The top 10 Arsenal strikers of all time

Where does Bergkamp rank in Adrian's top 10?

In today's edition of This Week in Football, Adrian North celebrates Ted Drake scoring seven goals for Arsenal in 1935. So we asked former Gunner Adrian Clarke to run down his personal top 10 strikers to ever grace N5...

OK, I didn't get to see all of these guys play in the flesh but remarkably I did enjoy the privilege of sharing the same football pitch as four of them. Here is my top 10, drumroll please...

10) Frank Stapleton (1974-81)

The Irishman was a proper centre forward who was never afraid to get hurt in his quest for a goal. It was a style that paid off for him too. In 300 appearances for the Gunners, Stapleton netted an impressive 108 goals, and was top scorer for three seasons in a row between 1978 and 1980. His most memorable contribution saw him nod home a Liam Brady cross in the 1979 FA Cup Final, one of many headers he notched in the famous red and white. 

9) Malcolm MacDonald (1976-79)

Signed from his beloved Newcastle United for a rather odd fee of 333,333,334, SuperMac was a marquee signing who wowed Arsenal fans in a short but sensational spell in north London. Averaging more than a goal every other game (57 in 108) the powerful front man formed a dynamic partnership with Stapleton that transformed the side's fortunes. Known for his ferocious shot, and strong physical presence, no defenders ever fancied marking him. It was tragic he was forced to retire with a knee injury at the age of just 29. 

8) Joe Baker (1962-66)

Billy Wright splashed out a whopping 72,000 to sign the England international from Italian side Torino in 1962, and he repaid the manager's faith by scoring 100 goals in just 156 appearances. Lightning quick, and equally useful with his head and feet, Baker had all the attributes to be a top class centre forward. He wasn't the biggest striker (five foot seven) but he was hungry and had a thirst for goals that ensured he was the Gunners' leading scorer in three of his four seasons at the club.

7) Robin van Persie (2004-12)

The Dutchman's transformation from left-winger to world-class centre forward was a joy to behold, and his record of 132 goals in 278 games isn't to be sniffed at either. Having spent several years in the shadow of Thierry Henry and plagued by injuries, his game came alive between 2010 and 2012 - and in his final campaign as a Gunners player Van Persie snared a remarkable 37 goals in 48 matches. Unfortunately for Arsene Wenger, the striker's form was too good. Once Manchester United came knocking, the left footer pushed for a big money move. 

6) Alan Smith (1987-95)

I came on as a late substitute for Alan Smith to make my Arsenal debut in 1994, and what a quality centre forward he was. Hard working, clever and with a silky smooth touch, 'Smudger' could hold the ball up brilliantly for his teammates - and he had a cracking record in front of goal too. Notching 115 times in the red and white, at a rate of one in three, his ratio stands up with the best of them. His never-to-be-forgotten goals at Anfield in '89 and against Parma in '93 are reason enough alone to place him on this list. 

5) John Radford (1962-76)

He wasn't the most gifted of players but Radford always put an unselfish shift in for the Gunners and that's why he's regarded as a genuine club legend. Only three players (Henry, Wright and Bastin) have scored more times for Arsenal though, so he could finish, and 21 of his 149 goals came in the 1970-71 Double-winning campaign, when forming a great partnership with Ray Kennedy. Honest, hardworking strikers didn't come any better than this fella. 

4) Ted Drake (1934-45)

This fast, bludgeoning centre forward struck fear into the hearts of every defender he faced, and his seven goals against Aston Villa in 1935 was a feat that will never be forgotten. Always a potent finisher, Drake was top scorer in each of his first five seasons at Highbury, and his tally of 136 goals in 182 games is a record that would have been built upon extensively had it not been for the outbreak of World War II in 1939. 

3) Ian Wright (1991-98)

Playing with Wrighty is something I'll never, ever forget. He could score every type of goal imaginable and because he had explosiveness, instinct and guile all in equal measure, he was an incredibly unpredictable striker for defenders to try and mark. Most failed. His sensational return of 185 goals in 288 appearances was richly deserved, and because of his bubbly personality he did it all with a great big smile on his face too. He should be the next Gunners legend to have a statue outside Emirates Stadium. 

2) Dennis Bergkamp (1995-2006)

He may not have been an orthodox centre forward but Bergkamp was by some distance the best player I was lucky enough to play with. He had a football brain that worked at twice the speed of everybody else, a velvet smooth touch, and an eye for the spectacular pass or goal. In short, the Dutchman was brilliant at pretty much everything he did on a football pitch. Despite being unselfish he still scored 120 goals for the Gunners in an unforgettable 11-year spell. 

1) Thierry Henry (1999-2012)

I played against Henry for Stevenage in a pre-season friendly, and was blown away by his speed and shooting. Hitting a hat-trick before half-time, we were delighted he was rested for the second half! What can I say about the Frenchman that hasn't been said already? He scored 228 goals in 377 games, many of which were absolute beauties - and most of the golden moments of Arsene Wenger's era feature his individual magic prominently. Not just Arsenal's greatest ever striker, but the best we've seen in the Premier League too. 

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What do you think of Adrian's top 10? Has he missed anyone out? Is Smith better than RVP? Let us know by commenting below or tweeting @Betfair