10 Hardest Men That Ever Played For Arsenal

10. Ray Parlour

David Davies/PA Archive/Press Association ImagesDavid Davies/PA Archive/Press Association ImagesHe may have been dubbed the €˜Romford Pele€™ by Marc Overmars, but Ray Parlour was renowned more for his tough tackling and incredible stamina while at Arsenal. Not necessarily a star player, but Parlour's incredible work ethic and commitment meant that he became a fan favourite during his time at Highbury. Parlour played a pivotal role during Arsenal€™s double winning campaign in 2001/02, representing the club 40 times in all competitions. He also picked up three red cards that season, an indication of his aggressive style of play. Never one to back out of a tackle, Parlour was often at the heart of many dogged defensive displays. Part of the post-match brawl which occurred after Ruud van Nistelrooy missed a penalty in the last minute of the game against Arsenal during the 2003/04 season, Parlour really did wear his heart on his sleeve. His passion no more evident than during that melee after the game.
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Simon is an NCTJ qualified sports journalist. He has conducted interviews with Tony Adams and Peter Shilton, while also having work published in The Daily Telegraph and The Sun. Follow him on Twitter via @sr_collings.