When most people think of Ian Wright’s playing days, they picture him in a vintage Arsenal strip. Whether it’s the iconic yellow and black chevrons or the navy-striped sleeves of the early nineties home kit, the collective memory of his career is one of a man wheeling away to celebrate a one-on-one finish, his arms outstretched in sheer delight and his JVC-sponsored shirt billowing in the wind. Wright spent seven years at Highbury all told, winning the Premier League, several domestic trophies and the European Cup Winners’ Cup in the process. He also broke the club’s all-time scoring record with 185 goals in 288 appearances, an accolade he held for eight years before it was bettered by Thierry Henry.
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For those with hazy memories of the arse end of the twentieth century – whether for reasons of extreme youth or chronic substance abuse in the time following – Wright spearheaded an iconic group of players at Arsenal, turning out alongside the likes of David Rocastle, Alan Smith, Paul Davis, Paul Merson, Ray Parlour and later Dennis Bergkamp, all in front of the famous back four and a resplendently moustachioed David Seaman. Together, they had a starring role in one of the greatest eras of English football, with the nineties surely the decade which inspires the most intense nostalgia amongst fans today. In light of his subsequent media career and often lively showings in the studio, some seem inclined to ignore Wright’s legacy as a player in favour of trashing his frenetic brand of punditry. It should be remembered, however, that the sight of Wright dinking or lobbing an onrushing goalkeeper was emblematic of what many consider to be a golden age for English football, and that he was one of the most recognisable players in the country in those exciting early days of the Premier League.
That said, there are some for whom Wright’s time at Arsenal was not necessarily the most memorable stage of his career. He retains cult hero status at several other clubs, having begun and ended his playing days elsewhere. Before moving to Highbury in 1991 on the express wish of George Graham, he spent six heady years with Crystal Palace, and he remains the club’s record post-war goalscorer with a grand total of 117 goals. Having left Arsenal in 1998, he went on to play for West Ham, Nottingham Forest, Celtic and Burnley, and while he was somewhat less prolific for those clubs he executed enough of his trademark finishes to be remembered fondly by many nonetheless.
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