George Armstrong

Before modern tactics romanticized the high-pressing, tracking-back winger, Highbury worshiped George "Geordie" Armstrong for doing the dirty work with elite efficiency. A relentless, dynamic presence on Arsenal's flanks for nearly two decades, Armstrong was the anti-diva of 1960s and 70s English football. He possessed an incredible, lung-busting stamina that allowed him to completely dominate his corridor, transitionally morphing from a tenacious extra defender into a lethal creative outlet. His pinpoint, whipped crosses from either foot were the ammunition that fueled the goalscoring exploits of John Radford and Ray Kennedy, culminating in the historic League and FA Cup Double of 1971. In an era where creative wide men like George Best captivated the headlines with rock-star lifestyles, Armstrong was the ultimate professional, a model of consistency who played 621 games for the Gunners, redefining the physical and tactical demands of the British winger through sheer, unadulterated work ethic.