Arsenal have seen a host of icons inducted into the Premier League Hall of Fame, so here is every Gunners legend named in the collection for their top-flight careers yet.
The Premier League has recognised a flurry of Arsenal legends for their contributions in top-flight games as one of its most successful clubs so far. Arsenal have won three titles and are also the only side to ever enjoy an entire Premier League season unbeaten during 2003/04.
Arsenal secured the only golden Premier League title under Arsene Wenger with a record of 26 wins, 12 draws and zero losses. Wenger had also overseen their title triumphs in 1997/98 and 2001/02, both of which formed a part of a domestic double with the FA Cup following.
What is the Premier League Hall of Fame?
The Premier League launched its Hall of Fame in 2020 but did not induct the first player into it until April 2021 due to the Covid-19 pandemic. It recognises the iconic contributions that a player or a manager has made in the division since it was formed for the 1992/93 campaign.
For a player to be eligible for the Premier League Hall of Fame, they must have retired prior to the start of the year of entry. The Hall of Fame also only considers a player’s displays over their Premier League careers and not in a cup competition or the previous top-flight format.
A player is first shortlisted for induction into the Hall of Fame based on their achievements, including individual and team honours to their appearances, goals, assists and clean sheets in the Premier League. Fans and the Premier League Awards Panel also vote on who enters.
Which Arsenal players are in the Premier League Hall of Fame
At the time of writing, seven Arsenal legends are in the Premier League Hall of Fame, as well as a manager. The Gunners also saw the division name one of their old players and a former boss as the first of their kinds to be inducted into the Hall of Fame for their Arsenal careers.
So, with that in mind, Arsenal Insider has looked at every Arsenal legend to be inducted into the Premier League Hall of Fame and why it recognised their icon status in red and white.
Thierry Henry – First Arsenal player inducted into the Premier League Hall of Fame
The Premier League announced Thierry Henry and Alan Shearer as the first players inducted into its Hall of Fame in April 2021. Henry merited his position in the collection as a four-time winner of the Golden Boot. He topped the goals charts in 2001/02, 03/04, 04/05 and 05/06.
Henry also won the Premier League title with Arsenal in 2001/02 and 03/04 during his first stay in north London. Wenger signed Henry from Juventus in August 1999 and enjoyed the France icon’s services until June 2007. The striker also returned to Arsenal on loan in 2012.
Each season in which Henry secured the Golden Boot he even scored in excess of 20 goals. Arsenal more than reaped the rewards of Wenger signing the 1998 World Cup winner from Juventus and turning Henry from a winger into a centre-forward who tormented defences.
Dennis Bergkamp – Second Arsenal player inducted into the Premier League Hall of Fame
The Premier League announced Dennis Bergkamp as the sixth player inducted into its Hall of Fame and the second Arsenal player in May 2021. The Dutch icon was a technical phenom in north London between joining from Inter Milan in June 1995 to his retirement in July 2006.
Bruce Rioch signed Bergkamp but the forward helped to transform Arsenal under Wenger in the years that followed. His skill and creativity would bamboozle backlines up and down the nation. The striker even made the Premier League stand out to players all around the world.
Critics initially questioned Bergkamp when he arrived in north London after struggling to get going under Rioch. Yet the Dutch magician made those who doubted him eat their words as soon as he found his stride. He could create genius from anything from the top of the pitch.
Patrick Vieira – Third Arsenal player inducted into the Premier League Hall of Fame
The Premier League inducted Arsenal icon Patrick Vieira to its Hall of Fame with Manchester United great Wayne Rooney in March 2022. He became the third Arsenal player inducted to the collection for his crucial role in their 2003/04 Invincibles side and as a stellar role model.
Vieira was the heart and soul of the engine room at Highbury from 1996 to 2005. Yet only a phone call from Wenger stopped him from joining AFC Ajax from AC Milan, having been set to move to Amsterdam. The rest, as they say, is history as Vieira became an all-time legend.
Wenger relished his decision to convince Vieira about a transfer as he brought a combative brute to Arsenal. The Frenchman also served as the Gunners’ captain from 2002 until Vieira joined Juventus in 2005. His aggression made Arsenal’s midfield a force to be reckoned with.
Ian Wright – Fourth Arsenal player inducted into the Premier League Hall of Fame
Arsenal legend Ian Wright became the fourth Gunners great to be inducted into the Premier League Hall of Fame in April 2022. The Premier League recognised the striker for his work at Highbury, where he was an instant fans’ favourite after arriving from Crystal Palace in 1991.
George Graham signed Wright and Arsenal fans quickly took the forward into their hearts as he played with his heart on his sleeve. Wright also had a clinical eye for goal and he became Arsenal’s record goalscorer in 1997/98 after surpassing Cliff Bastin’s record en route to 185.
Wright offered 113 of his goals for Arsenal in the Premier League, in which he was the top scorer in six successive seasons from 1991/92 to 1996/97. Henry later surpassed Wright as Arsenal’s all-time top scorer with 228. Wright also won the Premier League title in 1997/98.
Arsene Wenger – First Arsenal manager inducted into the Premier League Hall of Fame
The Premier League inducted the first managers into its Hall of Fame in March 2023 with the Arsenal legend, Wenger, and Manchester United icon, Alex Ferguson. Wenger revolutionised the English game over his time in charge of the Gunners after arriving as an unknown name.
Few knew the name of Wenger when Arsenal hired the Frenchman to replace Rioch. But he became one of the club’s greatest-ever managers over a 22-season tenure in north London. The way that Wenger raised the standards for training and for playing made a lasting legacy.
Wenger remained committed to his philosophy of playing attractive and attacking football at Arsenal. His eye for talent also brought many legends to Highbury and Emirates Stadium, the ground he built. But Wenger is a legend in his own right as the manager of the Invincibles.
Tony Adams – Fifth Arsenal player inducted into the Premier League Hall of Fame
The Premier League named Arsenal legend Tony Adams as an inductee of its Hall of Fame in May 2023. He became the fifth Gunners icon added to the collective and was a very worthy addition. Adams was Mr Arsenal from 1983 to 2002 and served as their captain for 14 years.
Adams was the ultimate one-club man and a pillar of their success through the first decade of the Premier League. He was an inspirational force at Highbury and struck fear in strikers who tried to rise to his fight. His leadership also made Adams a natural to be captain at 21.
Staying at Highbury for 19 years even saw Adams win the top-flight title with the same club in three decades as Arsenal’s captain. While the iconic Gunners skipper registered an insane record of helping to keep a clean sheet in 48.5% of matches in which he played 90 minutes.
Petr Cech – Sixth Arsenal player inducted into the Premier League Hall of Fame
While Petr Cech is arguably a Chelsea legend more than an Arsenal icon, the heroic Czech goalkeeper became the sixth player to ever represent the Gunners in the Premier League to be inducted into the Hall of Fame. Cech joined the collective in May 2023 along with Adams.
Cech spent the last five seasons of his storied career at Emirates Stadium after joining under Wenger in June 2015. He left the west of the capital for north London as a four-time Premier League winner. The shot-stopper also took the Golden Glove three times at Stamford Bridge.
He instantly emerged as one of the finest goalkeepers the Premier League has ever seen for Chelsea. Cech kept 24 clean sheets in his first term in England for a Premier League record. A total of 16 clean sheets in his first term at Arsenal also gave Cech another Golden Glove.
Ashley Cole – Seventh Arsenal player inducted into the Premier League Hall of Fame
The Premier League announced that it had inducted Arsenal and Chelsea icon Ashley Cole into its Hall of Fame in March 2024. Cole was the 22nd overall player inducted into the Hall of Fame and the seventh Arsenal icon. The left-back was the best in his position of his time.
Cole showed himself to be the best left-back in the world as a resilient defender with a fine attacking mind. He also won two Premier League titles with Arsenal – including as a key part of the Invincibles – before the boyhood Gunners fan helped Chelsea to lift the crown once.
Letting Cole join Chelsea in 2006 following a dispute over his potential pay in a new contract at Arsenal remains what Wenger considers to be the ‘regret of my life’. His tireless work rate on the left channel saw Cole stand out as the Arsenal academy graduate redefined the role.