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Arsenal Football Club

History of Arsenal FC

In 1886 Woolwich armaments factory workers formed a football team which was originally known as Dial Square but soon after renamed as Royal Arsenal. When the club turned professional in 1891 the name was changed again, this time to Woolwich Arsenal, although before long this was shortened to Arsenal. A reference to the club’s origins still remains in their nickname, the Gunners. For a period, the club was referred to as The Arsenal by fans, but this was never official.

Arsenal FC were elected to the 2^nd division of the Football League in 1893, and promoted to the 1^st division in 1904. The Gunners reached the FA Cup semi final in 1906, but were relegated back to division two in 1913. In the same year, enigmatic chairman Sir Henry Norris relocated the club to the Arsenal Stadium at Highbury, seeing greater potential in the North London catchment area.

Arsenal FC were promoted to the 1^st division once more in 1919 and have not been relegated since. The Gunners hold the record for the longest unbroken run in the top division of English football.

Herbert Chapman was appointed manager of Arsenal in 1925, and transformed the side into one of the great names in the football World. The Gunners’ first trophy came in 1930 when they won the FA Cup.

Manager Tom Whittaker built another great team after Word War Two, winning two more league titles and one FA Cup over a five year period. Following Whittaker’s death in 1956 Arsenal Football Club experienced a barren run of 14 years until new manager Bertie Mee, an inexperienced former club physiotherapist, led the club to the 1968 league cup final. Arsenal’s first European success followed with a Fairs Cup victory two years later, and a domestic double of league and FA Cup in 1971.

Arsenal’s next period of success came following the appointment of George Graham in 1986. The Gunners enjoyed two league titles, an FA Cup win and a league cup win, but Graham was sacked in 1995 following the Rune Hauge bung affair.

Frenchman Arsene Wenger took the helm in 1996 and has maintained Arsenal’s steady run of success securing the club’s second and third domestic doubles in 1998 and 2002, further FA Cup wins in 2003 and 2005 and another Premier League title in 2004. Going into the 2005 season Arsenal FC have dropped their familiar red shirts with white sleeves; The new Arsenal shirt is maroon for home games, as they seek to banish their Champions League curse and progress beyond the quarter finals for the first time.

Arsenal FC - Trophies and Honours

First Division / Premier League: 1931 1933 1934 1935 1938 1948 1953 1971 1989 1991 1998 2002 2004

FA Cup: 1930 1936 1950 1971 1979 1993 1998 2002 2003 2005

League Cup: 1987 1993

Inter Cities Fairs Cup: 1970

European Cup Winners' Cup: 1994

Betting on Arsenal FC

If you are thinking of placing a bet on Arsenal to win a match or championship, visit our Football Betting Guide for more information. You can also look at our Events section for information about selected forthcoming Arsenal matches.

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