Arsenal are famous on the English football scene as the only team to have won the Premier League unbeaten in the 2003-04 season. Arsenal is often populated by fierce attackers such as Thierry Henry, Robin van Persie, Fredrik Ljungberg and Dennis Bergkamp. Arsenal also boast some of the world’s top midfielders in Robert Pires, Cesc Fabregas, Patrick Vieira and Martin Odegaard. Arsenal rely on these two lines in a beautiful collective pattern of play that the Gunners have often displayed throughout their history.
What few people know is that Arsenal were once full of world-class goalkeepers who were part of one main team. No half measures, the three goalkeepers had big names to match each goalkeeper’s era. Sadly, the three goalkeepers achieved greatness when they were not playing for Arsenal. From social media account Football TNT Sports, immortalising the three goalkeepers who appear to have worn Arsenal shirts at one time or another.
Arsenal once had legendary goalkeepers in David Seaman and Jens Lehmann. Both played in two different eras, but each had their own characteristics that made the Arsenal faithful fall in love with what they did in goal. Although the three goalkeepers did not have the chance to play in the same season, the portraits of the three goalkeepers show the depth of Arsenal’s last line of defence. Here are the three world-class goalkeepers who have worn the Arsenal jersey.
1. Petr Cech
Petr Cech’s decision to join Arsenal was not widely expected after his contract with city rivals Chelsea was not renewed. Petr Cech is an iconic figure at the west London club and has enjoyed a number of prestigious successes since joining Chelsea in 2004. Cech was one of the goalkeepers who helped Chelsea lift their first Champions League trophy in the 2011-12 season, beating Bayern Munich in the final.
Chelsea, who had Thibaut Courtois in their goalkeeping ranks at the time, made Petr Cech uncomfortable just sitting on the bench. Feeling that he could still compete at a high level, the former Czech Republic goalkeeper accepted Arsenal’s offer. Sadly, Petr Cech was unable to lift the Europa League trophy after the Gunners suffered a heartbreaking 4-1 defeat in the final. It was all the more sad because the club that Petr Cech had beaten with Arsenal was Chelsea.
2. Wojciech Szczesny
The Polish national team goalkeeper’s career was indeed Arsenal’s main goalkeeper because he was a product of the Arsenal academy. The goalkeeper who is currently playing for Barcelona did have the potential to become a great goalkeeper of the best quality. However, Wojciech Szczesny’s unforgettable moment was when Arsenal played away to Manchester United’s headquarters. Szczesny had to pick up the ball 8 times and Arsenal went home with their heads bowed with a score of 8-2 at that time.
Having decided to retire at the beginning of this season, Wojciech Szczesny accepted Barcelona’s offer in the middle of the season because the Catalan club had experienced a goalkeeper crisis. Marc Andre Ter Stegen suffered a long injury and the substitute goalkeeper, Inaki Pena, has not shown consistency under the Barcelona goal. Wojciech Szczesny has played for top European clubs such as Juventus, AS Roma, and Barcelona throughout his football career.
3. Emiliano Martinez
Little did he know that, a few years later, Arsenal’s third-choice goalkeeper would go on to play a starring role in Argentina’s quest to win the 2022 World Cup. Emiliano Martinez, who was 22 at the time, did not get many opportunities under the tutelage of Arsene Wenger and Unai Emery. Emiliano Martinez then moved to Aston Villa and helped them qualify for the Champions League group stage this season. Aston Villa finished fourth last season and are now preparing to take on PSG in the last 8 of the Champions League this season.
Emiliano Martinez made an impressive debut as the Albiceleste’s first-choice goalkeeper. In addition to the World Cup, he has lifted 4 major trophies, including two Copa America trophies and the UEFA and CONMEBOL Finalissima trophies. Emiliano Martinez proved that Arsenal had failed to maximise their potential. Now, Emiliano Martinez has helped Argentina qualify for the 2026 World Cup and has his sights set on winning back-to-back championships.
