Fuente: © Arsenal
http://www.arsenal.com/

ARSENAL: Greatest Players - No 40. George Armstrong

/noticias.info/ George Armstrong was Arsenal to the core.

In a playing career at the Club which spanned almost two decades, ‘Geordie’, as he was affectionately known, accumulated 621 appearances, a record surpassed only by David O’Leary and Tony Adams. He would later return as part of the coaching staff.

His arrival in north London, straight from school in his native County Durham, was at a time when the traditional winger was expected to disappear. But Armstrong excelled on both flanks as an industrious team-player and salient goal-creator. Scoring only 68 times for the Gunners, he was an inspired exponent of precision crossing - it was estimated that the wide-man had a hand in more than half of the goals scored in the Double season of 1971.

At the peak of his powers the theory was simple: if you don’t stop Armstrong, you don’t stop Arsenal.. His tireless energy was one thing, but his scalpel-sharp precision from the byline made Armstrong the player he was. Messrs Radford and Kennedy had much to be thankful for.

But international recognition eluded the Arsenal star. England boss Alf Ramsey was not an advocate of wingers and Armstrong remained one of the most accomplished players never to have won a full cap.

His slight frame, just five-feet-six-inches tall and just over 11 stone, was countered by outstanding courage and grit, an attribute that helped him remain one of the Club’s most consistent performers during their mid-70s slump.

Armstrong left the Club for Leicester City in 1977 but, via Stockport and then coaching spells at Aston Villa, Fulham and latterly Kuwait, ‘Geordie’ returned to Highbury in 1990 as part of the Reserve team staff.

Former team-mate, and first-team boss at the time of Armstrong’s return, was George Graham. “He was such a thorough professional and a great help to me at Arsenal. As soon as I knew he was available I jumped at the chance to bring him back,” he said.

Armstrong shone alongside Graham, nurturing the likes of Ray Parlour and Paul Dickov all the way to senior and international recognition.

A sincere and generous man, he died suddenly in 2000 aged just 56. Fittingly the Club observed a minute’s silence and the players donned black armbands in their next fixture. A Club legend had passed.
Player Profile Name George Armstrong
Born August 9, 1944. Hebburn, Durham.
Position Midfielder
Arsenal Career 1961-1977
Arsenal Appearances 621
Arsenal Goals 68
Honours with Arsenal League Championship 1971
FA Cup 1971
European Fairs Cup 1970 notas_de_prensa_archivo