Who Is Arsenal’s Best Left Back?
The third in a series of articles on all of the best modern Arsenal players in every position.

So, we’ve got our ‘keeper and right back, so now for the left back. As always the players are limited to the ‘modern era’ but that still leaves us with five superb players to choose from, who between them amassed over 1900 appearances for the Arsenal first team.

Have a look, have a think, and have a vote. And if you want to join our forum tot ell us why your choice is the best then please feel free…

Bob McNab

1966 – 1975

365 appearances (6 goals)

Championship Medal, FA Cup Winners Medal, Fairs Cup Winners Medal, 4 England Caps.

At 23 Bob McNab was one of England’s brightest full back prospects. Playing in (the old) second division with Huddersfield Town he was courted by most of the top clubs, in the end having the choice of Liverpool or Arsenal. He shocked the great Bill Shankly by choosing Arsenal, which led Shanks to comment that he didn't really rate the player anyway…

A classy attacking full back, it was his distribution he worked hardest on, to great effect. He was also a superb tactician and a very vocal member of the defence, 'running' the off side trap and continuously shouting warnings to his fellow defenders.

On leaving Arsenal he spent a year at Wolves before successfully decamping to the US, where his daughter went on to star in Buffy the Vampire Slayer.

Sammy Nelson

1969 – 1981

338 appearances (12 goals)

FA Cup Winners Medal, 51 Northern Ireland Caps.

An opposition manager once described Sammy as nothing more than a clown. Whilst no one could argue he liked a laugh and a joke as much (if not more) than the next man, the sheer number of appearances he made for Arsenal and Northern Ireland correctly suggests there was far more to his game.

As a converted winger he would sometimes find himself caught out of position, and was inclined on occasion to be rash, but he was equally popular with team mates and supporters for his brave and effective defending. Despite his sometimes aggressive defending Sammy was a funny, caring man, the type that you can't help but like having met him.

Kenny Sansom

1980 – 1987

394 appearances (8 goals)

League Cup Winners Medal, 86 England Caps.

Arsenal seem to have an uncanny ability to regularly employ players who don't receive the international recognition or the respect from other teams fans they deserve. Kenny bucked both trends.

Undisputed first choice left back for Arsenal and England for nearly a decade, Kenny oozed class, and despite being only 5' 6" was surprisingly good in the air. In 1987 he captained us to our first trophy in 8 years. Despite that within 18 months he had left for Newcastle having first lost the captaincy to Tony Adams and then his place in the team to Nigel Winterburn.

Nigel Winterburn

1987 – 2000

589 Appearances (12 goals)

3 Championship Medals, 2 FA Cup Winners Medals, League Cup Winners Medal, ECWC Winners Medal, 3 England Caps.

Nutty Nigel. Four consecutive years as player of the year at Wimbledon encouraged George Graham to part with £350,000 for his services, despite already having England’s left back, Kenny Sansom. In fact this most one footed of players actually spent a year playing right back to Kenny’s left back before replacing him.

Commitment is probably the best word to sum up his career. Once he had made the place in the team his own, only age was ever going to take it from the one time Birmingham reject. Always happy to go forward whenever the opportunity arose, and with a tackle like a sledgehammer, how he only won one cap is totally beyond me.

After leaving Arsenal he joined our retirement home at Upton Park, where he also gave sterling service for a couple of years before quitting.

Ashley Cole

1997 – 2006

228 Appearances (9 goals)

2 Championship Medals, 3 FA Cup Winners Medals, 45 England Caps.

An supposed Arsenal fan, Cole has been at the club since he was spotted as a 9 year old attending one of Arsenal's soccer schools. As with Sammy Nelson, he was converted from winger to full back. His attacking instincts are obvious to all, but his defensive abilities are often vastly underrated.

Now reckoned by some to be the best left back in the world, he established himself in the side at the expense of Silvinho and never looked like losing it or his place for England. Injured for most of last season, his well-publicised flirtation with Chavski (ending with joining them) has soured the memories of the majority of Arsenal fans.

Please note – for all players only club honours won with Arsenal are included, although the caps shown are a career total and may include caps won whilst at other clubs. All stats are intended to be correct at the start of the season.

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