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The review follows but for all you clever Gooners try answering the following three simple questions (answers can be found in the book or at the bottom of the page).
A) – Here are 3 Jims and 6 Jimmys – but which is which? Bloomfield, Carter, Fotheringham, Furnell, Harvey, McGill, Rimmer, Standen and Robertson.
B) - All but one of this batch are David, the odd one out is Dave, but which one? Bowen, Cork, Court, Herd, Hillier, Jenkins, Rocastle and Seaman.
C) - Paul Davies or Paul Davis. Which one played in the seasons starting 1979/80 through to 1994/95.
The format for this title is simple enough in that every player who's played competitive football for the Gunners since 1950 is included. Each player is afforded a photograph, a brief note of player statistics (games played, goals scored) within each section plus there is an in depth players statistics section at the back of the book. The dates he played for the Club and other Clubs he played for are also featured. The minor players, ones who made the first team but failed to make 10 appearances, rate no more than a picture and the basic stats. All players of note however rate a bigger photograph and a biography according to their status. For example Bob Wilson rates two pages including a full page picture, as does Tony Adams. The likes of David Platt, Silvinho and Oleg Luzhny get a page each including photo. While lesser lights such as McGoldrick or Helder rate only half a page including their pictures. The player biographies are all quite good although just how skillful particular players were will always be open to debate and most fans will have their own opinions. The facts though, to the best of my knowledge, are all accurate. The Club's managers of the period get their own separate section by the way.
This book has been going since 1991 and was first published by Guinness but it hasn't always had the same title. I find it rather annoying when publishers change the title of a book with numerous editions, granted it may make sense from a marketing viewpoint but for book collectors it's confusing to say the least. I have the 1998 Edition on my shelves under the title Arsenal Player by Player but the 2000 edition was entitled Arsenal: The Gunners. This minor irritation should not however detract from the quality of the publication in question.
Browsing through the book it's noticeable just how numerous are the players who featured less than ten outings for the Gunners. Try some of these from the last ten seasons they may be familiar, they may not, but they all rate inclusion even though none of them topped 10 first team matches. Brian McGovern, Gavin McGowan, Tommy Black, Michael Black, Fabian Caballero, Omer Riza and Isaiah Rankin. Not heard of them? Well maybe you weren't paying attention that week.
If you're not familiar with some of the earlier players featured you'll learn quite a bit, maybe even why some more senior Arsenal fans bang on about their favourite players. The pictures, which are mainly in colour – certainly from the 70's onward, give, amongst other things, a pretty comprehensive history of our post war kit changes although the inclusion of more players in away kits would improve that no end. Now for the benefit of those who don't own an earlier edition or cheat here are the answers.
'Arsenal Player by Player' – Ivan Ponting
Published October 2002 Hamlyn Publishers price £14.99
Any decent bookshop will order it in for you if you quote the following reference: ISBN 0 600 60685 6
Or you can order on the web from Sportspages or Amazon
Answer A: Jimmy Bloomfield, Jimmy Carter, Jim Fotheringham, Jim Furnell, Jimmy Harvey, Jimmy McGill, Jimmy Rimmer, Jim Standen and Jimmy Robertson,
Answer B : Dave Bowen
Answer C: Paul Davis
Knew them all? Well done, but I bet you can't name 7 players called Alan!