Though perhaps not as well-regarded as he should be outside of North London, Arsenal legend Ray Parlour was a key player for the Gunners. He played a key role in the transformation of Arsenal in the 1990s, culminating in playing a role in the club becoming main challengers to Manchester United for domestic dominance.
However, only 10 England caps shows a lack of respect for the kind of high-energy, all-aggression midfield player that Parlour was. He was a key player in the late 1990s as Arsenal became a team of consistent winners, with his regular Man of the Match displays in big games endearing the ‘Romford Pele’ to Arsenal fans forever.
What made Ray Parlour so special?
Playing as if he had no talent, Parlour hared around the pitch with an almost reckless zeal. He would fly into challenges, win the ball back, set up his more talented teammates, and score goals from distance on occasion. Across close to 350 league games for Arsenal, as well as games with Middlesbrough and Hull City in his later career, Parlour never lost that desire to keep going until the final minutes of the game.
He was a crucial and impressive midfield presence, with a knack for scoring key goals – such as winners against rivals Chelsea, or a hat-trick in the UEFA Cup against Werder Bremen. Parlour was a talented player who gave absolutely everything, often hiding his own quality to let others shine.
What does Ray Parlour do now?
Today, Parlour tends to spend a lot of time taking part in regular punditry sessions and also takes part in many Arsenal fan events. Though he is often seen taking part in Arsenal-based commentary and punditry, he appears regularly on UK TV platforms such as Sky Sports to talk about his former club.