Herbie Roberts made a shrewd move when he joined Arsenal from Oswestry Town for £200 in December 1926.
The centre half learned his trade as a gunsmith before taking up football and his change of profession was so successful that he made 335 starts for the Club in 11 years.
Roberts was a key figure in Herbert Chapman's all-conquering side of the early 1930s and picked up Division One honours in 1931, 1933, 1934 and 1935.
The defender missed the 1930 FA Cup final through injury but was not to be denied in 1936 when he helped the Gunners beat Sheffield United.
Roberts also earned an England cap during his long spell at the Club and would probably have had more without the injuries that blighted his career.
A badly-injured knee in October 1937 ended his playing career. He retired in 1938 and became trainer of Arsenal's Southern League team.
Roberts served as a Lieutenant in the Royal Fusiliers during the Second World War and died of erysipelas in 1944.
Herbie Roberts
