Kieran Tierney has already made himself a fan favourite at Arsenal, so will he be able to claim a place amongst the club’s greatest left-backs?
If Mikel Arteta wants his side to play flowing attacking football and use the width of the pitch to full effect, Kieran Tierney looks like he is an excellent capture.
The Scot, however, has high standards to live up to if he wants to be one of the best left-backs in Arsenal’s history as there have been a number of top players to represent the club in that position.
Here are Arsenal’s greatest left-backs
Kenny Sansom
This one will be worth asking your parents about if you don’t remember him yourself.
Sansom arrived at Arsenal in 1980 and turned out to be one of the best left-backs of his era.
He joined from Crystal Palace as a replacement for Sammy Nelson and had everything required to be a class act for the club.
Sansom could get up and down the line while being able to both attack and defend. He had pace and poise on the ball, always able to pick out a pass.
His eight seasons at the club saw him make 394 appearances and also become a key player for England.
Sansom moved to Newcastle in 1988 and also played for QPR, Coventry and Everton after being picked up on a free transfer before retiring.
Eddie Hapgood
Eddie Hapgood was a player who, upon arrival, was considered too small and frail to play for the Gunners so the former milkman was forced by Arsenal trainer Tom Whittaker to take up extra weight training and let go of his vegan diet in order to bulk up.
Hapgood would end up becoming a player known for his athleticism and played 393 times for the Gunners as well as earning 30 caps for England – not bad for a player signed from Kettering.
Nigel Winterburn
If Arsenal are going to return to the summit of the English game and win the Premier League they need to have a strong, reliable backline. Right now, no one is convinced the Gunners can challenge for the crown with football betting markets having them at 40/1 to win the Premier League.
Nigel Winterburn won three top division titles while at Arsenal and was part of a famous back four that contained Steve Bould, Tony Adams and Lee Dixon.
Martin Keown also joined to give Arsenal a formidable defence that helped them win the Cup Winner’s Cup in 1994, beating Parma 1-0 in the final.
Ashley Cole
Arguably the most naturally gifted left-back ever to play for Arsenal, his time with the club was immensely successful, winning two Premier League titles and three FA Cups but his departure left a bitter taste in the mouth of the fans.
Ashley Cole on what his favourite medal is. pic.twitter.com/45aMJPGUbc
— Arsenal FC News (@ArsenalFC_fl) February 4, 2019
He is famously quoted for his anger at ‘only’ being offered a contract renewal worth £55,000 per week.
Cole signed for Chelsea for £5m plus William Gallas in the summer of 2006, just beating the transfer deadline to get the deal done.
Despite this, the England star who picked up 107 caps was still one of Arsenal’s greatest to grace the left side of defence.