He is best known for his role alongside Tony Adams, Steve Bould, Martin Keown and Lee Dixon, forming the defensive line for Arsenal in the Premier League and European football during the 1990s.

[4] Winterburn began his Arsenal career at right-back, an emergency measure employed by Graham after he had been unsuccessful in finding a replacement for Viv Anderson.

First, he was seen to openly goad Brian McClair after the Manchester United striker had missed a late penalty in an FA Cup tie on 20 February 1988 at Highbury.

He struck powerfully towards to the bottom right-hand corner as he viewed it, but Luton goalkeeper Andy Dibble guessed correctly and pushed the ball round the post.

He and fellow full back Lee Dixon flanked two superb central defenders in captain Tony Adams and veteran David O'Leary, joined during the 1989 season by Steve Bould.

Winterburn's free kick set up a first for Alan Smith shortly after half-time, but the second looked as though it would elude them until Thomas scored in injury time.

In the penultimate game, a 2–2 draw at home to Wimbledon on 17 May 1989, Winterburn scored what some consider the finest goal of his career, driving the ball diagonally into the far, top corner from 25 yards with his little-used right foot.

[8] Though many media outlets and Winterburn's own club manager regularly extolled his virtues as an England left back, the national coach, Bobby Robson, had him as no higher than third in the pecking order.

During the league campaign in September 1997, as against Wimbledon in 1989, Winterburn once again scored a vital goal, driving the ball from over 25 yards diagonally into the far, top corner, this time with his favoured left foot.

In 1999–2000, Arsenal again failed to progress beyond the group stages of the Champions League, and therefore entered the UEFA Cup at the third round, where they were drawn against Nantes.

[11] Arsenal went on to reach the UEFA Cup final but Winterburn had been forced out of the team by the Brazilian Sylvinho, although he in turn was displaced by the fledgling Ashley Cole within another 12 months.

Winterburn joined West Ham United in June 2000 for a fee of £250,000 after making 429 league appearances and scoring eight goals for Arsenal.

New manager Sam Allardyce stated, "I spoke to Nigel Winterburn today to say that, from my point of view, in terms of specialist defensive coaching, I think I can look after that area myself now.