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#3 Cesc Fabregas
Arsenal have had the good fortune of nurturing many midfielders over the years. A La Masia alumnus, Cesc Fabregas has to be one of the most talented individuals of the lot.
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Fabregas joined Arsenal’s academy in 2003, hoping to get more opportunities in north London than Barcelona. Wenger was quick to realize the youngster’s sky-high potential and unexpectedly made him a part of the playing XI in October 2003.
Aged 16 years and 177 days, Fabregas became the youngest-ever Arsenal first-team player when he came on in a League Cup tie against Rotterdam.
Fabregas grew into a versatile central midfielder over the next few years and eventually became the team’s best player. In November 2008, Fabregas got the captain’s armband after William Gallas.
Arsenal did not win any silverware during his time as the club’s captain, but he regularly put in impressive shifts for his team.
After eight seasons at Arsenal, Fabregas moved back to Barcelona in 2011.
#2 Thierry Henry
Thierry Henry, who is arguably the best player Arsenal have ever had, was captain for only a single year at the Emirates. Fortunately, the Frenchman did not need the armband to provide and to win matches for his team.
Henry was the undisputed pride of Arsene Wenger and his favorite player. Under Wenger, Henry turned into the monster of a forward and the admiration they had for one another was tangible.
Henry was a quick, two-footed player who was an excellent reader of the game. Not only could he score outrageous goals, but he also created chances for his teammates.
Henry was a proud member of the Invincibles in 2003-04 and captained the Arsenal side that played in the Champions League final in 2006. Henry scored 228 goals for Arsenal, becoming the club’s leading scorer.
#1 Patrick Vieira
Patrick Vieira may not have been as flashy as some of the names on this list, but he surely knew how to lead. Vieira has been Arsenal’s best captain this century and deservedly so.
Vieira moved to the club in 1996 and quickly established himself as one of the first names on the team sheet. He was an aggressive box-to-box midfielder who was equally adept in attack and defense.
The 1998 World Cup winner got the captain’s armband in 2002 and officially led the Gunners for three seasons. Under Vieira, Arsenal completed the 2003-04 campaign without a single defeat, becoming the only invincible Premier League winners in history.
Viera’s last appearance was in the 2005 FA Cup final. The Frenchman fittingly scored the winning penalty against Manchester United and won his sixth and final trophy at Arsenal.
