Remembering Rocky... a true Arsenal legend

Thursday, March 31 marks the 10th anniversary of David Rocastle's tragic death.

'Rocky' was just 33 when he lost his battle with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, a form of cancer, on the morning of a North London derby win over Tottenham.

Click on the PLAY button above to watch a free video tribute to 'Rocky' featuring former team-mates Martin Keown, Nigel Winterburn and Perry Groves plus Arsène Wenger.

Then click the links to the right to re-live some of Rocastle's finest moments in an Arsenal shirt.

HEROES TOGETHER
'Rocky' was immortalised during the 2009/10 campaign when he was one of the 32 Arsenal greats depicted on the outside walls of Emirates Stadium. Watch this special feature for great action and key facts about Rocastle plus the thoughts of his former team-mates Kenny Sansom, Perry Groves, Nigel Winterburn, Steve Bould and Martin Hayes.

GUNNERS' GREATEST PLAYERS
When we ran our Gunners' Greatest Players poll in the summer of 2008, 'Rocky' finished in 16th place, just ahead of another homegrown Arsenal hero - Pat Rice. Click here to read a profile of Rocastle's career and follow the link to the right for more great action plus analysis from Tom Watt and a panel of Arsenal experts.

GUNNERS' GREATEST GOALS
'Rocky' scored 34 goals in his 277 games for Arsenal - many of them memorable. There was the venomous shot at Anfield in the League Cup in 1988 and a solo effort against Middlesbrough the same season. But it was his midfield trickery and deft chip at Manchester United in 1991 that earned him a place in the Gunners' Greatest Goals countdown.

ROCKY STUNS SPURS IN LEAGUE CUP
The talent and tenacity of 'Rocky' made him an instant fans' favourite at Highbury after he broke into the side under George Graham, and this League Cup winner at White Hart Lane earned him 'hero' status. Arsenal trailed the Semi-Final replay but Ian Allinson equalised and Rocastle stabbed in a late, late winner to take the Gunners to Wembley.

ARSENAL SNATCH TITLE AT ANFIELD
Rocastle was not on the scoresheet at Anfield in 1989 but he was a vital cog in George Graham's side that season and was in the thick of the celebrations after helping to bring the title to Highbury for the first time in 18 years. Click on the link to the right to re-live the finest moment in Rocastle's Arsenal career - a night no Gooner will ever forget.

[Saturday, April 02, 2011]

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