Congratulations to Ian Wright on being inducted into the Premier League Hall of Fame!
Our legendary striker follows Thierry Henry, Dennis Bergkamp and Patrick Vieira in being honoured for his incredible performances in the top flight.
Some footballers are great goalscorers. Others are scorers of great goals. Wrighty was both.
Our legendary No.8 always found a way to find the net, whether it required a sumptuous 30-yard chip or a toe-poke from two yards. His repertoire of goals made him one of the finest - and most explosive - strikers to grace the English game. And, of course, he was a showman.
Wrighty joined us from Crystal Palace in September 1991 for a club-record £2.5 million, and instantly became a fans’ favourite, thanks to his unerring eye for goal and passion and pride for the club.
He was our top scorer six seasons in a row and, on September 13, 1997, eclipsed Cliff Bastin as our all-time record scorer - a feat only bettered by Henry.
Wrighty needed two goals against Bolton Wanderers on the day to set a new mark of 179. He netted a low drive after 20 minutes and, carried away in the moment, ripped off his shirt to reveal a T-shirt sporting the message '179 - Just Done It!'.
In fact, he had only equalled Bastin's mark of 178 but, in typical Wrighty fashion, only had to wait five minutes before giving the T-shirt a more appropriate airing. A two-yard tap-in in front of an empty net was all it took to break the record.
Wrighty ended his final season at the club by winning the Premier League title, before joining West Ham United for a season. He netted a total of 113 Premier League goals in 213 appearances for the two clubs (104 in 191 for the Gunners).
On his induction into the Hall of Fame, Wrighty said: “It’s a real privilege to be inducted into the Hall of Fame.
"You have to remember that for the majority of my football journey, I never thought I'd become a professional footballer. So to do that, enjoy the times I had with the fans and my teammates and now to receive this accolade, is a true honour. I feel really humbled.
“Growing up in South London, football was my escape. We played for pure enjoyment and that's something that never left me when I played the game. I always felt like I was running out of time and this recognition is a special reminder to appreciate the journey, the hard work and getting over the doubts I had.
“I also have to thank so many incredible teammates, backroom staff and managers, most notably Steve Coppell who gave me the chance and shaped the player I became.”
The Hall of Fame recognises and celebrates the exceptional skill and talent of individuals who have graced the Premier League since its inception in 1992.
Wrighty was selected by the public, through an online vote, and the Premier League Awards Panel, and will be formally honoured at an event in London on Thursday evening.
To be eligible for the Premier League Hall of Fame, players had to be retired by January 1, 2022, and only a player’s Premier League career was considered in their candidacy, not their performances in other competitions during the Premier League era.
All inducted players receive a medallion engraved with their name and the year of their induction, with a £10,000 donation made by the Premier League to a charity of their choice.
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