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The Gunners' Golden Standard

An analytical exploration of individual excellence in Arsenal's history, celebrating the players who defined each season.

Award History ๐Ÿ“œ View Winners ๐Ÿ†

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Award Origins

The Inaugural Award

The Arsenal Player of the Season award is an official accolade bestowed by Arsenal Football Club to recognize the most outstanding player over the course of a competitive season. Established in 1967, the award has been presented annually since its inception, marking a continuous tradition of acknowledging player performance.

Voting Mechanism

Historically, the selection process has evolved. Initially, votes were cast by the Arsenal Supporters' Trust. More recently, the decision rests with Arsenal fans who participate in polls conducted on the club's official website, ensuring a fan-driven consensus.

Sponsorship and Evolution

For sponsorship purposes, the award has sometimes been officially designated as the "Vitality Arsenal Player of the Season," notably during the 2015โ€“16 and 2016โ€“17 seasons. This reflects the commercial partnerships that support club initiatives.

Distinguished Recipients

Record Holders and Milestones

Over its history, the award has recognized 42 distinct players across 58 seasons. Notably, French forward Thierry Henry holds the record for the most wins, securing the accolade four times. He is also the only player to have achieved this distinction in three consecutive seasons.

The award has also seen significant milestones in international representation: Frank McLintock won the inaugural award in 1967. Liam Brady became the first non-UK player to win in 1976, followed by Dennis Bergkamp (first non-British Isles player) in 1997, and Alexis Sรกnchez (first non-European) in 2015.

Comprehensive Award Data

The following table details the recipients of the Arsenal Player of the Season award, including the season, player, nationality, and primary playing position.

Award Recipients
Season Player Nationality Position
1966โ€“67 Frank McLintock Scotland Defender
1967โ€“68 John Radford England Forward
1968โ€“69 Peter Simpson England Defender
1969โ€“70 George Armstrong England Forward
1970โ€“71 Bob Wilson Scotland Goalkeeper
1971โ€“72 Pat Rice Northern Ireland Defender
1972โ€“73 John Radford (2) England Forward
1973โ€“74 Alan Ball England Midfielder
1974โ€“75 Jimmy Rimmer England Goalkeeper
1975โ€“76 Liam Brady Republic of Ireland Midfielder
1976โ€“77 Frank Stapleton Republic of Ireland Forward
1977โ€“78 Liam Brady (2) Republic of Ireland Midfielder
1978โ€“79 Liam Brady (3) Republic of Ireland Midfielder
1979โ€“80 Frank Stapleton (2) Republic of Ireland Forward
1980โ€“81 Kenny Sansom England Defender
1981โ€“82 John Hollins England Defender
1982โ€“83 Tony Woodcock England Forward
1983โ€“84 Charlie Nicholas Scotland Forward
1984โ€“85 Stewart Robson England Midfielder
1985โ€“86 David Rocastle England Midfielder
1986โ€“87 Tony Adams England Defender
1987โ€“88 Michael Thomas England Midfielder
1988โ€“89 Alan Smith England Forward
1989โ€“90 Tony Adams (2) England Defender
1990โ€“91 Steve Bould England Defender
1991โ€“92 Ian Wright England Forward
1992โ€“93 Ian Wright (2) England Forward
1993โ€“94 Tony Adams (3) England Defender
1994โ€“95 David Seaman England Goalkeeper
1995โ€“96 Martin Keown England Defender
1996โ€“97 Dennis Bergkamp Netherlands Forward
1997โ€“98 Ray Parlour England Midfielder
1998โ€“99 Nigel Winterburn England Defender
1999โ€“2000 Thierry Henry France Forward
2000โ€“01 Patrick Vieira France Midfielder
2001โ€“02 Robert Pires France Forward
2002โ€“03 Thierry Henry (2) France Forward
2003โ€“04 Thierry Henry (3) France Forward
2004โ€“05 Thierry Henry (4) France Forward
2005โ€“06 Jens Lehmann Germany Goalkeeper
2006โ€“07 Cesc Fร bregas Spain Midfielder
2007โ€“08 Mathieu Flamini France Midfielder
2008โ€“09 Robin van Persie Netherlands Forward
2009โ€“10 Cesc Fร bregas (2) Spain Midfielder
2010โ€“11 Jack Wilshere England Midfielder
2011โ€“12 Robin van Persie (2) Netherlands Forward
2012โ€“13 Santi Cazorla Spain Midfielder
2013โ€“14 Aaron Ramsey Wales Midfielder
2014โ€“15 Alexis Sรกnchez Chile Forward
2015โ€“16 Mesut ร–zil Germany Midfielder
2016โ€“17 Alexis Sรกnchez (2) Chile Forward
2017โ€“18 Aaron Ramsey (2) Wales Midfielder
2018โ€“19 Alexandre Lacazette France Forward
2019โ€“20 Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang Gabon Forward
2020โ€“21 Bukayo Saka England Midfielder
2021โ€“22 Bukayo Saka (2) England Midfielder
2022โ€“23 Martin ร˜degaard Norway Midfielder
2023โ€“24 Martin ร˜degaard (2) Norway Midfielder
2024โ€“25 Declan Rice England Midfielder

National Representation

Wins by Nationality

The distribution of awards across nationalities highlights the diverse international talent that has graced Arsenal Football Club. English players have historically dominated the award, reflecting the club's deep roots in English football.

Wins by Nationality
Nationality Wins
England 27
France 8
Republic of Ireland 5
Netherlands 3
Scotland 3
Spain 3
Chile 2
Germany 2
Norway 2
Wales 2
Gabon 1
Northern Ireland 1

Positional Excellence

Distribution by Position

The award data also reflects the impact of players across different positions on the pitch. While forwards have historically received the award most frequently, midfielders and defenders have also been recognized for their significant contributions.

Wins by Playing Position
Position Wins
Goalkeeper 4
Defender 11
Midfielder 21
Forward 22

Further Insights

Related Information

For a more comprehensive understanding of Arsenal Football Club and its players, consult the following resources:

  • List of Arsenal F.C. players
  • List of Arsenal F.C. players (25โ€“99 appearances)
  • List of Arsenal F.C. players (1โ€“24 appearances)

Scholarly Reading

For deeper context on the club's history and player recognition, the following publications offer valuable insights:

  • Brennan, Dan (2004). The official Arsenal miscellany.
  • Seager, Dave (2014). Geordie Armstrong: On the Wing.

References

Source Citations

The information presented herein is derived from the following sources:

  • Goal.com, 4 May 2019.
  • BBC Sport, 8 June 2022.
  • Maidment, Jem (2006). The Official Arsenal Encyclopedia.
  • Arsenal F.C., 26 May 2017.
  • Arsenal F.C., 6 May 2016.
  • Arsenal F.C., 31 May 2022.
  • The Guardian, 9 February 2017.
  • Arsenal F.C., 28 May 2025.
  • Arsenal F.C., 6 June 2024.
  • Brennan, Dan (2004). The official Arsenal miscellany.
  • Seager, Dave (2014). Geordie Armstrong: On the Wing.

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References

References

A full list of references for this article are available at the Arsenal Player of the Season Wikipedia page

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Disclaimer

Important Notice

This content has been generated by an Artificial Intelligence model, drawing upon publicly available data. While efforts have been made to ensure accuracy and adherence to the source material, the information is presented for educational and informational purposes only. It may not be exhaustive or entirely up-to-date.

This is not professional sports analysis or advice. The information provided is not a substitute for consulting official club resources or engaging with sports historians. Always verify critical details through primary sources.

The creators of this page are not liable for any inaccuracies, omissions, or actions taken based on the information presented.