Best Arsenal Players to Wear the Number 2 Jersey Ever

Jersey numbers are an important part of football, icons have blazed their trails all while adorned by a familiar number on their back. Some numbers are historic, attached to some of the best of the best, which can make it difficult to narrow down a list of the top players. Which is why in this, we’ll be looking at the best Arsenal players to ever wear the number 2 jersey.

Best Arsenal Players to Wear the Number 2 Jersey of All Time

Lee Dixon

After making his name in the lower divisions of English football, Lee Dixon was picked up by Arsenal in 1987 and never looked back. The right-back went on to make the starting spot his until the 2000s. He was twice named in the first division’s PFA team of the season and racked up over 600 appearances for the team.

He had a trophy-laden career winning four Premier League/First Division titles, three FA Cups, and the European Cup Winners’ Cup in his incredible career.

Peter Storey

After coming through the academy, Peter Storey played for the Gunners for 15 years, with the club’s website noting that he made 501 appearances for the side. He was a hard-nosed defender who is most remembered for scoring a crucial penalty in 1971 to help his team win a domestic double.

Part of a double winning team and one of the most regular faces in the side’s history. Storey made his mark as a tough-tackling defender who was even moved into defensive midfield when needed. His heroics in the FA Cup made him a legend to fans.

William Saliba

It may be too early for some but it’s tough to deny that William Saliba is one of the best in Arsenal history to wear the number 2 jersey. At just 24 years old, he has already locked down a place as a first-team regular, despite his lack of silverware.

Saliba has already been named to the PFA Team of the Season three times, was on the Athletic’s European Team of the Season in 2023/24, and was in FIFA’s The Best men’s 11 in 2024. With the Frenchman already established as one of Europe’s finest, his legacy will only continue to grow from here.

Kenny Sansom

Kenny Sansom was a top England international and a regular for Arsenal in the 1980s. His ability saw him win the club’s player of the season award in 1981, while he finished in the First Division team of the year on eight separate occasions. He was only a League Cup winner but his capability at full-back made him a first team regular for his entire stint in North London.

Sansom was the victim of some reshuffling as the side would build one of the best defensive units of the 90s and moved him on in 1988 in favour of other names.

Nigel Winterburn

From one left-back to another, Nigel Winterburn was signed while Sansom was still in the team and initially played as the right-back before moving across and making the left hand side his own. Once in place he never looked back, going on to make over 550 appearances for the Gunners, only leaving in 2000 to join West Ham where he saw out his career.

Winterburn had a stellar time in North London, winning multiple league titles, multiple FA Cups, a League Cup, a European Cup Winners’ Cup, and the Player of the Season award in 1990.

David O’Leary

Voted by fans as the 14th best player in Arsenal history, David O’Leary was an imperious figure at the heart of the defence. His physicality and speed mixed with on-ball abilities to make him a regular starter for almost his entire tenure in red. He officially totalled 722 appearances for the team between 1975 and 1993.

He was a multiple-time league winner, a Ballon d’Or nominee in 1980 despite playing in the back line, a regular fixture in team of the seasons, and a two-time FA Cup winner.