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#3 Tony Adams (Arsenal)
Another proud alumnus of the blood-and-thunder school of centre-backs. The former captain of Arsenal was a formidable one-man wrecking crew in the air at both ends. He scored an unusually high number of goals for a centreback (32). This was mostly from set-piece situations for the Gunners which made him a nightmare for fellow central defenders.
Like other English centre-backs of his time, Adams was not a good passer of the ball. However, he was one of the very best defenders in the league when it came to making immaculately timed tackles and reading the game.
He was most notable for his fierceness. The bigger stronger and tougher the opponent, the more Adams seemed to relish the battle. His mental and physical resilience was a strong factor in the two Premier League title wins under Arsene Wenger (1998 & 2002).
He was a brilliant leader and was the focal point of an Arsenal defence that has been one of the best in the history of the Premier League.
