The Arsenal A-Z

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

JOHAN DJOUROU
Swiss international central defender Johan Djourou is a current member of Arsenal's squad. Signing professional for the Gunners in August 2004, he made his first-team debut in the 2-1 Carling Cup third round victory at Manchester City two months later. Injuries to Sol Campbell and Pascal Cygan along with Kolo Toure's absence at the African Cup of Nations saw him make his Premiership debut in the 7-0 win over Middlesbrough in January 2006. Also featuring in the 2005/06 Carling Cup run, he played for Switzerland in the 2006 World Cup and has now made 12 Premiership appearances for Arsenal.

TOMMY DOCHERTY
Scotland international wing-half Tommy Docherty gained the last three of his 25 caps while at Arsenal. Initially with Celtic, he joined Preston in 1949 and won the Second Division title in 1950/51. He moved to Arsenal for £28,000 in August 1958 and scored once in 83 First Division games before becoming Chelsea's player-coach in February 1961. Appointed manager seven months later, he also had spells in charge of Rotherham, QPR, Aston Villa, Porto, Scotland, Manchester United, Derby, Preston and Wolves. He is now an after-dinner speaker and is featured on pages 56 and 57 of today's programme.

BILL DODGIN
England U-23 centre-half Bill Dodgin starred as Arsenal finished third in the top-flight in 1958/59. Initially an amateur with Southampton, he followed his father of the same name to Fulham in September 1949 and joined Arsenal for £4,000 in December 1952. He twice helped the Gunners reach the FA Cup sixth round and made 191 First Division appearances before rejoining Fulham for £7,000 in March 1961, featuring in their 1961/62 FA Cup semi-final replay defeat. Subsequently coach at Millwall, he managed QPR, Fulham, Northampton Town (twice), Brentford and Woking, then was Brighton's chief scout. He died in June 2000.

GEORGE DRURY
Inside-forward George Drury played for Arsenal either side of the Second World War. He impressed with Heanor prior to joining Sheffield Wednesday in September 1934 and moved to Highbury for £7,000 in March 1938. Helping Arsenal clinch the League Championship that season, he was a wartime guest for several clubs and briefly appeared at the start of the 1946/47 campaign. He netted three goals in 38 First Division games overall before moving to West Brom in October 1946, then played for Watford, Linby Colliery, Darlaston and South Normanton. Settling back in his native Hucknall, he died in June 1972.

GEORGE EASTHAM
England international inside-forward George Eastham was capped 19 times while at Arsenal. The son of the former Bolton and England star of the same name, he played alongside his father at Ards before joining Newcastle United in May 1956 and moved to Highbury for £47,500 in November 1960. He was ever-present for Arsenal in 1964/65, netting 41 goals in 207 First Division games before being sold to Stoke City for £35,000 in August 1966. Returning from a spell as Hellenic player-boss, he scored Stoke's 1972 League Cup final winner and became their manager. Awarded the OBE, he now lives in South Africa.

EMMANUEL EBOUE
Ivory Coast international right-back Emmanuel Eboue played for Arsenal in the 2006 Champions League final. Initially with Mimosas Abidjan, he impressed with feeder club Beveren prior to joining Arsenal in January 2005. He made his first-team debut in that month's 2-1 FA Cup third round win at home to Stoke City. Starring as Ivory Coast were African Cup of Nations finalists in 2006, he returned to make his first start in the Premiership in Arsenal's 1-0 defeat at Liverpool, establishing a regular first-team slot. He played for his country in the 2006 World Cup and has now made 26 Premiership appearances.

EDU
Brazilian international midfielder Edu starred in Arsenal's record-breaking 2003/04 Premiership title triumph. He impressed with Corinthians before following Gilberto to Arsenal in January 2001 and made his Premiership debut in that month's 0-0 draw at Leicester City. Featuring in the Gunners' 2001/02 'double' success when he became the first Brazilian to gain an FA Cup winner's medal, he scored in Arsenal's 2-0 FA Cup fifth round win at Manchester United the following season. He netted seven goals in 79 Premiership games and helped win the FA Cup again shortly before joining Valencia in July 2005.

DENNIS EVANS
Long-serving left-back Dennis Evans was ever-present for Arsenal in 1955/56. A former Wolves amateur, he played for Ellesmere Port before moving to Highbury for £1,500 in January 1951. He made his League debut in Arsenal's 0-0 draw at home to Huddersfield in August 1953 and represented London in the 1957 Fairs Cup. Helping the Gunners finish third in the top-flight in 1958/59, he netted ten goals in 189 First Division games until a broken ankle ended his career in May 1963. He was briefly a coach at Arsenal, then a warehouse manager, trainer-coach at Luton Town and a private hire chauffeur. He died in February 2000.

MIKE EVERITT
Versatile wing-half Mike Everitt was a young member of George Swindin's squad at Arsenal. Signing professional at Highbury in February 1958, his solitary goal in nine First Division games clinched the Gunners' 1-0 victory at home to Preston in August 1960 and he reunited with Dave Bowen at Northampton Town for £4,000 in February 1961. He starred in their rise to the top-flight and moved to Plymouth Argyle in March 1967, then played for Brighton before managing Wimbledon and Brentford. Later coaching Leicester City as well as teams in Kuwait, Egypt and Morocco, he now lives in Colby, Isle of Man.

CESC FABREGAS
Spanish international midfielder Cesc Fabregas was the only Arsenal player to feature in every Champions League match last season. A former trainee at Highbury, he appeared in the Gunners' 2004 FA Community Shield triumph and made his Premiership debut at Everton in the opening game of Arsenal's title defence. His performances showed maturity beyond his years and he featured in the 2005 FA Cup final success, then scored in the 2005 FA Community Shield. He outshone former mentor Patrick Vieira in Arsenal's 2-0 win at home to Juventus in the Champions League quarter-finals and played for Spain in the 2006 World Cup.

GORDON FERRY
Young centre-half Gordon Ferry understudied Scotland international Ian Ure while at Arsenal. A former apprentice at Highbury, he turned professional in January 1961 and made his League debut in Arsenal's 2-1 defeat at Sheffield Wednesday in September 1964. He played 11 consecutive First Division games for the Gunners and moved to Leyton Orient in May 1965. Ever-present in 1965/66, he spent two years with Atlanta Chiefs before joining Barnet in November 1968. He starred as the Bees won the Southern League Cup and were FA Trophy finalists in 1971/72, becoming their player-manager. Now living in St Albans.

ALF FIELDS
Long-serving centre-half Alf Fields featured in Arsenal's 1947-48 League Championship campaign. A former amateur at Highbury, he signed professional in May 1937 and made his League debut in Arsenal's 1-0 defeat at Blackpool in April 1939. Awarded the BEM for wartime service in the Royal Artillery, he helped twice win the London Combination and made 19 First Division appearances as Leslie Compton's understudy until knee injuries ended his playing career in September 1952. Later trainer-coach of Arsenal's junior teams, he served the club over 47 years before retiring in November 1983. He lives in Plaistow.

MATHIEU FLAMINI
Versatile French U-21 midfielder Mathieu Flamini made a significant contribution as Arsenal reached the 2006 Champions League final. He impressed with Marseilles before moving to Highbury in August 2004 and made his Premiership debut as Arsenal began their title defence with a 4-1 win at Everton. Regularly featuring as a substitute, he started his first Premiership match in the 2-2 draw at home to Chelsea in December 2004 and scored his first goal in Arsenal's 7-0 annihilation of Everton. He deputised for Ashley Cole at left-back last season until injured in the Champions League semi-final second-leg against Villarreal.