The History of Arsenal: The Story of the Gunners

Aug 12, 2010
Steve Rogerson

Arsenal moved to the Emirates stadium in 2006 - Photo by Steve Rogerson

Arsenal have gone from a factory armaments team in south London to one of the world's top football clubs. This article traces the history of the Gunners.

There has always been a certain rivalry between those who live south of the River Thames in London and those who live north of the river. So in 1913 when a football club known as Woolwich Arsenal and based south of the river upped sticks, changed its name to just Arsenal and moved to Highbury in north London, it was a bit of a shock for its supporters and one that amazingly still haunts its fans today. Regular pub quiz goers in the capital will almost certainly have heard at least once the question: Which is the only south London club playing north of the river?

What this shows is that despite having now played in north London for nearly 100 years, they are still regarded as a south London club playing in foreign territory.

The Birth of Arsenal

Woolwich Arsenal though was not the club’s first name. When workers at the Woolwich Arsenal Armament Factory first formed the football team in 1886, they were called Dial Square, changing it shortly afterwards to Royal Arsenal. It was not until 1891 when the club turned professional that it became Woolwich Arsenal.

In 1893, the club joined the Football League, initially in the second division and were promoted to the first division in 1904. In 1910, they were in serious financial trouble and were bought out by Sir Henry Norris, who moved the team in 1913 to Highbury after they were relegated back to the second division.

After the First World War the club joined the expanded first division (now known as the Premiership) and have been there ever since. This was controversial as the league chose to promote Arsenal, who finished sixth, instead of clubs who finished higher than them and instead of another north London club – Tottenham Hotspur – who had been in the first division but were relegated. Arsenal and Spurs have had a strong rivalry ever since.

Herbert Chapman and Arsenal’s Glorious 1930s

The club pottered along in the first division, normally near the bottom, until 1925 when Herbert Chapman was appointed as manager. His success was not immediate, but in those days managers tended to be given more time. It took him until 1930 to bring the first major trophy to the club when they won the FA Cup final against Huddersfield Town, Chapman’s old club. The following season, they won the league, and again in 1933.

This was also the year that Chapman switched the club’s strip to red with white sleeves and managed to get the name of the local tube station changed from Gillespie Road to Arsenal. Arsenal are the only team ever to have a tube station named after them.

Chapman’s reign came to a sudden end early in 1934 when he died from pneumonia. The club still won the league that year under caretaker manager Joe Shaw before George Allison took over the managerial role. He took them to their third league title in as many years the following season.

The club added another FA Cup win in 1936 and a fifth league title in 1938 to end a remarkable decade in Arsenal’s history.

Arsenal’s Post-War Years

When football resumed in England after the Second World War, Arsenal won the league title again in 1948 and 1953 sandwiching an FA Cup win in 1950. There was then a long trophy-less wait until 1970, now under the management of Bertie Mee, when they won the European Fairs Cup and the following year the league and cup double; sealing the league title away to Spurs made the win even sweeter.

Their next victory was the FA Cup in 1979 when they beat Manchester United in the final. They lost the cup final the previous year and were to lose it again the following year as well as losing the European Cup Winners Cup final to Valencia on penalties.

The George Graham Era

In 1986, former player George Graham took over as manager and the following year collected his first trophy as manager – the League Cup. It took him another two years to win the league and he followed it with a second league win in 1991.

In 1993, the success continued with a League Cup and FA Cup double, beating Sheffield Wednesday in both finals. This was followed in 1994 with Arsenal winning the European Cup Winners Cup. They reached the final again the following year, but lost and George Graham had already left the club in controversial circumstances; he was sacked following a row over illegal payments.

Arsène Wenger Takes Charge at Arsenal

Arsène Wenger took over as manager in September 1996 and after a year of building took the team to a league and cup double in 1998. They then finished second in the league for three years running and lost in the UEFA Cup Final in 2000.

In 2002, the double again came to Arsenal, beating Chelsea in the FA Cup final and clinching the league with a 1-0 win over Manchester United at Old Trafford on the final day of the season. Another FA Cup win followed in 2003 and in 2004 they won the league in literally unbeatable fashion; they never lost a single league game all season. In 2005 they added another FA Cup win.

The 2005/06 season was the club’s last at Highbury and was trophyless though they did reach the Champions League final for the first time, losing to Barcelona.

The following season was the first at the new Emirates Stadium where they still play today. So far the move has not been successful in football terms as the Gunners have yet to lift a trophy since arriving at their new home.