The Arsenal A-Z

Football historian LEIGH EDWARDS profiles every Arsenal player from 60 post-war League seasons.

ALEXANDER HLEB
Belarus international midfielder Alexander Hleb played for Arsenal in the 2006 UEFA Champions League final. He starred for German side VfB Stuttgart before Arsène Wenger acquired him in August 2005 and featured in that month's FA Community Shield. Given his Premiership debut in Arsenal's 2-0 victory at home to Newcastle United on the opening day of the campaign, he returned from injury to score his first goal in the Gunners' 7-0 demolition of Middlesbrough and was an influential figure in the Champions League matches. He netted three times in 25 Premiership games for Arsenal last season.

CYRIL HODGES
Versatile outside-left Cyril Hodges played in Arsenal's first post-war League match at Highbury. Initially with Eton Manor, he was a PT instructor in the Army during the war and played for Arsenal as an amateur before turning professional in April 1945. He made two First Division appearances for the Gunners prior to joining Brighton in October 1946 but a knee injury soon ended his League career. Joining Haywards Heath as player-coach, he helped them twice win the Sussex League title and later rejoined Brighton as trainer-coach for 11 years until December 1968. He resided in Brighton until his death in September 1979.

JOHN HOLLINS
Former England international midfielder John Hollins was Arsenal's 'Player of the Year' in 1981/82. From a footballing family, he helped Chelsea win the League Cup in 1965, FA Cup in 1970 and ECWC in 1971. He followed Dave Sexton to QPR for £80,000 in June 1975 and joined Arsenal for £75,000 in July 1979. Also playing at right-back, he was an ECWC finalist in 1980 and awarded the MBE in 1982. He scored nine times in 127 League games for the Gunners before rejoining Chelsea in May 1983. Helping win the Second Division title in 1983/84, he has been manager/coach at Chelsea, QPR, Swansea, Rochdale and Crawley.

CLIFF HOLTON
Centre-forward Cliff Holton featured in Arsenal's 1952/53 League Championship success. Previously with Oxford City, he joined the Gunners in November 1947 and played in the 1952 FA Cup final. He netted 83 goals in 198 First Division games before being sold to Watford for £10,000 in October 1958, scoring 42 times in their 1959/60 promotion success. Reuniting with Dave Bowen at Northampton Town in September 1961, he played for Crystal Palace, Watford, Charlton Athletic and Orient. He ran a precision engineering firm in Stonebridge then worked for a sports marketing firm and died on holiday in Spain in May 1996.

BRIAN HORNSBY
England Youth midfielder Brian Hornsby was a young member of Bertie Mee's squad at Arsenal. A former apprentice at Highbury, he helped the Gunners win the FA Youth Cup shortly before turning professional in September 1971 and made his League debut in the 6-1 defeat at Leeds United in May 1973. He netted six goals in 26 First Division games for Arsenal prior to joining Shrewsbury Town for £20,000 in May 1976. Moving to Sheffield Wednesday for £40,000 in March 1978 he later played for Carlisle United, IK Brage, Spalding and Holbeach. He now lives in Peterborough and runs a shed and summerhouse business.

PAT HOWARD
Rugged central defender Pat Howard was an early Terry Neill signing for Arsenal. Signing professional for Barnsley in October 1965, he was twice ever-present including their 1967/68 promotion success and moved to Newcastle United for £23,000 in September 1971. He starred as they were FA Cup finalists in 1974 and League Cup finalists in 1976 following Malcolm Macdonald to Highbury for £50,000 in September 1976. Making 16 League appearances for the Gunners, he was sold to Birmingham City for £40,000 in August 1977 then played for Bury. He was Football Development Officer for Salford City Council before retiring.

DON HOWE
Former England international right-back Don Howe gave Arsenal marvellous service in various capacities. He turned professional with West Brom in November 1952 and was capped 23 times before moving to Highbury for £42,000 in April 1964. Scoring once in 70 First Division games for Arsenal, he became first-team coach in October 1967 and helped to plot the 1970/71 'double' triumph. He rejoined West Brom as manager in July 1971 but returned to Arsenal as chief coach and managed the Gunners between December 1983 and March 1986. After various coaching and management posts, he was Arsenal's Head Youth Coach.

JUSTIN HOYTE
England U21 right-back Justin Hoyte featured in Arsenal's 2004 FA Community Shield triumph. He played for the Gunners' U17 team while still at school and represented England U19s at the age of 16. Signing professional at Highbury in July 2002, he made his Premiership debut in Arsenal's 6-1 victory at home to Southampton in May 2003 when Robert Pires and Jermaine Pennant scored hat-tricks in the FA Cup Final rehearsal. He played for Arsenal in the 2005 FA Community Shield before spending the whole of last season on loan to Sunderland. Now back at Arsenal, he has made 14 league appearances for the Club.

ALAN HUDSON
England international midfielder Alan Hudson played for Arsenal in the 1978 FA Cup Final. Signing professional for Chelsea in June 1968, he starred as they won the ECWC in 1971 and were League Cup finalists in 1972. He moved to Stoke City for £240,000 in January 1974 and helped them qualify for the UEFA Cup that season then was ever-present in 1974/75. Joining Arsenal for £200,000 in December 1976, he made 36 First Division appearances before being sold to Seattle Sounders for £120,000 in October 1978. He later played for Chelsea and Stoke again then ran a night club. He is now convalescing after being struck by a car.

STEPHEN HUGHES
England U21 midfielder Stephen Hughes helped Arsenal win the Premiership title in 1997/98. A former trainee at Highbury, he featured in the 1994 FA Youth Cup Final triumph and made his Premiership debut in the Gunners' 0-0 draw at home to Aston Villa seven months before signing professional in July 1995. He appeared in Arsenal's 1998 FA Charity Shield success and netted four goals in 49 Premiership games before being sold to Everton in March 2000. Joining Watford in July 2001, he spent a season with Charlton Athletic prior to joining Coventry City in July 2004 and was 'Player of the Year' in 2004/05.

FRANCIS JEFFERS
England U21 striker Francis Jeffers featured in Arsenal's triumphant 2002/03 FA Cup run. A former Everton trainee, he made his Premiership debut in their 2-0 defeat at Manchester United two months before signing professional in February 1998 and scored in that season's FA Youth Cup final triumph. Arsène Wenger acquired him in June 2001 and he scored on his full international debut in England's 3-1 defeat by Australia in February 2003. Netting four goals in 22 Premiership games for Arsenal, he was sold to Charlton Athletic in August 2004 and joined Blackburn Rovers in August 2006.

DAVID JENKINS
Young winger David Jenkins played for Arsenal in the 1968 League Cup final. Signing professional at Highbury in October 1963, he made his League debut in Arsenal's 0-0 draw at home to West Ham in November 1967. He netted three goals in 17 First Division games before moving to Tottenham Hotspur in exchange for Jimmy Robertson in October 1968. Joining Brentford in July 1972, he moved to Hereford United in March 1973 and helped them clinch promotion that season. He later played for Shrewsbury, Durban City, Workington and several non-League clubs. David is now a furniture salesman in his native Bristol.

PAT JENNINGS
Legendary Northern Ireland international goalkeeper Pat Jennings gained 42 of his record 119 caps while at Arsenal and was awarded the MBE. Initially with Newry Town, he moved to Watford in May 1963 and was ever-present in their 1963/64 promotion near-miss. He joined Tottenham Hotspur in June 1964 starring as they twice won the League Cup, the FA Cup in 1967 and UEFA Cup in 1972. Reuniting with Terry Neill at Arsenal in August 1977, he featured in three successive FA Cup Finals including the 1979 Wembley triumph and made 237 League appearances while at Highbury. He is now a goalkeeping coach.