Photo by Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC via Getty Images
Photo by Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC via Getty Images
Arsenal have had some mighty fine captains over the years.
The likes of Patrick Vieira, Thierry Henry and current skipper Martin Odegaard all have their own stature and legacy at the club. If we go back further, players like Frank McLintock and Joe Mercer stand out, while others have also held the armband proudly.
Nevertheless, there is one former Arsenal skipper who stands tall above everyone else when it comes to the Gunners’ greatest ever leader.
And with a record no other player in English football can match, Tony Adams is rightfully declared as ‘Mr Arsenal’ by those who watched him.
Grid with four Man City players asking which one the team should sign
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Tony Adams Arsenal record that may never be beaten
Winning a league title as captain just once is an achievement. Winning it twice in another decade is even more impressive. So to win a league title as captain over three different decades is practically unfathomable.
Nevertheless, this is what the great Tony Adams managed with the Arsenal armband on and it’s never been matched since in English football.
Adams first led the Gunners to glory back in 1989, the first of four titles he would claim as Arsenal skipper.
'Less elegant than usual': Italy's media react as Riccardo Calafiori plays 90 minutes v France
'Less elegant than usual': Italy's media react as Riccardo Calafiori plays 90 minutes v France
Forget Max Dowman, Mikel Arteta has just called up 14-year-old wonderkid to Arsenal training
Forget Max Dowman, Mikel Arteta has just called up 14-year-old wonderkid to Arsenal training
The 90s yielded success for Adams as well, with a title in 1991 and a first Premier League trophy coming in 1998.
Remarkably though, Adams’ longevity continued into the 2000s and at the end of the 2002 season, Adams found himself lifting a league title as Arsenal captain for the third decade in a row.
Adams retired from playing with the Gunners having made a whopping 669 appearances and rather impressively, scored 48 goals.
He won 13 trophies over his spell with Arsenal and those who will remember his final game in 2002 will note his memorable goal as he strode forward against Everton to seal a second double as captain.
Rest assured, this record will take some matching from any player. Indeed, it would be safe to assume that Adams’ record is safe for the foreseeable future at the very least.
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Photo by Franco Arland - UEFA/UEFA via Getty Images
France v Italy - UEFA Nations League 2026/27 Group A1 MD3
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Photo by David Price/Arsenal FC via Getty Images
Max Robert Dowman of Arsenal applauds after the Premier League match between Arsenal and Everton at Emirates Stadium.
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Photo by David Price/Arsenal FC via Getty Images
Mikel Arteta embraces Nicolas Jover after an Arsenal set-piece goal
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