Club
History
Royal Arsenal line up in 1888
FROM FOUNDATION TO THE FIRST WORLD WAR
Arsenal Football Club began life when a group of workers at the
Woolwich Arsenal Armament Factory decided to form a football team
in late 1886. The Club played under the name of Dial Square. Their
first match was a 6-0 victory over Eastern Wanderers, on December
11, 1886. Soon after, the name Royal Arsenal was adopted and the
Club continued playing in friendlies and local cup competitions for
the next few years.
In 1891 the Club turned professional and changed its name to
Woolwich Arsenal, finally joining the Football League in 1893. The
Gunners moved to their current home at Highbury in 1913, as a
Second Division side. Following the First World War Arsenal were
voted into the newly expanded First Division, where they have
remained ever since.
CHAPMAN AND THE GLORIOUS THIRTIES
Herbert Chapman took over at Arsenal in 1925, and in 1930 he guided
the Gunners to their first ever trophy beating Huddersfield Town
in the FA Cup Final. The following season Arsenal were champions
for the first time. Between 1933 and 1935 the Club won a hattrick
of league titles (which has only been achieved by four teams in the
top flight). Sadly Chapman died in the middle of the run, by which
time he had reached legend status.
George Allison took over and the dominance continued for the rest
of the decade, winning one more FA Cup (1936) and another title
(193
. During this time Arsenal had some of the games
greatest players on its books: Alex James, Ted Drake, Cliff Bastin,
David Jack, Eddie Hapgood and George Male were just some of the
names in what was one of the greatest sides ever to play in the
Football League.
POST-WAR TO THE FIRST DOUBLE
The Second World War stopped Arsenal in their tracks but Tom
Whittaker became manager and more success followed. Arsenal were
Champions in 1947/48 and 1952/53; FA Cup winners in 1950 and
runners-up in 1952. The 60s provided little in the way of
silverware at Highbury, with two losing appearances in the League
Cup Final in 1968 and 1969 being the closest thing to success.
Bertie Mee had taken over in the mid-Sixties and Arsenal lifted
their first ever European trophy in 1969/70, beating Anderlecht 4-3
over the two legged Fairs Cup Final.
Better was to follow the following season. An Arsenal side
containing the likes of Charlie George, George Armstrong, Ray
Kennedy and captain Frank McLintock, won the league and FA Cup
double. They clinched the title at White Hart Lane, then beat
Liverpool after extra time at Wembley to win the Cup. The side
returned to Wembley for three consecutive FA Cup Finals under Terry
Neill at the end of the decade winning the second of them, 3-2
against Manchester United. The game became known as the Five
Minute Final. The Gunners also reached the 1980 Cup Winners Cup
Final, with a team that included Graham Rix, Frank Stapleton, Pat
Rice, David OLeary and Liam Brady, but lost on penalties to
Valencia.
GEORGE GRAHAMS HONOURS
In 1986 George Graham, a member of the 1971 double winning team,
took over as manager from Don Howe and more glory days followed. He
led Arsenal to their first ever League Cup triumph in 1986/87,
beating Liverpool 2-1 in the Final. Two years later the Gunners won
the League Championship, with a famous last minute goal from
Michael Thomas clinching the title with a 2-0 win at Anfield.
Another title followed in 1990/91, when the side, including the
famous defensive back four, lost just one league game.
More silverware followed. In 1992/93 Arsenal became the first club
to win both domestic cups in the same season. Sheffield Wednesday
were the beaten side on both occasions. Grahams era of success was
rounded off the following season. A superb run in the European Cup
Winners Cup ended with a memorable 1-0 win over Parma in the Final
in Copenhagen, thanks to Alan Smiths strike. Arsenal failed to
retain the trophy the following season, losing in the 1995 final to
Real Zaragoza. By this time George Graham had left the Club. He was
succeeded by Bruce Rioch, who was in charge for one season, during
which time he signed Dennis Bergkamp.
THE ARSÈNE WENGER ERA
Early in the 1996/97 season Arsène Wenger arrived at Highbury,
becoming the Clubs first ever manager from outside the British
Isles. In 1997/98, Wengers first full season at Highbury, Arsenal
achieved the League and FA Cup double, for the second time in the
Clubs history. Dennis Bergkamp was named Football Writers
Association (FWA) Player of the Year, and PFA Player of the Year. A
tremendous season was rounded off perfectly for French
Internationals Emmanuel Petit and Patrick Vieira as the Gunners
stars played their part in Frances victorious World Cup campaign.
The Club also said goodbye to striking legend Ian Wright, who left
Arsenal as record goalscorer with 185 goals in all
competitions.
In each of the next three seasons Arsenal were runnersup in the
Premier League, and had plenty of involvement in cup competitions.
In 2000 Arsenal lost in the UEFA Cup Final on penalties to
Galatasaray, and the following year lost the first ever FA Cup
Final played at the Millennium Stadium, 2-1 to Liverpool. In 2001
the Gunners also reached the Quarter- Final stages of the UEFA
Champions League for the first time, but lost out on away goals to
Valencia. 2001/02 was to prove another momentous, recordbreaking
season for the Club. Arsenal completed the first leg of their third
double by beating Chelsea 2-0 in the FA Cup Final, and ended the
season with a 13-game winning streak. The 12th Championship was
made secure with a game to spare courtesy of a memorable 1-0 win
over Manchester United at Old Trafford. Arsenal were unbeaten away
from home for the entire league campaign.
The following season Arsenal narrowly missed out on retaining the
title but the Gunners became the first English club in more than 20
years to retain the FA Cup with their 1-0 victory over Southampton
at Cardiff. Thierry Henry was voted player of the season by the PFA
and the Football Writers Association. Season 2003/2004 saw Arsenal
win back the title in unbeatable fashion - managing to go though
the entire league season without a single defeat. Finishing 11
points ahead of second-place Chelsea, Arsenal smashed several
records on the way to their 13th league title win.
Spanish youngster Cesc Fabregas arrived in January and by the end
of the season he had broken the records for the youngest Arsenal
player and goalscorer. The Club, playing some mesmerising attacking
football, were also close to an unprecedented fourth double but
lost in the FA Cup semi-final. The Champions League campaign came
to an end at the quarter-final stage The unbeaten run continued
into the following season, and in August 2004 Arsenal overtook
Nottingham Forests record for the longest all-time unbeaten
sequence in English league football. The tally eventually reached
49 games.
The Gunners made it five trophies in four seasons by winning the FA
Cup following a penalty shoot-out success over Manchester United.
Arsenal skipper Patrick Vieira converted the decisive spot-kick,
and it proved to be his final kick for the Club, as he left after
nine years service to join Juventus shortly afterwards. The
2005/06 campaign will be Arsenals final season at Highbury, the
Clubs home since 1913.
