Welcome back to the “History Behind the Number”.
This is the weekly section where I will pick the best three to four players that have worn the kit number for Arsenal and I will bring in a guest for each section to give their favorite or one to watch for the future who wears that number.
This week I will be looking at the number 3, which has been worn by many prestigious and well-accomplished players for the Gunners.
I have brought in SemperFiArsenal, who also has a weekly segment for The Arsenal Review called the Fans View which I featured on recently, as well as a massive following on social media.
If you would like to see some of his pieces or follow him if you’re not doing so already, his Twitter account is @SemperFiArsenal.
As I will say in every section I do, I’d like to make this segment where the players that have worn the numbers are known to the younger audience as well so players such as Liam Brady or David O’Leary who are iconic players for Arsenal have been excluded for those reasons. Players during the 90s era have been included though as they are also a vital part of Arsenal’s history.
Kieran Gibbs- 2014/15-2016/17
*Dates are of the time the player has worn the kit number, not been at the club.
Kieran joined the Arsenal in the early stages of its new youth development in 2004. He was promoted to the first team in 2007 but spent the next year in the lower leagues nearby at MK Dons. It took the English man four years in the senior squad before he got his proper chance when Gael Clichy was sold to Manchester City after struggling with a series of injuries.
From then on, Gibbs was very impressive (arguably the prime of his very tough career). At one point, it seemed as if Kieran was one of the best left-backs in the league with the combination of excellent tackling and extremely rapid pace when attacking and defending.
However, similar to his predecessor Clichy, Gibbs did also struggle with some injuries mainly to the stomach and his thighs most commonly. This prevented from Kieran featuring in the England squad more often, having only been called up twice by two different managers in Capello and Hodgson. However, the 31-year-old did experience a great deal of success in North London winning 5 trophies in total, 3 being FA Cups and 2 Community Shields. The left-back also captained the Gunners on a few occasions, which is why he is one of the most well-known and most achievable Arsenal players to wear the number 3 shirt.
Kieran Tierney- 2019/20- PRESENT
It seems that left-backs by the name of Kieran who play for Arsenal and wear number 3 are the pinnacle of Arsenal’s defensive history and future. This Kieran is Kieran Tierney, who was signed by the Gunners recently in 2019 for a deal just above £25m. £25m seemed like a lot at the time from Celtic, but it has proved to be worth it. In a below-average season where supposed leaders didn’t step up to the plate, the Scot was one of the only players to give the extra 110% and assert his leadership despite being a new name to the starting lineup. I can say on behalf of many Arsenal fans that his performances inspire us and his raw passion saves us at multiple times when everything else collapses. Although he has only worn the number 3 shirt for two years, if you ask Arsenal fans for a list of the top 3 players post 90s to wear number 3, Kieran Tierney is inevitably going to be in there.
Bacary Sagna- 2012/13-2014/15
Consistency is a key factor needed when rebuilding a squad. Throughout his seven-year spell at Arsenal, Bacary provided fluidity for most of it and formed a formidable part of the Gunners backline that was being changed season by season.
At around £9 million, his move from Auxerre was a hefty price at the time but the Frenchman instantly made his debut in 2007. He signed a new deal a year later after impressing the fans and obviously, the manager. Sagna said, “The manager is also very good and next season we will be fighting for all the trophies.”
His performances also gained him a spot in the French national team where he went on to make 65 appearances in the defence. However, as many players in their Arsenal career experienced, the contract negotiations turned sour. Bacary wanted a new deal but the talks were considered too low and were out of the window. By 2013, although Sagna had won his competition to start at right-back instead of the new and upcoming Carl Jenkinson, he chose to not extend and Manchester City came calling like with Clichy. It’s important to reflect however not on how the story ended, how it was during its peak.
Sagna remains a firm part of the number 3 history because of his quality performances in it during the prime of his Arsenal career, not the ones where he struggled both on and off the pitch.
GUEST’S PICK:
For the fourth and final player to wear the number three jersey, I have spoken to SemperFiArsenal, who writes weekly for the Arsenal Review. Although it’s a controversial name on the list, he was an unforgettable player that many people admired during his time at the club.
Ashley Cole- 2000/01- 2005/06
For me, there is one and only one guy and that’s Ashley Cole and it’s for a number of reasons. Ashley Cole was a Londoner who rose through the ranks at Highbury to make the Arsenal and England No 3 shirts his very own at a very young age. He was a reminder and an inspiration to local boys that they could still make their mark at one of the world’s biggest clubs.
Cole joined Arsenal as a teenager. Cole, Tony Adams and Sol Campbell formed a formidable English backline in the Arsenal back four alongside Lauren and they went on to win the Double in 2002. Just another couple of years later Cole played a key role in the ‘Invincibles’ side of 2003/04. Still just 23 at the time, he was a vital player for Arsene’s Arsenal and was used alongside French maestros, Thierry Henry and Robert Pires. With that trio dominating the left flank almost every week, Arsenal eclipsed Nottingham Forest’s record unbeaten League run(42 games), reaching 49 matches unbeaten, a record top-flight record that still stands.
However a year later, after a defeat in the Champions League Finals against Barcelona, Cole left for Chelsea. For many Arsenal fans his departure left a bitter taste in the mouth, many Arsenal fans still can’t forgive Cole for the move but no one can deny Ashley Cole went on to be one of the best-left backs ever to grace the Premier League and to play for the Gunners.
And that’s it for this week!
If there were any players that I missed, do let me know and your reason why in the comments.
Thanks for reading this part of the “History Behind the Number”, where every week I review four players that have worn that number for Arsenal. If you liked it, make sure to let me know in the comments below or on Twitter, and if you would like to be a guest and give your say on a certain squad number do let me know and I can get you involved.