Goalkeepers do more than just stop goals; they can kickstart attacks and are essential to a team’s success.
At Arsenal, the keepers have varied in age and style, from young talents making their mark to seasoned pros bringing experience and calm. Despite their differences, they’ve all aimed for the same goal: success on the pitch.
Whether making acrobatic saves or organizing the defence, Arsenal’s goalkeepers have been major in the club’s triumphs, helping win league titles, domestic cups, and European accolades.
They’ve become icons, with their brilliance often making the difference in key matches.
Best Arsenal Goalkeepers Of All Time
Over the years, Arsenal’s keepers have wowed fans with their agility, quick reflexes, and determination.
They’ve shown grace under pressure, keeping their cool in the toughest situations. Many started as unknowns and grew into some of the most famous names in football.
The bond between fans and goalkeepers is special.
While forwards may get the glory, goalkeepers often become the fans’ heroes with a crucial save, a penalty stop, or a supportive gesture to a teammate.
Ranking Factors
Determining the top 10 Arsenal goalkeepers of all time is subjective, as fans have different opinions. To create our rankings, we’ve considered the following factors:
- Longevity
- Impact at the Club
- Memorable Saves
- Standout Performances
1. David Seaman
David Seaman was a mainstay in goal for Arsenal, racking up over 400 appearances and collecting a slew of trophies.
The English goalkeeper was famed for his penalty-saving prowess and lightning-fast reflexes, which he demonstrated spectacularly during the 2003 FA Cup semi-final against Sheffield United when he miraculously clawed away Paul Peschisolido’s close-range header.
Between 1997 and 2003, Seaman helped Arsenal to two Premier League titles and three FA Cups, cementing one of the club’s most successful eras. In total, he made 541 appearances for the Gunners, conceding 457 goals and recording 228 clean sheets.
Seaman’s England career was a mix of highs and lows. His penalty shootout heroics in the Euro 1996 quarter-final against Spain are fondly remembered, but his infamous blunder against Brazil in the 2002 World Cup also sticks in the memory.
Stats:
- Appearances: 541
- Goals Conceded: 457
- Clean Sheets: 228
2. Pat Jennings
Even though Pat Jennings spent 13 years at Tottenham Hotspur, he’s still a beloved figure among Arsenal fans.
From 1977 to 1985, Jennings made 280 appearances for Arsenal, helping the team reach three FA Cup finals and the European Cup Winners’ Cup final. Arsenal won one of those FA Cup finals in the 1978/79 season, defeating Manchester United 3-2.
Jennings was known for his bravery and reliability as a goalkeeper.
He kept 91 clean sheets for Arsenal across all competitions and was honoured with a testimonial match against Tottenham in May 1985 at Highbury, showing the respect both clubs had for him.
Interestingly, he had a bit more success with Spurs, where he won the UEFA Cup, FA Cup, English League Cup, and the English Super Cup.
Stats:
UEFA Cup: 1971/72
FA Cup: 1967, 1979
English League Cup: 1971, 1973
English Super Cup: 1967/68
3. Jens Lehmann
One of the Invincibles from the legendary 2003/04 Premier League-winning season.
Jens Lehmann, an eccentric but reliable goalkeeper, was a key player for Arsène Wenger during his five years at the club. The German shot-stopper arrived in the summer of 2003, stepping into the shoes of the departing David Seaman.
In his debut season, Lehmann was a rock between the sticks, helping Arsenal to an undefeated league campaign and securing 15 clean sheets as he played every single match.
Lehmann’s Arsenal career, however, is also marked by a less glamorous moment: his red card in the first half of the 2006 Champions League final against Barcelona.
Arsenal, reduced to ten men, ultimately lost the game and are still chasing that elusive first Champions League title.
Stats:
Games: 38
Conceded: 26
Clean Sheets: 15
Minutes Played: 3,420
4. Jack Kelsey
Kelsey was the definition of a one-club man, spending his entire 14-year career at Arsenal. Making 351 appearances for the Gunners, he earned the nickname “the cat with magnetic paws” for his remarkable goalkeeping skills.
Kelsey took over as Arsenal’s first-choice keeper in the 1952/53 season, replacing George Swindin, and held onto the spot for nearly a decade.
Kelsey is a legendary figure in North London, but he’s also fondly remembered in Wales for his role in their 1958 World Cup qualification.
That year marked Wales’ only appearance in the finals until recent times. They made it to the quarter-finals, where they faced a formidable Brazil team, which went on to win the tournament
Stats:
1958: Quarter-Final
2022: Group Stage
5. Frank Moss
Moss holds a unique place in Arsenal’s history as the only goalkeeper to score in an English top-flight game.
According to OneFootball, this remarkable feat occurred on March 29, 1935, during a match against Everton in the English First Division. Moss started the game in goal but dislocated his shoulder early on.
With no substitutes available, he moved to the left wing and went on to score in a 2-0 victory for Arsenal. That season, the Gunners clinched the league title.
Sadly, Moss’s shoulder injury led to his retirement just two years later. Despite his career being cut short, the Preston-born goalkeeper made 143 appearances for Arsenal and celebrated three First Division titles.
Stats:
First Division: 1932/33, 1933/34, 1934/35
FA Charity Shield: 1933, 1934
FA Cup: 1936
6. George Swindin
George Swindin was a fixture at Arsenal, serving as the club’s number-one goalkeeper for 18 years from 1936 to 1954, and later managing the team for four years in the late 1950s and early 1960s.
Known for his commanding presence between the posts, Swindin made 297 appearances for Arsenal and was instrumental in winning the First Division three times. He also lifted the FA Cup in 1950 before moving on to play for Norwich City.
As a manager, Swindin got off to a strong start, leading Arsenal to a third-place finish in the 1958/59 First Division.
However, despite early promise, the team failed to secure any silverware under his leadership. This period also saw arch-rivals Tottenham Hotspur achieve a league and cup double in the 1960/61 season.
Swindin left Arsenal in 1962, but his legacy as a reliable and invaluable player, both before and after the Second World War, remains firmly intact
Stats:
First Division: 1937/38, 1947/48, 1952/53
FA Cup: 1950
FA Charity Shield: 1938, 1948
7. John Lukic
John Lukic made 257 appearances for Arsenal across two spells at the club.
He was a key part of Arsenal’s title-winning season in the 1988/89 season, which saw George Graham’s side snatch the championship in the last minute of their away game against Liverpool.
He also won the Football League Cup in the 1986/87 season in his first spell at the club.
Lukic rejoined Arsenal in 1996 to become David Seaman’s number two and made 15 appearances in the 1996/97 campaign. Lukic retired from Arsenal in 2001, following a stellar career with two stints at Leeds United.
8. Bob Wilson
Jack Kelsey’s retirement from Arsenal in 1962 after 14 years at the club paved the way for the signing of Bob Wilson from Wolves.
Wilson struggled to force his way into the lineup up until 1968 when he replaced Jim Furnell.
The Chesterfield-born shot-stopper was Arsenal’s player of the year in the double-winning campaign of 1970/71. Wilson retired at the age of 32 in 1974, following 308 appearances for the club.
For 28 years, Wilson was the goalkeeping coach at Arsenal, retiring in the 2002/03 season.
He helped the likes of David Seaman, John Lukic, and Pat Jennings deliver success for the club. His time as a goalkeeper coach included doubles in 1997/98 and 2001/02.
Stats:
1970/71: Goalkeeper
1997/98: Goalkeeping coach
2001/02: Goalkeeping coach
9. Petr Čech
Though more famously associated with Chelsea, Petr Čech also had a successful stint at Arsenal.
During his four years with the Gunners, he helped the team win the FA Cup in 2017. In his debut season, the Czech goalkeeper earned his fourth career Golden Glove award.
In the 2015/16 season, Čech recorded 16 clean sheets, standing out in an Arsenal defence that fans and pundits often described as inconsistent.
By the time he left the club in 2019, Čech had made 139 appearances for Arsenal, further cementing his legacy as one of the Premier League’s all-time great goalkeepers.
Stats:
Appearances: 139
Golden Gloves: 1 (2015/16)
10. Wojciech Szczesny
Wojciech Szczęsny joined Arsenal from Legia Warsaw at just 16 years old and made his senior debut in 2009. He played for the Gunners until 2017 when he won the FA Cup twice.
In the 2013/14 Premier League season, Szczęsny shared the Golden Glove award with Petr Čech, highlighting his exceptional goalkeeping skills.
Over his Arsenal career, he made 181 appearances and kept 72 clean sheets. Szczęsny has also been a key player for the Polish national team, earning 80 caps and participating in European Championships and World Cup campaigns.
Other Best Arsenal Goalkeepers In History
- David Raya
- David Ospina
- Alex Manninger
- Bernd Leno
- Aaron Ramsdale
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