The life, career and tragic death of Arsenal legend David Rocastle

The 31^st of March 2024 marked 23 years since Arsenal legend David Rocastle lost his battle to non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma, a month after being diagnosed with the disease aged 33.

According to One Football, after his passing, 'The David Rocastle Trust' was set up from 2005 until 2010 to educate young people about the disease.

Rocastle's death was tragic and seen as a big loss in the football community after becoming one of the standout players in one of Arsenal's most successful periods in their history.

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FourFourTwo reports that Milwall rejected Rocastle in the early 1980s, but Arsenal scout Terry Murphy was impressed by his energy and grace on the ball, subsequently signing him to the club's academy in 1983.

After impressing in the academy, Rocastle didn't have to wait long to get his chance in the first team, making his debut at 18 in 1985 and making 26 appearances in his maiden season.

Still only 19, the Arsenal midfielder became the focal point for the Gunners' success in the late 80s, scoring the winning goal in the 1987 League Cup semi-final against rivals Tottenham to set up a League Cup final showdown against Liverpool.

After grabbing the winner in the semi-final, Rocastle helped Arsenal beat Liverpool in the final 2-1. He was included in the PFA Team of the Season and won the Barclays Young Eagle Award, the Arsenal website reports.

Rocastle's first league title came in the historic 1988-89 season, playing every game in the campaign and helping Arsenal end their 18-year league title drought.

One Football reported that Arsenal famously needed to beat title challengers Liverpool by two goals to win the league on the final day, eventually winning 2-0 thanks to Michael Thomas' last-gasp winner.

At the end of his first title-winning season, Rocastle was voted the Best Young Player of the Season in England.

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Unfortunately, due to a severe knee injury and in the season following, Rocastle struggled to rediscover his form for Arsenal, playing 16 games in his second title-winning season in 1991.

In 1992, Rocastle was sold to Leeds United for a then-record club fee of £2 million (€2,3 million; $2,5 million) according to FourFourTwo. He made 277 first-team appearances for Arsenal, scoring 34 goals.

The Arsenal legend's career failed to take off at Leeds and bounced around different clubs in the 1990s, joining Manchester City, Chelsea, and having loan spells at Norwich City and Hull City in 1997. He eventually finished his career in Malaysia with Sabah FC.

According to One Football, Arsène Wenger, who took over at Arsenal four years after Rocastle left, said Rocastle was "a modern player because the revolution of the game has gone onto more technique and more skill."

In February 2001, Rocastle announced that he was suffering from non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, an aggressive form of cancer that attacks the immune system. A month later, he died on the same day Arsenal beat Tottenham 2-0 at Highbury.

According to One Football, Rocastle said: "Whatever happens in life from now on, no one will be able to take away what I achieved." He added: "No one will be able to take away the fact that I played that night at Anfield in 89." RIP to a legend of English football.

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