History of Arsenal FC

Woolwich is the birthplace of Arsenal and the club was formed there in 1886. The club’s founder members were workers at Royal Arsenal and initially named the club “Arsenal” at Dial Square and then renamed it as Royal Arsenals. In 1893, the club was again renamed as Woolwich Arsenal. By 1914, Woolwich was dropped and the club came to be known as Arsenal Football Club.  Arsenal is fondly known by its nick name ‘Gunners’.

Steady and Stable Grounds

While located at the South-east London, the club had made Manor Ground in Plumstead as its home ground for most of the period till 1913 when the moved out to North London. From 1890-93 the players were playing at Invicta Grounds during the renovations and new constructions that took place in Manor Ground.

From 1913 to 2006, Arsenal Stadium, famously known as Highbury was the home ground for Arsenal. In 2006, the team moved on to the newly built and named after its biggest sponsors, ‘The Emirates’ Stadium. This was earlier known as Ashburton Grove.

Success

In total, the club has won 13 First Division and Premier League Titles and 10 FA Cups.

The peak period

1930s was the peak time when the club won 5 League Championship Titles and 2 FA Cups.

Records

• The club has the record of playing for the longest uninterrupted period in the English Top Flight.
• The Club holds the record for completing a Premier League season, unbeaten.
• First team from South England to join the Football League.
• 3^rd most valuable Association Football Club in the world with a worth amounting to $1.2 billion.

Many unusual firsts to their credit

• The club’s match at Highbury in 1927 against Sheffield United was the first English League match to go on air live.
• An exhibition match between the club’s first team and the reserves became the first match in the world to be live telecasted on Television.
• Became the first team to appear on the first edition of BBC’s Match of the Day in which the highlights of its match against Liverpool was screened in 1964.
• The club’s 2010 match against Manchester United has the record of being the first match to be live public telecast of sports on a 3D Television.

Players Records

Record number of appearances – Player David O’Leary (722 appearances) holds the record while in the Golf Keeper’s Category, it is David Seaman (564 appearances)

Thierry Harry holds the record for being the top goalscorer after making 226 goals during 1999-2007.

Youngest first –team player :

League Cup  – Cesc Fabregas (16 years 77 days)

Premier League, Europe & FA Cup– Jack Wilshere (16 years 256 days), (16 years 329 days)  & (17 years 2 days) respectively.

Oldest first –team player :

First Division  – Jock Rutheford (41 years 159 days)

Premier League – Jens Lehmann (41 years 151 days),

Europe – John Lukic (39 years 311 days)

Team debutant – Ronnie Rooke (35 years 7 days)

Clubs Records

Has a record in the English Football for spending the most number of consecutive seasons in the top flight (84)

Total of 49 unbeaten League Matches which is the longest so far.

Interestingly, the club also has the top record of being the team without conceding even a single goal in a total of 10 matches in the 2005-06 season.

Hold the record for the longest stretch (of 995 minutes) without allowing the opponent to score in 10 matches

Wins and Honours

A total of 13 First Division and Premier League (this has put the club in the third position for highest score in English Football).

10 FA Cup (second Highest)

2 League Cup

12 FA Community Shields

1 European Cup Winner’s Cup

Service to Community

Till 1992, the club was supporting various charitable causes after which it formed its own trust “The Arsenal Charitable Trust” and has raised a record amount of charity for Great Ormond Street Hospital Children’s, charity that went well beyond the set target amount.