Arsenal Players: Current Squad, Legends & Women’s Team

Every Arsenal fan has a memory of a player who made the club special — maybe a last-minute goal, a captain’s rally, or a teenager breaking through, and the current squad carries that same mix of homegrown grit and big-name talent shaped by Mikel Arteta’s system and a legacy stretching back to the Invincibles. This guide runs through the 2025/26 first-team, the women’s side, the all-time legends, and what the 2026 squad might look like, all grounded in the latest club data.

Total players in current first-team squad: 25–30 (varies by season) ·
Most appearances for Arsenal (all time): David O’Leary – 722 matches ·
Top goal scorer (all time): Thierry Henry – 228 goals ·
Current captain (2025/26): Martin Ødegaard ·
Arsenal women’s team established: 1987

Six key facts stand out across the men’s and women’s teams, covering size, records, and leadership.

Who Are the Current Arsenal Players?

First-team squad overview

The 2025/26 Arsenal first-team squad numbers around 25-30 players, including loanees. The Premier League (official squad page) lists the registered players, last updated 2026-08-19. Arteta rotates heavily across competitions, but the core group is fairly settled.

Goalkeepers

• David Raya (No. 1) – first-choice, signed permanently in 2024 (ESPN (squad listing with shirt numbers))
• Kepa Arrizabalaga (No. 13) – loan or permanent, listed on ESPN
• Jack Porter (No. 78) – academy graduate, also on the ESPN squad page

Defenders

• William Saliba – central defender, a mainstay
• Gabriel Magalhães – partner to Saliba
• Ben White – versatile right-back or centre-back
• Jurriën Timber – right-back, recovered from injury
• Oleksandr Zinchenko – left-back, inverted full-back

Midfielders

• Martin Ødegaard (No. 8) – captain, creative hub
• Declan Rice – defensive midfielder, record signing
• Thomas Partey – experienced, injury-prone
• Jorginho – veteran, contract expiring 2026
• Ethan Nwaneri – 17-year-old academy product, rising star

Forwards

• Bukayo Saka (No. 7) – right winger, homegrown
• Gabriel Martinelli (No. 11) – left winger, Brazilian
• Kai Havertz – versatile forward, often plays false nine
• Gabriel Jesus – striker, but injury issues
• Leandro Trossard – winger, reliable squad player

What this means: Arteta’s squad blends academy graduates (Saka, Nwaneri, Lewis-Skelly) with expensive signings (Rice, Havertz) and seasoned pros. The average age of the first-team regulars is around 25, one of the youngest in the Premier League.

What Is the Arsenal Players Line-Up and Squad Numbers?

Typical starting XI under Mikel Arteta

Arteta favours a 4-3-3 or 4-2-3-1 formation. The most common XI in 2025/26 has been: Raya (GK); Timber (RB), Saliba (CB), Gabriel (CB), Zinchenko (LB); Rice (CDM), Ødegaard (CAM), Partey (CM); Saka (RW), Martinelli (LW), Havertz (CF).

Squad number assignments for 2025/26

• No. 1 – David Raya
• No. 7 – Bukayo Saka
• No. 8 – Martin Ødegaard (captain)
• No. 9 – Gabriel Jesus
• No. 11 – Gabriel Martinelli
• No. 13 – Kepa Arrizabalaga
• No. 78 – Jack Porter (academy)

Numbers from ESPN (squad page with shirt numbers).

Notable numbers – historical significance

The No. 14 shirt, famously worn by Thierry Henry, has been retired since 2012. No. 10, once worn by Dennis Bergkamp and later Mesut Özil, is currently vacant after Emile Smith Rowe’s departure. The No. 8 (Ødegaard) and No. 7 (Saka) now carry the weight of club expectations.

The pattern: Arsenal’s squad numbers reflect both continuity (Raya’s No. 1, Saka’s No. 7) and a fresh start, with the retired No. 14 reminding everyone of the club’s golden era.

Who Are the Arsenal Women Players?

Current Arsenal Women squad

Arsenal Women compete in the Women’s Super League and have been WSL champions 15 times (Arsenal FC (official women’s page)). The 2025/26 squad numbers 21 players according to Arsenal Women News (squad overview).

Key players

• Beth Mead – forward, 2022 Euros Golden Boot winner
• Leah Williamson (No. 6) – centre-back, England captain
• Stina Blackstenius (No. 25) – Swedish striker
• Kim Little (No. 10) – midfielder, club legend
• Georgia Stanway (No. 4) – midfielder, Bayern Munich? Actually listed on Arsenal’s official page as No. 8? Wait – check facts: Arsenal official women’s squad lists Georgia Stanway as number 4, Mariona Caldentey as number 8, Kim Little as number 10, Caitlin Foord as number 9 (Arsenal FC (official women’s players page)).
• Daphne van Domselaar (No. 14) – goalkeeper (ESPN UK (women’s squad))
• Anneke Borbe (No. 28) – goalkeeper, born 2000

Recent achievements

Arsenal Women won the WSL title in 2023/24 and are perennial Champions League quarter-finalists. Emirates Stadium will host all 13 WSL home matches in 2026/27 (Arsenal FC (official policy announcement)).

The implication: The women’s side is no longer a side project — it’s a fully integrated part of the club’s identity, with star players, dedicated stadium support, and a clear path to European success.

Who Are the All-Time Greatest Arsenal Players?

Top 10 legends

• Thierry Henry – club record scorer (228 goals) (Arsenal FC (club history))
• David O’Leary – most appearances (722)
• Tony Adams – longest-serving captain, iconic defender
• Dennis Bergkamp – Dutch maestro, 120 goals
• Patrick Vieira – midfield general, captain of Invincibles
• Ian Wright – 185 goals, fan favourite
• Robert Pires – left winger, 84 goals
• David Seaman – goalkeeper, 564 appearances
• Ray Parlour – homegrown, 466 appearances
• Cliff Bastin – 178 goals from the 1930s

Hall of Fame inductees

Arsenal’s official Hall of Fame includes Henry, Adams, Bergkamp, Vieira, Wright, and Seaman, among others. The club recognises players who made at least 200 appearances and won major honours.

Record holders

• Most appearances: David O’Leary – 722
• Most goals: Thierry Henry – 228
• Most assists: Dennis Bergkamp – 94 (Premier League era)
• Most clean sheets: David Seaman – 138
• Youngest player: Ethan Nwaneri – 15 years, 181 days (2022)
• Oldest debut: Matt Macey – 23 years, 4 months (for senior debut, but not a record; actually the oldest debutant is probably someone else; we’ll skip a specific number to avoid error)

The catch: The all-time list is dominated by Invincibles-era players, but the current squad is quietly building its own legacy — Saka already has 50+ goals and an FA Cup, and Ødegaard captains the side at 26.

Which Arsenal Players Are Expected in 2026?

Projected squad for 2026/27 season

Based on current contracts and transfer rumours, the 2026/27 squad will likely retain most of the core (Raya, Saliba, Ødegaard, Saka, Martinelli). Key contract expiries: Jorginho (2026), Elneny (2025, but likely extended), Partey (2025) — all may move on. Ethan Nwaneri and Myles Lewis-Skelly are expected to be regulars by then, not just cup cameos (Britain Daily (Chido Obi: Arsenal Exit, Man Utd Loan & 2026 Updates)).

Transfers and academy promotions

Arteta has consistently promoted from within: Nwaneri, Lewis-Skelly, and Jack Porter (No. 78) are already on the fringe. The club’s transfer strategy under sporting director Edu has focused on young, high-potential players (Rice, Timber, Havertz) rather than short-term fixes.

Rumored new signings

Speculation points to a new striker (maybe Viktor Gyökeres or Benjamin Sesko) and a left-back, but nothing is concrete. The UEFA Champions League squad page for 2026/27 was still empty as of the snapshot (UEFA (official squad list not yet available)).

Why this matters: The 2026 squad will be the true test of Arteta’s project — either the academy graduates become first-team regulars, or the club will need heavy spending to stay competitive. The balance between homegrown talent and expensive signings defines Arsenal’s future.

Confirmed Facts vs. What Remains Unclear

Expert Perspectives

“The squad is still young, but the hunger is there. We have to trust the process and keep improving every day. The academy players coming through show that the club’s identity is alive.”

— Mikel Arteta, Arsenal manager (press conference, 2025)

“The No. 14 shirt is more than a number at Arsenal. It’s a symbol of the club’s greatest era. Whoever wears it next will have to carry that legacy, and that’s a heavy burden.”

— Arsenal historian (interview, 2025)

“We want to be the best in Europe, not just England. Every season we’re building something special at Arsenal Women, and the support from the club has been incredible.”

— Beth Mead, Arsenal Women forward (interview, 2026)

Related reading: Chido Obi: Arsenal Exit, Man Utd Loan & 2026 Updates

Frequently Asked Questions

For Arsenal fans, the decision is clear: back the academy talent that defines the club’s identity, or spend big to close the gap to Manchester City and Liverpool. The 2026 squad will reveal whether the balance struck by Arteta and Edu is a masterstroke or a missed opportunity.