Arsenal celebrated the 20th anniversary of the Arsenal Emirates Stadium in July 2026. So, it was perhaps fitting that the Gunners also won the 2026 Premier League title, a first celebrated there. Although most of their glory was at Highbury, some great players have still graced the Emirates. Here are some of the best Arsenal Emirates players to star for the Gunners.
Van Persie is the highest-scoring Arsenal Emirates player in history. The Dutch maestro was one of the best players in Emirates history because of his exquisite ball striking and elite first touch. Flair also defined Van Persie’s playstyle, with the striker scoring numerous audacious goals and bamboozling defenders with dummy passing.
Van Persie scored a total of 111 goals for Arsenal during the Emirates era (with 64 at home) and was a crucial player for a transitioning Gunners squad. He was especially prolific in the 2011/12 campaign, scoring 30 Premier League goals to secure a Champions League qualification for Arsenal. Some Gunners fans have never forgiven Van Persie for jumping ship to Manchester United, but his talismanic brilliance for Arsenal cannot be doubted.
Cesc Fàbregas was the most influential midfield playmaker of the Arsenal Emirates era. He was a player with a delicate touch and intricate passing range who could unlock defences with pinpoint through-balls. Fàbregas was one of the most productive goal assisters, with exceptional passing and vision.
When Fàbregas played for Arsenal, he assisted 95 goals and scored 57. He was at his best during the 2007/2008 campaign when Arsenal almost won the Premier League. Fàbregas also won the FA Cup when playing for Arsenal.
Saka is the most formidable Arsenal Emirates winger in history and one of the best players of the current Gunners team. He is among the best Arsenal players to grace the Emirates because of his explosive speed, dual-foot variation, brilliant chipped crossing technique, and pinpoint ball striking. Saka is also a tactically versatile player who routinely tracks back to assist with defending when required.
With 82 goals and 68 assists, Saka has had a significant impact at Arsenal during the Arteta era. He has won the FA Cup and Premier League as the spearhead of Arsenal’s attack. Saka also scooped the PFA Young Player of the Year award in 2023.
Sánchez injected high-octane energy into the Emirates when he joined the Gunners. He was an elite forward who could play centrally or on the left wing for Arsenal. His world-class flair, explosive ball control, and sharp striking technique made him one of the finest Arsenal players to grace the Emirates.
Sánchez scored 80 goals in 166 games for Arsenal. He was an influential player who helped the Gunners win two FA Cups when playing at the Emirates Stadium. The Chilean forward scored two FA Cup final goals for the Gunners. Sánchez’s blistering 25-yard thunderbolt goal against Aston Villa in the FA Cup final was undoubtedly one of his most memorable Arsenal moments.
Ramsey was one of the best box-to-box midfielders to grace the Arsenal Emirates Stadium. He was a player with a reliable soft touch, quick body orientation, and elite off-the-ball movement. Add to that his clinical finishing.
Ramsey was often a goal-scoring threat with his late Lampard-like runs into the penalty box. He scored 64 goals for the Gunners. Ramsey’s goal against Hull in the FA Cup final won them the trophy. He also scored another crucial FA Cup final-winning goal against Chelsea in 2017.
Saliba is a defensive rock for the current Arsenal side, which has the leanest defence in the Premier League. He’s a great ball-playing center-back with impeccable passing range and accuracy. For Saliba, tackling is more like a science, and he is a player who brings technical precision in defence to Arsenal’s Emirates Stadium.
There’s no doubting that Saliba’s defensive consistency was crucial to Arsenal’s 2026 Premier League title triumph. With Saliba holding the defensive line, Arsenal have become champions again. They kept 19 clean sheets when winning the title, and Saliba and David Raya were the Gunners’ most crucial players in keeping the ball out of the net.
The best Arsenal Emirates players were world-class performers for the Gunners. Sure, Arsenal didn’t dominate the league with them, but those players were influential in the Gunners’ FA Cup glories, a title triumph, and consistent Champions League qualifications. With players like these, the Emirates has been one of the most consistent arenas for world-class Premier League soccer.
If you love sports, download Stadium Rant from the Apple App Store and join one of the fastest-growing social sports communities. Be sure to follow us on socials too — you can find all our profiles on our Linktree.
