10 Greatest Passers in Arsenal History [Ranked]

Arsenal has been home to some intricate passers over the years, with the likes of Robert Pires and Bukayo Saka lauded for their creativity from wide areas, and Mesut Ozil and Martin Odegaard for their technical ability in central positions. So much so, it has become a custom in Arsenal’s modern history, especially, for there to be at least a few needle threaders in each era of the Gunners’ squad.

All-time great Arsene Wenger was heralded for amalgamating a team of pure entertainers on the pitch, but the idea was very much in play before the Frenchman’s reign, and still lives on today as well. That said, ten such Arsenal players in the club’s history have been ranked for their exceptional passing skill sets.

10 Aaron Ramsey

Arsenal Career: 2008–2019

When thinking of players who dominated the Emirates Stadium during its sponsored-name era, Aaron Ramsey surely springs to mind. The Welshman was loyal to the red and white for more than a decade, and he lay firmly at the heart of the Arsenal midfield. A well-rounded midfielder and one of the greatest to come out of his country, Ramsey was all about in the middle of the park, be it for goals, assists or for the gritty defensive work.

Alongside his tenacity and impressive work ethic, Ramsey was a superb passer of the ball, and it is precisely this attribute which afforded him such freedom in midfield, particularly in deeper areas where he could influence play.

9 Bukayo Saka

Arsenal Career: 2018–Present

Widely considered one of the greatest talents to emerge from England is Bukayo Saka, who seemingly never knows when to give up. He first broke through to first-team football as a wing-back, immediately earning recognition for his dribbling ability and pinpoint crossing from out wide.

Soon, Saka would then make the transition onto the wide flank – having played there in the academy – where he now stands as perhaps one of the best in the world in the position, and his skill set truly knows no limits. In particular, though, his passing rarely fails to disappoint – from intricate one-touch football out wide to open space, to simple but fantastically efficient crosses and through balls into the box, Saka’s footballing IQ and technique is truly top-notch.

8 Liam Brady

Arsenal Career: 1973–1980

Football in the 70s was starkly different to the modern style of the sport – both in a tactical sense, in that the sport was much more physically intense and goals-oriented, and also in an environmental sense, in that the pitch conditions were often a hindrance to performance. Yet, it was in this situation that Liam Brady thrived.

A technically gifted midfielder, many regard him as one of the greatest Arsenal players in the position of all time. But assists weren’t a statistic on record at the time, and Brady’s track record of silverware means he is sometimes left in the depths of Arsenal’s history. Nonetheless, his style of play endeared him to fans, and he remains a key figure for both the club and for his country.

7 Martin Odegaard

Arsenal Career: 2021–Present

The story of a bright wonderkid diminishing under the spotlight is one Martin Odegaard will be familiar with, but he’ll be thankful that Mikel Arteta came to his rescue.

Now the skipper, and the heartbeat of a prosperous Arsenal midfield, Odegaard has stunned fans time and time again with his stylish control of the tempo, and his eye for a killer pass to unlock even the most imperious of defenses. Many drew comparisons of his arrival from Real Madrid to that of Mesut Ozil, and such is far from a pipe dream. There is positive hope that the Norweigan will lead the Gunners to major silverware in the coming years.

6 Robert Pires

Arsenal Career: 2000–2006

Many affiliate Robert Pires with relentless goalscoring and exceptional dribbles, capable of bringing fans to the edges of their seats on numerous occasions. But perhaps an underrated quality of the Frenchman was his superb vision, which meant that he saw the pitch through an entirely different lens compared to most, and he put it to good use too, racking up over 60 assists for the Gunners.

The lethal partnership he struck with Thierry Henry and the other members of the classic Arsenal Invincibles side originated from his willingness and technical ability to combine and create in unique ways. It was for this reason that Wenger opted to cement him as an out-and-out left-winger, once saying:

5 Thierry Henry

Arsenal Career: 1999–2007, 2012

A force of nature in his prime years, Thierry Henry seemingly had it all, though his passing is a quality often overlooked amid his other unstoppable traits. He was far from an orthodox striker, often drifting out wide to open space, and that is a key reason behind his major hand in contributing assists. A genius with the ball, and a master of the ostentatious no-look pass, the Frenchman set a division record for the most assists in a Premier League season (20), which only Kevin De Bruyne has been able to match to this day.

4 Santi Cazorla

Arsenal Career: 2012–2018

Santi Cazorla remains one of the most ambidextrous players the sport has ever seen, and such a quality is amplified when considering his all-round skill set. The Spaniard embodied the technique and elegance of other great technicians to come out of his country, and his ability to dictate tempo and thread intricate passes was unmatched in Arsenal’s 2010s squad.

Despite his injury woes, Cazorla never lost his vision on the pitch and was always a key creator for Arsenal, especially in deep-lying midfield roles. Moreover, his standout technical ability earned him a striking reputation on set pieces, including corners and free-kicks, as well.

3 Cesc Fàbregas

Arsenal Career: 2003–2011

Hailing from the iconic Barcelona youth academy, Arsenal knew very quickly that they had a gem on their hands after they completed a swoop for Fabregas in 2003. However, it wasn’t until the start of the 2004–05 season that he found consistency in starts for Arsenal, amid injuries to key players like Patrick Vieira, Edu and Gilberto Silva.

It took little time for fans to grow accustomed to Fabregas’ style, despite the fact the Gunners were more commonly known to deploy physical heavyweights in the midfield, as he soon earned plaudits for his superb playmaking abilities, and was renowned for his special creativity and passing range. Undoubtedly, most of the Spaniard’s absolute prime years were spent away from the Emirates, but he still holds a special place in the hearts of fans.

2 Dennis Bergkamp

Arsenal Career: 1995–2006

Among the greatest Dutch players of all time, Dennis Bergkamp is often associated with those who embody what it truly means to be an artist in the sport. He was the kind many considered to be a dream striker’s partner, for his extraordinary movement and passing abilities, and Henry in particular struggled to speak highly enough of the forward. Despite attacking alongside the likes of Ronaldinho, Zinedine Zidane and Lionel Messi, he admitted that Bergkamp, in fact, rose above the rest.

Bergkamp ended his time in north London with three English titles, four FA Cups and over 100 assists in the classic red and white.

1 Mesut Ozil

Arsenal Career: 2013–2021

When Mesut Ozil departed from Real Madrid in 2014, the all-time record goalscorer, Cristiano Ronaldo, had this to say:

Such powerful words were a testament to Ozil’s spectacular creativity and football genius. His misleading nonchalance on the pitch covered the reality in that he was quite simply two or three steps ahead of everybody else, and when the German was in his groove, it was difficult to imagine anything getting in his way. That’s precisely how he lit up the Emirates and earned the respect of both Arsenal and rival fans alike.

Ultimately, a disgruntled end to his time in N5 left a bitter taste to his Arsenal career, but undoubtedly, based on talent alone, it’s difficult to argue against Ozil being the greatest passer to have ever worn the shirt.

All statistics courtesy of Transfermarkt.com – Correct as of 03/10/2024