Arsenal F.C.

Arsenal Football Club (also known as Arsenal, The Arsenal or The Gunners) are a football club based in north London. They play in the FA Premier League and are one of the most successful clubs in English football. Arsenal have won 13 First Division and Premier League titles (only Liverpool and Manchester United have won more), and 10 FA Cups (second only to Manchester United), although the team has yet to achieve similar success in the UEFA Champions League.

History

{{main|History of Arsenal F.C.}}

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Arsenal were founded as Dial Square in 1886 by workers at the Royal Arsenal in Woolwich, but were renamed to Royal Arsenal shortly afterwards, and then Woolwich Arsenal after turning professional in 1891. The club was then known by fans as the Woolwich Reds, although it played its games in nearby Plumstead. Woolwich Arsenal entered the Football League in 1893, the first southern team to do so.

Related Topics:
1886 - Royal Arsenal - Woolwich - 1891 - Plumstead - The Football League - 1893

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The club started out in the Second Division, but despite promotion to the First Division in 1904 the club suffered from ongoing financial problems, not least because of their geographic isolation. With attendances low, Arsenal decided to move across the Thames to the new Arsenal Stadium in Highbury, north London in 1913. The "Woolwich" was dropped from the club's name the following year. By then, Arsenal had been relegated to the Second Division, but despite only finishing fifth, Arsenal were elected to rejoin the First Division in 1919 at the expense of local rivals Tottenham Hotspur, by reportedly dubious means{{ref|henrynorris}}.

Related Topics:
Second Division - First Division - 1904 - Thames - Arsenal Stadium - Highbury - 1913 - 1919 - Tottenham Hotspur

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Arsenal's first period of major success was during the 1930s, and it was largely thanks to manager Herbert Chapman, who joined the club in 1925. Chapman's revolutionary tactics and training, combined with star players such as Alex James and Cliff Bastin, laid the foundations of an Arsenal side that dominated English football in the 30s. Arsenal won the First Division five times and the FA Cup twice, although Chapman didn't live to see all of the club's achievements ? he died suddenly from pneumonia in 1934.

Related Topics:
1930s - Herbert Chapman - 1925 - Alex James - Cliff Bastin - FA Cup - Pneumonia - 1934

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The Second World War brought with it a halt to competitive football, but after hostilities ended, Arsenal won another two titles and an FA Cup. However, by now Arsenal's fortunes had started to wane; unable to attract players of the same calibre as they had in the 30s, the club spent most of the 1950s and 1960s in trophyless mediocrity. Even former England captain Billy Wright could not bring the club any success as manager.

Related Topics:
Second World War - 1950s - 1960s - England - Billy Wright

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The club's second successful period came after the surprise appointment of club physiotherapist Bertie Mee as manager in 1966. After reaching (and losing) two League Cup finals, Arsenal finally picked up some silverware with the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup in 1970 (its first European trophy). This set the stage for an even bigger triumph: the club's first League and FA Cup Double in 1971. However, this glory was brief, and the following decade was characterised by a series of near-misses, Arsenal finishing as First Division runners-up in 1973, losing three FA Cup finals (1972, 1978 and 1980), and the 1980 Cup Winners' Cup final on penalties. The club's only success during this time was an FA Cup win in 1979, in a last-minute 3-2 win over Manchester United that is widely regarded as a classic.

Related Topics:
Physiotherapist - Bertie Mee - 1966 - League Cup - Inter-Cities Fairs Cup - 1970 - Double - 1971 - 1973 - 1972 - 1978 - 1980 - Cup Winners' Cup - Penalties - 1979 - Manchester United

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The return of former player George Graham as manager in 1985 brought with it a third period of glory. Arsenal won the League Cup in 1987 and followed it with a League title win in 1989, won with a goal in the final minute of the final game of the season against fellow title challengers Liverpool. Graham's Arsenal won another title in 1991 (losing only one match), an FA Cup and League Cup Double in 1993, and a second European trophy, the Cup Winners' Cup, in 1994. However, Graham's reputation was tarnished when it was revealed he had taken kickbacks from agent Rune Hauge for signing certain players{{ref|georgegraham}}, and he was sacked in 1995.

Related Topics:
George Graham - 1985 - 1987 - 1989 - Liverpool - 1991 - 1993 - Cup Winners' Cup - 1994 - Rune Hauge - 1995

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The club's present-day success is largely thanks to the appointment of current manager Arsène Wenger in 1996. Wenger brought new tactics, a new training regime and a clutch of talented foreign players, which complemented the existing English talent. Arsenal won a second double in 1998 and a third in 2002. In addition, the club was victorious in the 2003 and 2005 FA Cups, and won a League title undefeated in 2004. Under Wenger, Arsenal have become one of the "big three" clubs in England at the present time (along with Manchester United and Chelsea), finishing either first or second in eight of the nine seasons in which he has been at the helm. However, the club's domestic success has not yet been matched with similar achievements in the Champions League, the quarter-finals being the furthest Arsenal have ever reached.

Related Topics:
Arsène Wenger - 1996 - 1998 - 2002 - 2003 - 2005 - 2004 - Manchester United - Chelsea - Champions League

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