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 favourite or one to watch for the future who wears that number.
This week I will be looking at the number 2, which has been worn by many prestigious and well-accomplished players for the Gooners.
I have also brought in LTArsenal who is a writer and editor for the Arsenal Review, as well as having 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 @LTArsenal.
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.
Lee Dixon- 1987/88-2001/02
*Dates are of the time the player has worn the kit number, not been at the club.
One of the most iconic full-backs to play for Arsenal, he just has to make the list because of his importance throughout the start of Wenger’s tenure and was unlucky to retire only a few years before the Invincible season. Lee had a total of 22 caps for England in his 20-year career. Lee Dixon was the successor to Nigel Winterburn in the right-back spot, a player who you will read much more of soon.
Dixon was a very well-accomplished full-back during his time at Arsenal winning 11 trophies, 3 of which were FA Cups, and 2 Premier League titles. Dixon was part of the irreplaceable back four which was Winterburn now on the left, Bould & Adams in the centre (Bould who was replaced with Keown), Dixon on the right, and Seaman in goal.
Lee was known for his natural attacking ability from a defensive position in the early stages of his career where he would support the late David Rocastle in the attack. However, his aggressive attacking style became ineffective when he reached his late 30s in the 2000s, and he was most famously caught by a young Michael Owen for Liverpool in the 2-1 defeat to deny him a fourth FA Cup title. All in all, Dixon was one of the best full-backs to play in North London and has the stats and awards to prove it.
Nigel Winterburn- 1987-1988
I really should be using Nigel Winterburn for number 3, but since we lack players who consistently wore the number 2 post-90s, I have had to cheat Nigel in because he wore the number 2 shirt for a season when playing in the right-back spot. Winterburn played most of his football in the left-back spot alongside Keown, Adams & Dixon in the celebrated backline that dominated domestic football for Arsenal in the 90s.
Dixon was brought in so that Winterburn could be fitted in on the left. He joined Arsenal from AFC Wimbledon in 1987 and went on to make over 400 appearances for the Gunners. Unfortunately, he only appeared in the England squad two times but was more known for his impressive performances domestically.
Nigel won the same total of trophies (11) as Dixon did with 1 Premier League trophy and 2 FA Cups. Winterburn was preferred to other left-backs because of his dominant left foot which meant that he was great at shooting from long range. Although he should appear in the next section rather than this, he is an iconic part of not even Arsenal’s defence but their history altogether.
Abou Diaby- 12/13-14/15
I’ve chosen the French man because his 9-year spell at the club usually disappears under the radar. Diaby usually wasn’t the first name on the teamsheet but as a mainly defensive box-to-box midfielder his record remains surprisingly decent.
In 124 appearances for the club, he scored 14 goals. When Wenger was asked about him he responded, “He’s a player who crosses the field at ease, goes from box to box like it’s no distance and has good power as well.” Abou joined in 2006 under Arsene Wenger just before the Champions League final defeat which Diaby missed with injury.
Many star players then left the club after the loss and it seemed that the Gunners were in need of a total rebuild. Abou took the number 2 shirt for the first time since Lee Dixon had worn it in 2002. Although his career was disrupted by multiple injuries, he also never managed to win a trophy at the club.
The only final he reached was the shocking Football League Final loss to Birmingham City that Gooners will never forget. Abou Diaby was a very consistent defensive midfielder when chose upon, but his ill-discipline sometimes seemed to get the better of him. He still however is a player that Arsenal fans remember when they think of the number 2 Arsenal shirt.
GUEST’S PICK:
For the fourth and final player to wear the number two jersey, I have spoken to LTArsenal, who writes and edits for the Arsenal Review. With the player set to depart this window, it’s only right that he got a mention in the list.
Hector Bellerin- 2018/19- Present
My favourite player who wore the number 2 for Arsenal is Hector Bellerin. Most would say Dixon, but I’m not from his time. Many people have criticized Bellerin for his recent performances, but let’s not forget that he was a fantastic servant for the club, going on to win 3 FA Cups, 3 Community Shields, and was also part of the 2016 PFA team of the season.
Before his ACL, Bellerin was playing so well for us – 5 league assists in half a season. Apart from his footballing qualities, he’s also a top human being who speaks up for important causes and has always been a great ambassador for Arsenal.
We should move on from him now, but I will miss him so much. Once a gunner always a gunner!
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.