Ian Selley was a young midfielder whose bright light was cruelly dimmed on a February afternoon at Highbury in 1995.
Selley's neat control, biting tackles and ceaseless industry offered a solid foundation for his perceptive distribution.
He made his debut at home to Blackburn in September 1992 and made a further nine first-team starts that campaign. He also made it onto the bench at Wembley for the Gunners' League and FA Cup Final victories that season.
Ian scored twice in his 60 Arsenal appearances, including the winner against Brondby in the Second Round of the 1994/95 European Cup Winners' Cup.
However Selley, 20 at the time, suffered a shattered leg after an accidental collision with Leicester's Iwan Roberts on February 11, 1995. The injury kept him out of action for over a year and despite a loan spell with Southend midway through the 1996/97 season, he was sold to Fulham.
Selley broke his leg again shortly after moving to Craven Cottage but was signed by Wimbledon in July 2000, where he was re-united with former Arsenal youth-team coach Terry Burton, then in charge of the Dons.
Selley later enjoyed a further two loan spells with Southend and played for a number of non-league sides, including Woking, Grays Athletic and Maidstone Town.
Ian Selley
