Arsenal F.C. facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Arsenal

Full name	The Arsenal Football Club
Nickname(s)	The Gunners Gooners (supporters)
Founded	1 December 1886; 138 years ago (1886-12-01), as Dial Square
Ground	Emirates Stadium
Ground Capacity	60,704
Owner	Kroenke Sports & Entertainment
Co-chairmen	Stan and Josh Kroenke
Manager	Mikel Arteta
League	Premier League
Home colours Away colours Third colours

The Arsenal Football Club, often called simply Arsenal, is a famous professional football club. They are based in Holloway, North London, England. Arsenal plays in the Premier League, which is the top football league in England.

Arsenal has won many important trophies. They have won 13 league titles, including one where they didn't lose a single game! They also hold the record for winning the FA Cup 14 times. Other trophies include two League Cups and 17 FA Community Shields. In Europe, they have won one European Cup Winners' Cup and one Inter-Cities Fairs Cup. This makes them one of the most successful clubs in English football history.

Arsenal was the first club from southern England to join the English Football League in 1893. They reached the top division in 1904. Since 1913, they have only been relegated once, which is the longest streak in the top division. They have also won the second-most top-flight matches in English football history.

History of Arsenal Football Club

Early Days: From Dial Square to Royal Arsenal (1886–1912)

Royal Arsenal squad in 1888. Original captain David Danskin sits on the right of the bench.

In October 1886, a group of 16 munitions workers in Woolwich started a football club. They named it Dial Square Football Club, after a workshop at the Royal Arsenal. Each worker put in a small amount of money to get the club going.

Their first game was on December 11, 1886, against Eastern Wanderers, which they won 6–0. By January 1887, the club was renamed Royal Arsenal. They played their first games at Plumstead Common and later at the Manor Ground. Royal Arsenal won their first trophies, the Kent Senior Cup and London Charity Cup, in 1890. In 1891, they became the first London club to become professional.

In 1893, the club changed its name again to Woolwich Arsenal. They joined the English Football League that same year. Woolwich Arsenal was the first southern club to join the Football League. They started in the Second Division and moved up to the First Division in 1904. However, they faced money problems and low attendance. This led to the club almost going bankrupt by 1910.

Moving to North London (1912–1925)

In 1913, after being relegated back to the Second Division, the club moved. They crossed the river to a new stadium in Highbury, called Arsenal Stadium. This move made them close neighbours with Tottenham Hotspur, creating the famous North London derby.

In 1919, the Football League decided to promote Arsenal to the First Division. This was a bit controversial because Arsenal had only finished fifth in the Second Division. Later that year, the club officially dropped "The" from its name, becoming simply Arsenal. With a new home and top-tier football, more fans came to games. Arsenal quickly became known for spending a lot of money on players.

Herbert Chapman's Golden Era (1925–1934)

A bronze bust of Herbert Chapman stands inside the Emirates Stadium.

In 1925, Herbert Chapman, a successful manager from Huddersfield Town, joined Arsenal. He brought in a new trainer, Tom Whittaker, and helped introduce the WM formation in football. Chapman also signed talented young players like Cliff Bastin and Eddie Hapgood, and stars like David Jack and Alex James.

Chapman's Arsenal won their first national trophy, the FA Cup, in 1930. They then won League Championships in 1931 and 1933. Chapman also made changes off the field. He added white sleeves and shirt numbers to the kit. A Tube station was even named after the club! Sadly, Chapman passed away suddenly in 1934.

Success Continues (1934–1947)

After Chapman's death, his colleagues Joe Shaw and George Allison continued his great work. They led Arsenal to three more league titles in 1934, 1935, and 1938. They also won the FA Cup in 1936.

World War II stopped the Football League for seven years. Arsenal was seen as a symbol of national strength during the war. However, the war greatly affected the team. Many players were killed, and the club faced financial difficulties from stadium repairs.

Tom Whittaker's Triumphs (1947–1962)

Despite the challenges, Arsenal won the league again in 1948, under new manager Tom Whittaker. This made Arsenal equal the record for most English championships. Whittaker was known for building a strong team with limited resources.

They won another FA Cup in 1950. Then, in 1953, they won a record-breaking seventh championship. This made Arsenal the most successful team in English history at that time.

A Period of Change (1962–1984)

Alan Ball (left) and Bertie Mee (who led Arsenal to their first double in 1971), pictured in 1972

Arsenal did not win the League or FA Cup for 18 years after 1953. The team from the 1950s grew older, and the club struggled to find good new players. Arsenal was competitive but spent much of the 1950s and 1960s in the middle of the league table. Even former England captain Billy Wright couldn't bring success as manager.

In 1966, club physiotherapist Bertie Mee became manager. With new players like Bob McNab and George Graham, Mee led Arsenal to their first League Cup finals in 1968 and 1969. In 1970, Arsenal won their first European trophy, the 1969–70 Inter-Cities Fairs Cup. The next season, in 1971, they achieved an even bigger success. They won their first League and FA Cup double, setting a new record for English champions.

After this, the team changed, and Arsenal had several near misses. They were FA Cup runners-up in 1972 and First Division runners-up in 1973. Former player Terry Neill became manager in 1976. He was the youngest Arsenal manager at 34. With new players and young talent, the club reached three FA Cup finals in a row (1978, 1979, and 1980). They also lost the 1980 European Cup Winners' Cup Final on penalties. Their only trophy during this time was the 1979 FA Cup, which they won 3–2 against Manchester United in a very exciting match.

George Graham's Defensive Success (1984–1996)

Tony Adams statue outside the Emirates Stadium

George Graham, one of the players from the 1971 double-winning team, returned as manager in 1986. Arsenal won their first League Cup in 1987, in Graham's first season. New players like Nigel Winterburn, Lee Dixon, and Steve Bould joined the club by 1988. They formed the famous "Back Four" defense, led by homegrown player Tony Adams. Graham focused on strong defense, which was different from the club's usual attacking style.

The team quickly found success. They won the 1988 Football League Centenary Trophy. Then, in 1989, they won the 1988–89 Football League title with a last-minute goal against rivals Liverpool. Graham's Arsenal won another title in 1991, losing only one match all season. They also won the FA Cup and League Cup double in 1993. In 1994, they won the European Cup Winners' Cup. However, Graham's time ended when he was found to have taken money from an agent. He was fired in 1995. His replacement, Bruce Rioch, only stayed for one season.

The Wenger Years (1996–2018)

After completing the only unbeaten Premier League season, a unique gold trophy was commissioned to Arsenal.

The club changed a lot under French manager Arsène Wenger, who joined in 1996. He brought in attacking football, improved player diets and fitness, and managed money wisely. Wenger signed key players like Patrick Vieira and Thierry Henry. Arsenal won another League and Cup double in 1998 and a third in 2002.

They also reached the final of the 1999–2000 UEFA Cup. Arsenal won the FA Cup in 2003 and 2005. In the 2003–04 season, they won the Premier League without losing a single match. This amazing achievement earned them the nickname "The Invincibles". This unbeaten run lasted for 49 league matches, a national record.

Arsenal finished in the top two spots in the league for eight of Wenger's first nine seasons. In 2006, they became the first London club to reach the UEFA Champions League final, but lost to Barcelona. In July 2006, the club moved to the new Emirates Stadium, after 93 years at Highbury.

Arsenal reached the League Cup finals in 2007 and 2011, but lost both. They finally won a trophy again in 2014, beating Hull City in the 2014 FA Cup Final. A year later, they won the FA Cup again. In 2017, they won their 13th FA Cup, becoming the most successful club in the tournament's history. However, in 2017, Arsenal finished fifth in the league, missing out on the Champions League for the first time under Wenger. Arsène Wenger left Arsenal on May 13, 2018, after 21 years.

New Era: Post-Wenger and Arteta (2018–Present)

After Wenger left, Unai Emery became the new head coach in May 2018. In his first season, Arsenal finished fifth in the Premier League and were runners-up in the Europa League. Emery was dismissed in November 2019, and former player Freddie Ljungberg took over temporarily.

On December 20, 2019, former club captain Mikel Arteta was appointed as the new head coach. Arsenal finished eighth in the league in 2020, their lowest finish since 1995. However, they beat Chelsea 2–1 to win their 14th FA Cup, extending their record. Arteta's title was later changed to manager. In 2021, Arsenal did not qualify for a European competition for the first time in 26 years. In the 2022–23 Premier League season, Arsenal finished second to Manchester City, returning to the Champions League. They led the league for most of the season, but a few losses at the end meant they didn't win the title.

Club Crest and Symbols

Alternative versions of the VCC crest

c. 1990–1993

c. 1994–1995

c. 1996–2001

2001–02 season

Arsenal's first crest, from 1888, showed three cannons. These cannons pointed north and looked like the coat of arms of Woolwich. People sometimes thought they were chimneys, but they were definitely cannons. This crest was changed after the club moved to Highbury in 1913.

In 1922, a new crest with a single cannon was used. It pointed east, and the club's nickname, The Gunners, was written next to it. This crest only lasted until 1925, when the cannon was turned to point west and made slimmer.

In 1949, a more modern crest was introduced. It had the club's name, the cannon, and the coat of arms of Islington. Below it was a scroll with the club's Latin motto, Victoria Concordia Crescit. This means "victory comes from harmony." This crest was the first to be in colour, usually red, gold, and green.

Because the crest changed many times, Arsenal couldn't easily protect it legally. So, in 2002, they created a new, simpler crest that could be copyrighted. The cannon on this new crest faces east again. The club's name is written in a modern style, and dark blue replaced green. Some fans didn't like the new design, feeling it ignored some of Arsenal's history.

Before the 1960s, a badge was only worn on the shirt for big matches like FA Cup finals. It was usually a monogram of the club's initials. From 1967, a white cannon was regularly worn on the shirts. This was later replaced by the club crest in the 1990s.

For their 125th anniversary in 2011–12, Arsenal used a special version of their crest. It was all white and surrounded by 15 oak leaves and 15 laurel leaves. The oak leaves represented the 15 founding members who met at the Royal Oak pub. The laurel leaves represented the sixpence coins they paid to start the club. They also symbolize strength. The years 1886 and 2011 were shown, along with the motto "Forward."

Recently, Adidas has brought back the cannon-only crest on away and third kits. Starting in 2024–25, this cannon-only crest will be on all three kits.

Team Colours

Arsenal's original home colours. The team wore a similar kit (but with redcurrant socks) during the 2005–06 season.

White sleeves first appeared on the shirt in 1933.

Yellow shirt with blue trim and blue shorts are Arsenal's traditional away colours.

Since the 1990s, Blue has been prominently used for either the away or third kit.

For most of Arsenal's history, their home kit has been bright red shirts with white sleeves and white shorts. This choice of red came from a gift from Nottingham Forest in 1886. Two of Arsenal's founders were former Forest players. They needed a kit and asked their old club for help. Forest sent them a dark red kit with white shorts and blue and white hooped socks.

In 1933, manager Herbert Chapman wanted the players to stand out more. He updated the kit by adding white sleeves and changing the red to a brighter "pillar box" red. The red-and-white shirts have been Arsenal's main colours ever since. There were two seasons when they didn't wear them. In 1966–67, they wore all-red, which wasn't popular. In 2005–06, they wore a special dark red kit to celebrate their last season at Highbury.

Arsenal's home colours have inspired other clubs. Sparta Prague, Hibernian, Santa Fe, and Sporting Clube de Braga have all adopted similar red and white designs.

For many years, Arsenal's away colours were white or navy blue. In 1969–70, they introduced a yellow shirt with blue shorts. This kit became very famous, especially when they won the double in 1971 wearing it. The yellow and blue strip was often seen as "lucky."

Since the 1990s, with new kit manufacturers like Nike and Adidas, away and third kits change regularly. These kits often use blue or variations of the traditional yellow and blue.

Kit Suppliers and Shirt Sponsors

Stadiums: Arsenal's Homes

Manor Ground, Woolwich Arsenal vs. Everton F.C.

Before joining the Football League, Arsenal played at places like Plumstead Common and the Manor Ground. They also spent three years at the nearby Invicta Ground. When they joined the Football League in 1893, they returned to the Manor Ground. They added stands and terraces to make it a proper stadium. Arsenal played there for 20 years until moving to north London in 1913.

Arsenal Stadium, often called Highbury, was the club's home from 1913 to 2006. It was designed by a famous football architect, Archibald Leitch. The stadium had a covered stand and three open terraces. In the 1930s, Highbury was greatly improved. New stands were built, and a roof was added to the North Bank terrace.

At its biggest, Highbury could hold over 60,000 fans. However, new rules in the 1990s meant it had to become an all-seater stadium. This reduced the capacity to 38,419. For some European matches, the capacity was even lower. Because of this, Arsenal played some Champions League games at Wembley from 1998 to 2000.

The North Bank Stand, Arsenal Stadium, Highbury

Expanding Highbury was difficult because of nearby buildings and a protected stand. This limited how much money the club could make from match days. So, in 2000, Arsenal decided to build a new stadium. This new stadium, the Emirates Stadium, is about 500 meters from Highbury.

Construction finished in July 2006, just in time for the new season. The stadium was named after its sponsor, the airline company Emirates. This was a huge sponsorship deal. Some fans still call it Ashburton Grove or The Grove because they don't like corporate names for stadiums. The Emirates Stadium can hold 60,704 fans.

Arsenal's players train at the Shenley Training Centre in Hertfordshire. This is a special facility built in 1999. Before that, they trained at Highbury. Arsenal's youth teams play their home matches at Shenley. The reserve teams play at Meadow Park. Sometimes, the youth and reserve teams play big games at the Emirates Stadium.

A panorama of the Emirates Stadium before a match

Supporters and Rivalries

Arsenal supporters

Arsenal fans are known as "Gooners." This nickname comes from the club's own nickname, "The Gunners." Almost all home matches are sold out. Arsenal often has one of the highest average attendances in English football. The club's location means its fans come from many different backgrounds.

Like all big English football clubs, Arsenal has many fan clubs. These include the Arsenal Football Supporters' Club and the Arsenal Independent Supporters' Association. The Arsenal Supporters' Trust helps fans have a say in the club's ownership.

Arsenal has many fans outside London and all over the world. In 2007, there were 24 UK, 37 Irish, and 49 other international fan clubs. A 2011 report said Arsenal had about 113 million fans worldwide.

Team Anthem and Songs

The team's anthem is The Angel (North London Forever) by Louis Dunford. This song is usually played at Arsenal home games before a match.

Arsenal fans also sing other popular football chants. These include "One-Nil to the Arsenal" and "Who's that team they call the Arsenal." They also sing "Good Old Arsenal" and "We're the North Bank/Clock End Highbury." Fans sometimes chant "Boring, Boring Arsenal" to joke about the team's defensive style in the past.

Rivalries

Arsenal playing against rivals Tottenham, in a game known as the North London derby, in November 2010

Arsenal's biggest and oldest rivalry is with their close neighbours, Tottenham Hotspur. Matches between these two teams are called the North London derby. Arsenal also has a rivalry with Chelsea. In the late 1980s and early 2000s, Arsenal and Manchester United also developed a strong rivalry as they often competed for the Premier League title.

Club Mascot

Arsenal's mascot is Gunnersaurus Rex. He is a friendly, 7-foot-tall green dinosaur. Gunnersaurus first appeared at a home match in August 1994. His design came from an 11-year-old fan's drawing. His story is that he hatched from an egg found during renovations at Highbury.

The same person, Jerry Quy, has been inside the Gunnersaurus suit for many years. In 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, the club had to make some staff changes. However, fans and player Mesut Özil showed great support for Gunnersaurus. Arsenal later announced that Gunnersaurus would return to entertain fans.

Ownership and Finances

The main owner of Arsenal is American sports businessman Stan Kroenke. He started buying shares in the club in 2007. Over time, he bought more and more shares. In 2018, Kroenke bought out another major shareholder, Alisher Usmanov. This made Kroenke the sole owner of Arsenal.

Arsenal's parent company, Arsenal Holdings plc, is a public company. However, its shares are not traded on big stock exchanges like most companies. They are traded on a special market. In 2017, one share in Arsenal was worth about £18,000. This showed the club's high value.

In 2018, Forbes magazine estimated Arsenal's value at about $2.238 billion. This made them the third most valuable football club in England. Arsenal is also one of the most followed clubs on social media.

In the Community

In 1985, Arsenal started a community program called "Arsenal in the Community." This program offers sports, social, educational, and charity projects. The club supports many charities. In 1992, they created The Arsenal Charitable Trust, which has raised over £2 million for local causes.

In 2008, Arsenal launched "Arsenal for Everyone." This celebrates the diversity of the Arsenal family. In 2010, they raised over £818,000 for the Great Ormond Street Hospital Children's Charity. In 2022, Arsenal and Adidas started the "No More Red" campaign. This campaign helps keep young people safe from knife crime. For this, the club wore an all-white kit that was not sold to the public. It was given to people making a positive difference in the community.

Save the Children has been Arsenal's global charity partner since 2011. They work together to improve safety and well-being for children in London and around the world. The Arsenal Foundation has also donated money to build football pitches for children in different countries. Arsenal has also played charity matches against other big clubs to raise money for good causes.

Players

First-team squad

No. Position Player 2 DF William Saliba 3 DF Kieran Tierney 4 DF Ben White 5 MF Thomas Partey 6 DF Gabriel Magalhães 7 FW Bukayo Saka 8 MF Martin Ødegaard (captain) 9 FW Gabriel Jesus 11 FW Gabriel Martinelli 12 DF Jurriën Timber 15 DF Jakub Kiwior

No. Position Player 17 DF Oleksandr Zinchenko 18 DF Takehiro Tomiyasu 19 FW Leandro Trossard 20 MF Jorginho 22 GK David Raya 23 MF Mikel Merino 29 MF Kai Havertz 30 FW Raheem Sterling (on loan from Chelsea) 32 GK Neto (on loan from Bournemouth) 33 DF Riccardo Calafiori 41 MF Declan Rice

Players Out on Loan

No. Position Player 21 MF Fábio Vieira (at Porto until 30 June 2025) 24 FW Reiss Nelson (at Fulham until 30 June 2025) 27 FW Marquinhos (at Fluminense until 1 January 2025)

No. Position Player 31 GK Karl Hein (at Real Valladolid until 30 June 2025) DF Nuno Tavares (at Lazio until 30 June 2025) MF Albert Sambi Lokonga (at Sevilla until 30 June 2025)

Academy Players

Players who have played at least one first-team match for Arsenal.

No. Position Player 36 GK Tommy Setford 46 FW Ismeal Kabia 47 DF Maldini Kacurri 49 MF Myles Lewis-Skelly

No. Position Player 51 DF Josh Nichols 53 MF Ethan Nwaneri 76 DF Ayden Heaven 92 GK Jack Porter

Academy Players Out on Loan

No. Position Player 64 FW Charles Sagoe Jr (on loan at Shrewsbury Town until 30 June 2025)

Management and Staff

Current Staff

Arteta was Arsenal's club captain during his playing career, he was appointed Arsenal's head coach in December 2019.

Arsène Wenger managed Arsenal from 1996 to 2018, he is the club's longest serving manager.

Arsenal Board Members

Statistics and Club Records

Thierry Henry is Arsenal's record goalscorer, with 228 goals in all competitions.

Arsenal has won 13 League Championships, which is the third highest in English football. Only Manchester United and Liverpool have won more. Arsenal was the first club to win seven and then eight League Championships. They are one of only seven teams to have won the Premier League since it started in 1992.

Arsenal holds the record for the most FA Cup trophies, with 14 wins. They are one of only six clubs to have won the FA Cup two years in a row. Arsenal has achieved the "Double" (winning both the League and FA Cup) three times. They were also the first English team to win both the FA Cup and League Cup in the same season (1993).

In 2006, Arsenal became the first London club to reach the UEFA Champions League final. They lost the final 2–1 to Barcelona. Arsenal has one of the best top-flight records in history. They have been in the top division for 98 consecutive seasons as of 2023–24. This is the longest streak.

Arsenal holds the record for the longest unbeaten run in League matches. They went 49 games without losing between May 2003 and October 2004. This included their entire 2003–04 season, where they won the title without a single loss. They were only the second club to do this in top-flight history. Arsenal also set a Champions League record in 2005–06. They went ten matches without letting an opponent score. This streak lasted for 995 minutes.

David O'Leary has played the most games for Arsenal, with 722 matches between 1975 and 1993. Former captain Tony Adams is second with 669 games. The record for a goalkeeper is held by David Seaman, with 564 appearances.

Thierry Henry is Arsenal's all-time top goalscorer. He scored 228 goals in all competitions between 1999 and 2012. He broke Ian Wright's record in 2005. Henry also holds the club record for goals scored in the League, with 175. Declan Rice is Arsenal's record signing. He joined in July 2023 for an initial £100 million.

Arsenal's record home attendance is 73,707. This was for a Champions League match against Lens in 1998 at Wembley. The record attendance at Highbury was 73,295 in 1935. At the Emirates Stadium, the record is 60,161, set in 2007.

Chart showing Arsenal's league positions since admission to the Football League in 1893

Club Honours and Trophies

Arsenal's first trophy was the Kent Junior Cup in 1890, won by their reserve team. The first team's first trophy was the Kent Senior Cup three weeks later. Their first national senior trophy was the FA Cup in 1930. The club had great success in the 1930s, winning another FA Cup and five Football League First Division titles.

Arsenal won their first League and FA Cup "double" in the 1970–71 season. They repeated this amazing feat in 1997–98 and 2001–02. They also won a cup double of the FA Cup and League Cup in 1992–93. The 2003–04 season was special because they went the entire 38-match league season unbeaten. A special gold Premier League trophy was made for them to celebrate this.

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Other Trophies

Before the FA Cup became the main national competition, Arsenal also played in "County Cups." Their first first-team trophy was a County Cup, the first ever Kent Senior Cup. Arsenal also won several wartime competitions when the main leagues were suspended during the wars.

Arsenal also wins various pre-season and friendly tournaments. These include their own pre-season competition, the Emirates Cup, which started in 2007.

See Also

In Spanish: Arsenal Football Club para niños

Images for kids

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