN (squad roster)
- Emile Smith Rowe (ESPN (squad roster))
- Ethan Nwaneri (ESPN (squad roster))
- Beth Mead
- Vivianne Miedema
- Kim Little
Seven key facts about Arsenal Football Club, sourced from official and editorial databases.
| Attribute | Value |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1886 |
| Stadium | Emirates Stadium (60,704 seats) Transfermarkt (club profile) |
| All-time top scorer | Thierry Henry (228 goals) |
| Most appearances | David O’Leary (722) |
| Current manager | Mikel Arteta |
| Current captain | Martin Ødegaard |
| Women’s team manager | Jonas Eidevall |
Who are the 11 players in Arsenal?
The current Arsenal first-team squad, as tracked by WorldFootball.net (squad data) and verified by UEFA (official competition registry), numbers about 24 senior professionals. However, a typical starting XI under Mikel Arteta follows a 4-3-3 shape. For the 2025-26 season, the most common lineup includes David Raya in goal, a back four of Ben White, William Saliba, Gabriel Magalhães, and Jurriën Timber, a midfield trio of Martin Ødegaard, Declan Rice, and Kai Havertz, and a forward line of Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Jesus, and Leandro Trossard or Gabriel Martinelli.
Who is the current Arsenal number 10?
As of the 2025-26 season, the number 10 shirt is worn by Emile Smith Rowe, who inherited the jersey after a period of vacancy. Squad numbers were last updated on 23 August 2025, according to Wikipedia (2025-26 season page). Smith Rowe’s number 10 status marks him as the creative midfield option, though his playing time has been managed carefully due to injury history.
What are the squad numbers of Arsenal players?
The club’s official squad numbers include David Raya (no. 1), William Saliba (no. 2), Ben White (no. 4), Thomas Partey (no. 5), Gabriel (no. 6), Bukayo Saka (no. 7), Martin Ødegaard (no. 8), Gabriel Jesus (no. 9), Emile Smith Rowe (no. 10), Gabriel Martinelli (no. 11), and Declan Rice (no. 41). The full list is maintained on ESPN (squad roster) and the club’s official site.
Arsenal’s squad depth means no single “starting 11” is fixed — Arteta rotates heavily for cup and European fixtures, making the concept of a locked XI more a fan shorthand than reality.
The implication: Arsenal’s squad rotation makes a fixed starting XI a fluid concept.
Who is the best player in Arsenal recently?
If recent seasons are the measure, the answer narrows quickly. Bukayo Saka won the club’s Player of the Season award for 2022-23 and has been Arsenal’s most consistent attacking threat. Martin Ødegaard, the current captain, has been the creative engine, while Declan Rice’s £105 million arrival in 2023 Capology (salary estimates) transformed midfield stability. Saka’s reported £300,000 per week salary Yahoo Sports (wage report citing BBC) reflects his value.
Who won the Arsenal Player of the Season award?
The last five winners of the Arsenal Player of the Season award are: 2022-23: Bukayo Saka; 2021-22: Bukayo Saka; 2020-21: Bukayo Saka; 2019-20: Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang; 2018-19: Alexandre Lacazette.
Which Arsenal player has the most goals this season?
For the current 2025-26 season, Bukayo Saka leads the goal-scoring charts with 12 goals in all competitions, followed by Gabriel Jesus with 9 and Kai Havertz with 7, as per WorldFootball.net (appearance data).
Bukayo Saka’s trajectory from Hale End academy product to highest-paid Gunner is the clearest signal of Arsenal’s modern identity: develop young, pay them what they’re worth, and build around homegrown talent.
For more on individual player journeys, check out our article on Nicolas Pepe: Relationship, Arsenal Failure & Net Worth and Trent Alexander-Arnold: Biography, Stats & Myths.
The pattern: Saka’s rise epitomises the club’s shift to a youth-led identity.
Who is the billionaire ex Arsenal player?
No former Arsenal player is a confirmed billionaire from football earnings alone. The closest is Mesut Özil, whose career earnings — including a reported £350,000 per week contract at Arsenal — plus investments and endorsements, have placed his net worth at an estimated £120-140 million. Thierry Henry’s post-retirement ventures in media, ownership (CF Montréal), and endorsements put his net worth around £100 million. The billionaire ex-player is largely a myth; Stan Kroenke, the club’s owner, is the billionaire associated with Arsenal, not a former player.
Who is the richest ex-footballer?
The richest ex-footballer globally is widely considered to be Faiq Bolkiah, a former Leicester City and Marítimo player from the Bruneian royal family, with an estimated net worth of £15-20 billion. Among former Arsenal players, the wealthiest is likely Cesc Fàbregas, whose combined salary and business ventures are estimated at £60-80 million.
Who is the richest current Arsenal player?
Bukayo Saka is currently Arsenal’s highest-paid player, reportedly earning £300,000 per week after his contract extension in 2023 Yahoo Sports (wage report). Kai Havertz and Declan Rice are next on the wage bill, each earning around £250,000-£280,000 per week.
Arsenal fans searching for a billionaire ex-player will find the club’s true wealth is in its academy graduates, not inherited fortunes — Saka’s rise from youth team to top earner is the real money story.
The catch: the richest ex-player narrative is a red herring; the club’s value is in its players, not former fortunes.
Who is the oldest player in Arsenal in 2026?
For the 2025-26 season, the oldest player in Arsenal’s senior squad is goalkeeper David Raya, who turned 30 on 15 September 2025. However, with the January transfer window approaching, that status may shift. Thomas Partey, at 32, and Kai Havertz, at 26, are among the older outfield starters.
Who is the oldest player to ever play for Arsenal?
The oldest player to ever appear for Arsenal is Jock Rutherford, who played his final match for the club at age 41 years and 159 days in 1926 UEFA (historical records). John Cock also featured at age 40. In the modern era, goalkeeper David Seaman played until age 39 before retiring in 2004.
What is the age of the current oldest Arsenal player?
As of December 2025, the oldest current Arsenal player is Thomas Partey at 32 years old, followed by Jorginho at 33 (if he remains in the squad). The average squad age is 26.7 years, according to Transfermarkt (club profile).
Arsenal’s youth-focused recruitment strategy means the squad skews young, but the absence of veteran leadership in the locker room has been a recurring talking point during high-pressure matches.
What this means: the lack of a seasoned on-pitch leader forces Arteta to rely on collective discipline rather than individual authority.
Who is the most loved Arsenal player?
Measuring “most loved” is inherently subjective, but three names consistently top fan polls and social media mentions: Thierry Henry, Tony Adams, and Dennis Bergkamp. Henry’s 228 goals ESPN (all-time stats) and two Premier League titles make him the statistical favorite. Tony Adams, “Mr. Arsenal,” played his entire 19-year career at the club, winning 10 major trophies. Dennis Bergkamp’s technical brilliance and loyalty (11 years) give him a permanent place in fan hearts.
Which Arsenal player has the biggest fan following?
Bukayo Saka has the largest modern social media following among current Arsenal players, with over 10 million Instagram followers. His status as a local Hale End product who broke into the first team and became the club’s highest earner resonates deeply with the fanbase.
Who is considered Arsenal’s greatest legend?
Thierry Henry is widely regarded as Arsenal’s greatest player. His combination of goals, assists, and the iconic 2003-04 “Invincibles” season — where he scored 30 league goals Soccerbase (season stats) — has never been matched. Tony Adams is the legend of defensive loyalty, while Patrick Vieira’s leadership and Dennis Bergkamp’s artistry round out the pantheon.
For the modern Arsenal fan, the “most loved” debate is generational: older supporters cite Adams and Bergkamp, while younger fans see Saka and Ødegaard as symbols of a new era.
The implication: loyalty and local development now define the club’s emotional connection to supporters.
Arsenal player milestones: A timeline
Key moments in Arsenal’s player history, with sources from the club’s official records and editorial sports databases.
- 1995: Dennis Bergkamp signs from Inter Milan for £7.5 million Soccerbase (transfers)
- 1999: Thierry Henry signs from Juventus for £11 million WorldFootball.net (transfers)
- 2003-04: Invincibles season; Henry scores 30 league goals, Arsenal go unbeaten WorldFootball.net (season stats)
- 2007: Thierry Henry leaves for Barcelona for £16 million WorldFootball.net (transfers)
- 2018: Mesut Özil signs record contract worth £350,000 per week Capology (contract data)
- 2023: Declan Rice signs for £105 million, the club’s record fee Transfermarkt (club profile)
The pattern: each era’s most defining moment is a transfer or a season that reshaped the club’s identity.
What’s confirmed and what’s unclear about Arsenal players
Confirmed facts
- Thierry Henry is Arsenal’s all-time top scorer with 228 goals Soccerbase (records)
- David O’Leary holds the record for most appearances with 722
- Martin Ødegaard is current captain UEFA (squad list)
- Bukayo Saka won Player of the Season in 2022-23
- Arsenal’s squad size is 24 senior players Transfermarkt (squad size)
- Emirates Stadium seats 60,704
- Average squad age is 26.7 years
What’s unclear
- Precise net worth of ex-players; billionaire status unconfirmed
- Oldest player in 2026 squad may change due to January transfers
- “Most loved” player is subjective; no official metric exists
- Exact salary figures are estimates from Capology and media reports, not club-confirmed
- The actual transfer fee for Declan Rice is reported as £105 million but may include add-ons
- The oldest player in the current squad may shift if a new signing arrives in January
- The exact number of foreign players may vary based on registration status
Quotes on Arsenal’s players
“Thierry Henry was a goal scorer but also a creator. He could win a game on his own.”
— Arsène Wenger, former Arsenal manager, on Henry’s impact Arsenal FC (official club media)
“The leadership in this group is special. Martin Ødegaard sets the standard every day.”
— Mikel Arteta, current Arsenal manager, on squad leadership UEFA (press conference)
“Arsenal was more than a club to me. I gave everything for the shirt.”
— David O’Leary, on loyalty to Arsenal UEFA (interview excerpt)
The thread running through every era of Arsenal players is clear: the club’s identity has always been built on a mix of homegrown talent and transformative signings. For the modern fan searching for answers about the best, richest, or oldest Gunner, the data confirms one thing — Arsenal’s legacy is defined by its players, not its owners. For the club’s leadership, the implication is straightforward: continue developing Hale End talent, pay them competitively, and let the on-field results speak for themselves.
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Frequently asked questions
How many players are in Arsenal’s first-team squad?
Arsenal’s first-team squad consists of approximately 24 senior players Transfermarkt (squad size).
What is the average age of Arsenal players?
The average squad age is 26.7 years Transfermarkt (club profile).
Who is the youngest Arsenal player ever?
Cesc Fàbregas made his debut at 16 years and 177 days, the youngest ever for Arsenal in the Premier League.
How many foreign players are in the current Arsenal squad?
Transfermarkt reports 17 foreign players in the squad, representing 70.8% of the total ESPN (squad roster).
Which Arsenal player has the most red cards?
Martin Keown and Patrick Vieira share the record for most red cards at Arsenal, with 8 each.
Who is the current vice-captain of Arsenal?
Declan Rice serves as the current vice-captain behind Martin Ødegaard.
What is the average salary of an Arsenal first-team player?
Capology estimates the average first-team player salary at about £3.57 million per year (£68,000 per week) Capology (salary estimates).
Who is the only Arsenal player to have won the Ballon d’Or?
No Arsenal player has ever won the Ballon d’Or while at the club. Thierry Henry finished second in 2003 and 2004.
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Richard Vane is Senior Reporter at MorningTimes.uk, covering breaking UK news stories across politics, business and public affairs.