Which former Arsenal star had the best England career? Here’s my ranking

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·30 September 2026

Which former Arsenal star had the best England career? Here’s my ranking

It’s the international break, so it means one thing… a list!

I’m looking at all past Gunners who have played for England and ranking them worst to best.

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To clarify, this is not based on ability or club form but on how they performed for their country.

I have only picked those retired, and because I think it’s only fair to comment on who I watched play, I’ve included those who represented the Three Lions in the Premier League era…

Carl Jenkinson

He did play for Finland’s Under-21s and Under-19s, so you might think he regrets turning down his mother’s birth country just to play for England’s seniors for approximately 20 minutes?

You assumed he would have had more caps if he didn’t switch his allegiance back to the Three Lions?

The 34-year-old maintains he has zero regrets.

Richard Wright

When he transferred to Highbury, the keeper was seen as a natural long-term replacement for David Seaman for both club and country; all he had to do was be patient.

No one would have believed at that point the GK would earn only two caps.

Despite 22 games in his only season in North London, the keeper lost his patience.

He didn’t help his cause with one of the most bizarre debuts in Three Lions history.

The goalie conceded two penalties to Malta, one hitting the post and the other rebounding off his head for an own goal.

Steve Bould

Part of a defence so famous that their arms going up to communicate offside was recreated in movies, the centre-back had to wait until past his 31st birthday for his first two caps – and didn’t concede in either.

Even that was only because new manager Terry Venables was giving opportunities to many after England’s failure to qualify for the 1994 World Cup.

To be fair, the competition in his position was huge.

Nigel Winterburn

Despite playing in one of England’s most famous back fours, the left-back only has two caps!

I bet he wishes Stuart Pearce was never born?

Francis Jeffers

There are other one-cap wonders who scored on their international debut for England.

Few, though, have a Three Lions minutes-to-goal ratio of 45 minutes.

Sven-Goran Eriksson made 11 half-time subs in a 2003 friendly.

The striker scored against Australia, having been assisted by a certain teenager named Wayne Rooney.

Kieran Gibbs

Did nothing wrong in his 10 caps, but like his club career, injuries happened at the wrong time.

With strong competition, he couldn’t get a run of games to be considered a replacement for Ashley Cole.

Alan Smith

The most famous moment in a Three Lions shirt was Graham Taylor subbing on Smudger for Gary Lineker at Euro 92 despite needing a goal to stay in the tournament.

Given his two domestic Golden Boots, he deserved more than 13 caps.

Ray Parlour

Gooners nicknamed the midfielder the Romford Pele out of recognition that the Gunner deserved more chances from international managers, particularly given his form in the 1998 Double-winning season.

Very few English players have his medal collection but so few caps.

David Rocastle

Never lost a game for his country but failed to make the final squads for the 1990 World Cup and Euro 92, having played in the qualifiers.

Lee Dixon

When you say it out loud, it does seem strange that more national bosses didn’t take greater advantage of England’s most famous back four.

Our right-back did get a run of games under Graham Taylor and would have played at Euro 92 if not for an injury.

By the next time the Three Lions qualified for a tournament, Gary Neville had emerged.

From talented Gunners to England regulars

Paul Merson

He has become just as famous for his vices off the pitch as for his achievements on it.

Yet how the midfielder turned his international career around is one of the inspirational stories the Sky pundit gives to help those battling with addiction.

Going public about his reliance on alcohol, drugs and gambling in 1994, Merson wouldn’t get his next cap for another two years and nine months.

Going from rock bottom to playing at the 1998 World Cup was his redemption.

Jack Wilshere

Most who dream of football being their job would call playing 32 times for your nation a success.

Yet for club and country, the Luton manager remains one of the biggest “what if” stories because of injuries.

When fit, he offered technical flair that England didn’t produce at the time.

In fact, Roy Hodgson was so desperate to have his talent at the 2014 World Cup and 2016 Euros that he selected Super Jack even when not 100 per cent healthy.

Ian Wright

One of the greatest English players to never play in a major tournament, Ian Wright has been very open about his hurt at not being trusted by his international managers.

In particular Graham Taylor, who completely ignored the striker’s Golden Boot when naming his Euro 92 squad.

Martin Keown

Like with the Gunners, he faced serious competition but was a trusted squad player when he was needed.

Forty-three caps, playing at two Euros and an unused sub at two World Cups.

Theo Walcott

A bizarre England legacy of going to the 2006 World Cup when he didn’t have any business on the plane, but then not being selected four years later when he deserved to be in the squad.

Because he was going to a major international tournament at the age of 16, expectation was high for the teenager, and therefore he didn’t get the credit others would get for 47 caps.

Injuries robbed the attacker of his biggest asset… his pace.

A hat-trick in Croatia highlighted what Theo Walcott at his best looked like, but he could never stay fit for a whole season.

Was it the greatest individual performance of the Fabio Capello era?

David Platt

Maybe one of the few on this list who has more iconic moments at international level than for a club?

At Italia 90, he went from relative unknown to superstar with his volley against Belgium shown in constant montages.

One of the few bright lights in the Graham Taylor era.

Twenty-seven goals in 62 caps is a decent goals-per-game ratio for a midfielder.

Getty images

Arsenal legends who delivered for the Three Lions

Tony Adams

Like most things in his life, Mr Arsenal’s international career is an amazing story.

It took incredible strength of character and mentality to represent the Three Lions in three different decades, during which the media mocked him after Euro 88 and throughout his well-documented battle with alcohol.

His autobiography is one of the most powerful ever written by a footballer.

It’s still sad to think he couldn’t enjoy Euro 96 on home soil, instead isolating himself in his hotel room to avoid drinking.

He relapsed once England got knocked out.

David Seaman

Mental strength is underrated.

The keeper went nearly a decade as his country’s number one.

Yet the media spent a lot of that time campaigning for worse goalies to start and focusing more on his ponytail than his ability.

Playing in a position where the law of averages is that you’re going to make mistakes, many mocked him for his error at the 2002 World Cup.

Yet it’s unfair to equally forget his performance against Spain at Euro 96.

Forty clean sheets in 75 caps isn’t too shabby either.

History: Arsenal’s “Steady Hands” David Seaman MBE won 9 trophies with the Gunners

Sol Campbell

Even though since retirement he’s hinted that the colour of his skin prevented him from earning more caps or captaining his country, only one other man has represented England at six consecutive tournaments.

While other members of the English Golden Generation failed to translate club form to the international stage, the centre-back was in the team of the tournament at the 2002 World Cup and Euro 2004, lifting the Premiership before both.

Then there are his disallowed goals against Argentina and Portugal.

If either were allowed, it might have had a butterfly effect on both his nation and his life.

Ashley Cole

If we are using our heads and not hearts to form this list, our left-back has to be near the top, as he’s one of the few members of the Golden Generation who consistently maintained world-class performances for his country.

Ronaldo described their duel at the World Cup and then the Euros as facing his toughest opponent.

Dan Smith

So who would be top and bottom of your list? Has Dan been too harsh or too generous on anyone, and which former Arsenal England international has he missed out? Let us know in the comments below. _____________________________________________________________________________________________ ADMIN COMMENT

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