Arsenal icon Charlie Nicholas played alongside some excellent players during his time at Highbury, but some stood out ahead of others.

Nicholas arrived as a highly-rated 21-year-old from Celtic in 1983, and would go on to become a club hero by scoring both goals in a 2-1 victory over Liverpool in the 1987 League Cup final.

The Scotland International played alongside some outstanding Arsenal heroes such as Tony Adams and Michael Thomas, and named defender Kenny Sansom as the best player he featured alongside.

Nicholas was a striker who liked to play as part of the front two, and would play off another centre-forward rather than as a traditional number nine.

In his whole career, he played with some excellent attackers at Celtic, Aberdeen and for Scotland, but he has singled out one Arsenal hero as one who helped him settle into his role.

Charlie Nicholas praises Tony Woodcock for role in Arsenal strike partnership

Speaking on the Football’s Greatest Podcast, Nicholas named Tony Woodcock as the most gifted strike partner he had in his career, and explained how he was vital to his adaptation at Arsenal.

“When I went to Arsenal, I struggled a bit because of the style of play, but Tony Woodcock was probably my best-gifted partner,” he stated.

“Great finisher, great pace, lovely fella also, we got on really well. (Hans) Gillhaus was good at Aberdeen, (Frank) McGarvey was very good for me at Celtic, but Woodcock was probably the pick out out of them for his all-round talent.”

How Tony Woodcock established himself at Arsenal before George Graham era

Woodcock joined Arsenal from FC Koln in 1982 under Terry Neill, and instantly became a hit in front of goal.

He was Arsenal’s top scorer for three consecutive seasons, and is one of very few players to score five in a single game, managing the feat against Aston Villa in 1983-84.

READ MORE: All Arsenal legends in the Premier League Hall of Fame from Henry to Wenger

Woodcock was a key player for Arsenal until he picked up a long-term injury in 1985, and he returned as George Graham replaced interim Steve Burtenshaw, who had replaced Don Howe as manager, and deemed him surplus to requirements.

The Englishman returned to Koln in 1986 after a fruitful spell at Highbury saw him score 68 times in 169 games, and his goalscoring ability was rated highly by his teammates including Nicholas, but he was 30 by the time Graham arrived and instilled his own fresh approach.