WHAT MAKES AN ARSENAL LEGEND?

I was reading an article today on The Sun website which had featured a sentimental little video clip with Vieira and him still claiming his love for the club, and even going as far as singing! Have a look here.

Which got me thinking, what exactly makes an Arsenal legend? Is it football ability, the love for the fans, the love for the club, the attitude, blah blah blah. It can’t be a combination af all, as some legends lacked some attributes.

The list of legends stems from the likes of Perry Groves, who wasn’t particularly a great footballer, and he’ll be the first to admit that, but he did possess a great attitude to the game and you could tell that he would do anything for the club.

You have David Rocastle, one of my earliest memories of an Arsenal player who possessed the Brazilian flair, but still had that British fight to his game. What a player.

You had the likes of Ray Parlour and Paul Merson who at the time had the ability but also the “one of the boys” feel about them. Ray Parlour wasn’t technically gifted, but he did like to get pissed. Paul Merson was a better footballer, with a darker background.

Tony Adams was a legend because he was a fantastic centre back and he was Arsenal through and through.

Dennis Bergkamp was a legend for obvious reason, he was one of the most technically gifted players we’ve ever had at the club. It took him time to settle, but once he settled there was no stopping him. He was the total opposite of the past generation of players, non-drinker, probably never gambled, and I don’t think he ever smoked or did drugs. I could be wrong.

Moving onto Patrick Vieira. The moment he replaced Parlour in the 26th minute against Sheffield Wednesday, you could tell this boy was something special, and for me he still is the best midfielder we’ve ever seen at the club. Fabregas will overtake him no doubt, but for now Vieira was the man.

Thierry Henry was everything about Arsenal for a few years, and he represented the club and he probably the greatest player we’re ever likely to see at the club. He still loves Arsenal and you feel that he always will.

That is one thing you find with the legends of the club, it’s not just us that love them, but they really do love the club and they love the fans. You rarely see a player talk badly of Arsenal or Arsene Wenger once they leave the club.

Ian Wright can be included in that list too. He’s a berk now, but he was a legend at the time.

In our current squad, you do feel that Fabregas is possibly the only player if he was to leave now who would be considered a legend. Even the likes of van Persie, Toure, Clichy, etc who have been at the club for quite some time, just don’t have the same status of Cesc, even though they’re all fantastic players. Theo Walcott will be a legend!

What do you all think? What makes a legend?