From west to north London: The Arsenal and Chelsea connections

This article does not include anyone currently playing for either side and to feature in the list, they must have competitive minutes for both clubs' senior teams.

Petr Cech

Cech is a certified Chelsea legend, having played for the club between 2004 - 2015. He won four Premier Leagues, four FA Cups, three League Cups, and both the Champions League and Europa League.

The Czechia international is widely considered to be one of the greatest goalkeepers of his generation and after transferring to Arsenal in 2015, he became a fans' favourite at the Emirates too during his final four seasons as a player, whilst also adding an FA Cup to his collection.

Cech returned to the Bridge in 2019 and for three years worked as our technical and performance advisor, providing guidance and support on all football matters throughout the club

David Luiz

The Brazilian defender enjoyed two stints in SW6, from 2011 to 2014 and then again from 2016 to 2019.

The charismatic and ball-playing centre-back was a hit both on the pitch and off it at the Blues, winning the Champions League, two Europa Leagues, the Premier League and two FA Cups trophies.

Luiz joined Arsenal in 2019 and played in north London for two seasons, where he also added another FA Cup medal to his trophy cabinet.

William Gallas

Gallas proved to be an excellent bit of business for Chelsea as the young defender would go on to become an integral part of the Blues side which won two Premier Leagues and a League Cup during his five years at the Bridge.

Quick, strong, defensively sound and good on the ball, Gallas' quality meant he forged impressive partnerships with Marcel Desailly and John Terry when used in his preferred position of centre-back. But his outstanding versatility meant he was equally adept at playing right-back or left-back, where he spent much of his time during our 2004/05 title win.

Gallas was part of the deal which brought Ashley Cole to Stamford Bridge and the France international would play regularly for the Gunners during his four years at the club, before making the move to North London rivals Tottenham.

Ashley Cole

The legendary left-back began his career with Arsenal in 1999 and remained at the Emirates until 2006, winning three FA Cups and two Premier League titles in that time.

Cole's standing as one of - and in some fans' eyes the - best left back in English football history grew even further at Chelsea.

Good in defence and attack, with the speed to handle any winger, Cole won the Champions League, Europa League, Premier League, four FA Cups and the League Cup during his time at Stamford Bridge.

The fact only five clubs have won more FA Cups than Cole's seven in the competition's 150-plus-year history says a lot about his quality and he is rightly revered as one of the greatest left-backs of all time.

Lassana Diarra

The holding midfielder first made his mark in professional football at Le Havre before signing for Chelsea in 2005.

The France international spent two seasons at the Bridge, winning both domestic cups in that time.

He then moved to Arsenal for a season before winning another FA Cup at Portsmouth and having even more success at Real Madrid and several other clubs.

Emmanuel Petit

Petit joined Arsenal from French side Monaco in 1997 and spent three seasons at the club, winning the Premier League and FA Cup with the Gunners while also lifting the World Cup and European Championship with France.

After spending the next season at Barcelona, the Frenchman returned to the English capital in 2001 to join the Blues.

Petit spend three years at the Bridge but unfortunately had to retire through knee injury six months after leaving the Blues.

David Rocastle

A true Arsenal legend, Rocastle was an integral part of the Gunners team which won the First Division - now the Premier League - title in 1989 and 1991.

After spells at high-flying Leeds United and then Manchester City, former Blues manager Glenn Hoddle brought 'Rocky' to Stamford Bridge in 1994 and the midfielder was still able to make an impact during his initial couple of years at the club, despite having to manage knee injuries.

Rocastle sadly passed away at the age of just 33 in 2001 due to non-Hodgkin lymphoma but his infectious personality, quality on the pitch and outstanding 'one-for-all' mentality means his name is still sung from the Emirates Stands even to this day.

Cesc Fabregas

Little was known about Fabregas when he moved to Arsenal as a teenager but he would become one of the best centre midfielders of the Premier League era and a serial winner.

Fabregas may have only lifted one FA Cup during his eight years at Arsenal but he was a key part of the Gunners team which reached the Champions League final and his talent took him back to Barcelona, where he enjoyed a trophy-laden three years.

A switch to Chelsea in 2014 saw the trophies keep coming as he played a big part in us winning two Premier Leagues, one FA Cup and a League Cup before departing for Monaco five years later.

Yossi Benayoun

Benayoun joined Chelsea in 2010 after successful spells at the likes of West Ham United and Liverpool.

The attacking midfielder struggled to cement a regular spot at Chelsea during his three years at the club but still managed to claim a Europa League winner's' medal in 2013.

Although he spent longer at the Bridge, Benayoun actually played more games for Arsenal during his one-season loan at the Gunners in the 2011/12 campaign.

Willian

Willian enjoyed a hugely influential seven years at Chelsea between 2013 and 2020, lifting the Europa League, two Premier Leagues, one FA Cup and one League Cup while at the Bridge.

The manner of his arrival at Chelsea, not to mention his performances while in Blue, mean his name is still sung in the stands at Stamford Bridge.

Willian spent a season at Arsenal following his departure from Chelsea and after a year back in his native Brazil, returned to the Premier League and West London for two successful seasons with Fulham before joining Olympiacos in the summer.

Nicolas Anelka

The striker burst on to the Premier League scene following his move to Arsenal whilst still 17 years old and quickly established himself as one of the most exciting talents in Europe.

After helping the Gunners to the league and cup double in 1998 and claiming the Premier League's Golden Boot the following season, he made a big-money move to Real Madrid and re-joined Paris Saint-Germain before returning to the Premier League with a loan to Liverpool in 2001.

Further spells at English sides and in Turkey were to follow before Anelka joined Chelsea in January 2008, and helped the Blues reach the Champions League final later that season.

An FA Cup winner's medal arrived the next season, when he was included in the Premier League Team of the Year, before Anelka played a big part in us winning the Premier League and FA Cup double in 2010.

Olivier Giroud

Giroud joined Arsenal in 2012 from Montpellier under Arsene Wenger and spent six years in north London, winning three FA Cups in that time.

A switch to Chelsea in January 2018 was quickly followed by the striker winning another FA Cup with the Blues and him playing a huge role in France lifting the World Cup that summer.

Giroud would then go on to claim the Golden Boot as Chelsea won the Europa League in 2019 and he scored six goals in eight games on our way to winning the Champions League two years later.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang

Aubameyang had already established himself as one of European football's top marksmen by the time he arrived in London and that status was just reinforced during his years in the capital.

The Gabon international scored 92 goals in 163 games during his four years at Arsenal, which included claiming the Premier League golden boot in the 2018/19 season and he was named the club's Player of the Year the following campaign, when his 29 goals included braces against Manchester City and Chelsea in the FA Cup semi-final and final respectively.

A seven-month stint at Barcelona, where he picked up a La Liga's winner's medal, came to an end when he joined Chelsea in September 2022.

The forward would score three goals in 23 outings in his season at the Blues before heading off for a successful spell with Marseille.