Arsenal F.C. facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Arsenal

Full name	The Arsenal Football Club
Nickname(s)	The Gunners Gooners (supporters)
Founded	October 1886; 139 years ago (1886-10), as Dial Square
Ground	Emirates Stadium
Ground Capacity	60,704
Owner	Kroenke Sports & Entertainment
Co-chairmen	Stan Kroenke Josh Kroenke
Manager	Mikel Arteta
League	Premier League
2018–19	Premier League, 5th of 20
Home colours Away colours Third colours

Arsenal Football Club is a famous professional football team. They are based in Islington, North London, England. The team plays in the Premier League, which is the top football league in England.

Arsenal has won many important trophies. They have won 14 league titles, including one season where they didn't lose a single game! They also hold a record with 14 FA Cup wins. The club has won 2 League Cups and 17 FA Community Shields. In European competitions, they won the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup once and the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup once. Arsenal is one of the most successful clubs in English football history.

The club started in 1886. It was founded by workers at the Royal Arsenal in Woolwich. Back then, it was called Dial Square. In 1913, the club moved to Highbury in North London. This move created a big rivalry with nearby Tottenham Hotspur. Their matches are now known as the exciting North London derby.

A legendary manager named Herbert Chapman led Arsenal to its first major trophies in the 1930s. He also introduced white sleeves to the team's red shirts. Later, Arsène Wenger became the longest-serving manager. He won many trophies, including a record seven FA Cups. His team in 2003-2004 went an amazing 49 league games without losing. This earned them the nickname "The Invincibles".

In 2006, Arsenal moved to their current home, the Emirates Stadium. The club's motto is Victoria Concordia Crescit. This is Latin for "Victory Through Harmony".

The 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 Scotsman named David Danskin and fifteen other workers started a football club. They worked at the Royal Arsenal in Woolwich. They named their club Dial Square. Each person gave a small amount of money to help start the team.

Dial Square played their first game on December 11, 1886. They won 6–0 against Eastern Wanderers. By January 1887, the club changed its name to Royal Arsenal. They played their home games 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 have professional players.

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 team from southern England to join the league. They reached the top division in 1904. However, the club faced money problems by 1910.

Moving to Highbury and Becoming "The Arsenal" (1912–1925)

In 1913, the club moved to a new stadium in Highbury, North London. This new home was called Arsenal Stadium. In 1919, the Football League made a big decision. They voted to promote Arsenal to the First Division. This happened even though Arsenal had finished fifth in the Second Division.

Later that year, the club officially started using just "Arsenal" as its name. With a new stadium and top-division football, more fans came to games. Arsenal's finances grew quickly. They became known for spending a lot on new players.

Herbert Chapman's Golden Era (1925–1934)

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

In 1925, Herbert Chapman became Arsenal's manager. He was a very successful manager from Huddersfield Town. Chapman brought many new ideas to the club. He introduced a new playing style called the WM formation. He also signed talented young players like Cliff Bastin and Alex James.

Under Chapman, Arsenal won their first national trophy, the FA Cup, in 1930. They also won league titles in 1931 and 1933. Chapman made changes off the pitch too. He added white sleeves and shirt numbers to the kit. He also helped get a Tube station named after the club. Sadly, Chapman passed away in 1934.

Success During Wartime and Beyond (1934–1962)

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

World War II stopped league football for seven years. Arsenal played a role in supporting the war effort. Many of their players served, and some sadly lost their lives. After the war, Arsenal quickly found success again. Under manager Tom Whittaker, they won the league in 1948. They also won the FA Cup in 1950 and another league title in 1953. At this time, Arsenal was the most successful team in English history.

Challenges and a New Double (1962–1984)

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

After 1953, Arsenal went 18 years without winning the league or FA Cup. The team struggled to find new star players. They often finished in the middle of the league table. Even former England captain Billy Wright couldn't bring success as manager.

In 1966, Bertie Mee, the club's physiotherapist, became manager. With new players and assistant Don Howe, Mee led Arsenal to their first European trophy. They won the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup in 1970. The next season, in 1971, Arsenal achieved their first "Double". They won both the League and the FA Cup!

Former player Terry Neill took over as manager in 1976. He was the youngest Arsenal manager ever at 34. Under Neill, Arsenal reached three FA Cup finals in a row. They won the FA Cup in 1979 with a thrilling 3–2 victory over Manchester United.

George Graham's Defensive Success (1984–1996)

Tony Adams statue outside the Emirates Stadium

George Graham, a player from the 1971 Double-winning team, became manager in 1986. In his first season, Arsenal won the League Cup in 1987. Graham built a strong defense, including the famous "Back Four" led by Tony Adams.

His team won the Football League Centenary Trophy in 1988. Then, in 1989, they dramatically won the league title. They scored a last-minute goal against Liverpool in the final game. Graham's Arsenal won another league title in 1991, losing only one match. They also won the FA Cup and League Cup "Double" in 1993. In 1994, they won the European Cup Winners' Cup. Graham left the club in 1995.

The Arsène Wenger Era: The Invincibles (1996–2018)

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

French manager Arsène Wenger joined Arsenal in October 1996. He changed the club with attacking football and better training methods. He brought in key players like Patrick Vieira and Thierry Henry. Arsenal won two more League and Cup "Doubles" in 1998 and 2002.

They also won the FA Cup in 2003 and 2005. In the 2003–04 season, Arsenal achieved something incredible. They won the Premier League without losing a single match! This amazing feat earned them the nickname "The Invincibles". They went 49 league games unbeaten, a national record.

Arsenal consistently finished in the top two of the league for many years. In 2006, they reached the UEFA Champions League final for the first time. They were the first London club to do so, but lost to Barcelona. In July 2006, the club moved to the new Emirates Stadium. Wenger continued to manage Arsenal until May 2018. He won a record seven FA Cups during his time.

Arsenal's Recent Journey (2018–Present)

After Arsène Wenger, Unai Emery became the new head coach in May 2018. In his first season, Arsenal finished fifth in the Premier League. They also reached the UEFA Europa League final. Emery left the club in November 2019.

Former club captain Mikel Arteta was appointed head coach in December 2019. In the 2019–20 season, Arsenal won their 14th FA Cup, beating Chelsea 2–1. This extended their record for most FA Cup wins. In the 2020–21 season, Arsenal did not qualify for a European competition. This was the first time in 26 years.

Arteta built a young and exciting team. In the 2022–23 season, Arsenal finished second in the Premier League. This earned them a return to the UEFA Champions League. In the 2023–24 season, they won their 17th FA Community Shield. They also finished second in the Premier League again.

On May 19, 2026, Arsenal secured their 14th league title. This was their first Premier League title since the 2003–04 "Invincibles" season. It was a huge achievement for manager Mikel Arteta and the team.

Arsenal's Crest and What It Means

Arsenal's club crest has changed several times over the years. It always features a cannon, which is why the team is called "The Gunners".

The first crest in 1888 showed three cannons. These looked like the cannons on the coat of arms of Woolwich. After moving to Highbury, a single cannon became the main symbol. It pointed eastwards, and the club's nickname, The Gunners, was written next to it.

In 1949, a new crest was introduced. It had the cannon, the club's name, and the motto Victoria Concordia Crescit. This Latin phrase means "victory comes from harmony". This crest was the first to use colours like red, gold, and green.

In 2002, Arsenal introduced a more modern crest. It had simpler, curved lines. The cannon now faces east again. The club's name is written in a clear, modern style. Dark blue replaced green in the colours. Some fans felt this new design ignored some of Arsenal's history.

For the 2011–12 season, Arsenal celebrated its 125th anniversary. They wore a special version of the crest on their jerseys. It was all white and surrounded by oak and laurel leaves. The oak leaves represented the 15 founding members of the club. The laurel leaves symbolized strength.

Since the 2021–22 season, the cannon-only crest has appeared on some of Arsenal's kits. For the 2024–25 season, this cannon-only crest was used on all three kits.

Team Colours: The Famous Red and White

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.

Arsenal's home colours are bright red shirts with white sleeves and white shorts. This famous look has a special history. In 1886, when the club started, two former Nottingham Forest players helped. They asked their old club for help finding a kit. Nottingham Forest kindly sent them a set of dark red shirts and a ball.

In 1933, manager Herbert Chapman updated the kit. He added white sleeves and made the red a brighter shade. This new design became iconic for Arsenal. The team has worn red and white ever since, with only a couple of exceptions.

Arsenal's home colours have even inspired other clubs around the world. For example, Sparta Prague and Sporting Clube de Braga adopted similar red kits.

For many years, Arsenal's away colours were white or navy blue. In 1969, they introduced a yellow shirt with blue shorts. This kit became almost as famous as their red and white home kit. It was worn when Arsenal won their first Double in 1971.

Since the 1990s, Arsenal's away and third kits have changed often. They have featured various shades of blue or yellow. Today, Adidas makes Arsenal's kits.

Arsenal's Stadiums: From Manor Ground to Emirates

Manor Ground, Woolwich Arsenal vs. Everton

Before joining the Football League, Arsenal played at the Manor Ground in Plumstead. They played there for about twenty years.

From 1913 to 2006, Arsenal's home was Arsenal Stadium, known as Highbury. This stadium was designed by a famous architect, Archibald Leitch. In the 1930s, Highbury was greatly improved. New stands were built, and a roof was added to one terrace.

Highbury could hold over 60,000 fans at its busiest. Later, rules changed, and it became an all-seater stadium. This reduced the capacity to about 38,000. Because of limited space, Arsenal sometimes played big European matches at Wembley.

The North Bank Stand, Arsenal Stadium, Highbury

In 2006, Arsenal moved to their new home, the Emirates Stadium. It is located very close to Highbury. The Emirates Stadium can hold 60,704 spectators. It was named after its sponsor, the airline company Emirates. The club's training ground is the Shenley Training Centre in Hertfordshire.

Arsenal Supporters and Their Rivals

Arsenal supporters

Arsenal fans are known as "Gooners". This nickname comes from the club's own nickname, "The Gunners". Almost all home matches at the Emirates Stadium sell out. Arsenal has one of the highest average attendances in English football.

Arsenal has fans from all walks of life and from all over the world. Many supporters' clubs exist both in London and internationally. The club's social media presence is also very strong.

Famous Chants and Songs

The team's anthem is "The Angel (North London Forever)" by Louis Dunford. This song is usually played before home matches.

Arsenal supporters also sing many other chants. Some popular ones include "One-Nil to the Arsenal" and "Who's that team they call the Arsenal". They also sing "Good Old Arsenal". Sometimes, fans even jokingly chant "Boring, Boring Arsenal". This refers to the team's defensive style in past decades.

Big Rivalries

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

Arsenal has a long-standing and strong rivalry with their closest neighbours, Tottenham Hotspur. Matches between these two teams are called the exciting North London derby.

There is also a rivalry between Arsenal and Chelsea. In the late 1980s and early 2000s, Arsenal also had a big rivalry with Manchester United. This was when both clubs were often competing for the Premier League title.

Gunnersaurus Rex: Arsenal's Mascot

Arsenal's friendly mascot is Gunnersaurus Rex. He is a tall, green dinosaur with a big smile. Gunnersaurus first appeared at a home match in August 1994. His design came from a drawing by an 11-year-old fan named Peter Lovell.

The story is that Gunnersaurus hatched from an egg found during renovations at Highbury. The same person, Jerry Quy, was inside the suit for many years. In 2020, there was a time when his role was uncertain due to cost cuts. However, many fans and even player Mesut Özil supported him. Gunnersaurus returned to cheer on the team when fans were allowed back in the stadium.

Who Owns Arsenal?

The main owner of Arsenal is an American sports businessman named Stan Kroenke. He started buying shares in the club in 2007. By 2011, he became the majority owner. In 2018, he bought out all other major shareholders. This made him 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. They are traded less often on a special market. In 2018, Forbes magazine estimated Arsenal's value at over $2.2 billion. This made it one of the most valuable football clubs in the world.

Arsenal in the Community

Arsenal is very active in helping the community. In 1985, they started "Arsenal in the Community". This program offers sports, education, and charity projects. The club also created The Arsenal Charitable Trust in 1992. This trust has raised millions of pounds for local causes.

In 2008, Arsenal launched "Arsenal for Everyone". This celebrates the diversity of the Arsenal family. In 2022, Arsenal and Adidas started the "No More Red" campaign. This campaign helps protect young people from crime and youth violence. They even released an all-white kit to promote this important cause.

Arsenal has partnered with Save the Children since 2011. They work together to improve the safety and well-being of children. The Arsenal Foundation has also donated money to build football pitches for children around the world.

Meet the Arsenal Players and Staff

First-Team Squad

No. Position Player 1 GK David Raya 2 DF William Saliba 3 DF Cristhian Mosquera 4 DF Ben White 5 DF Piero Hincapié (on loan from Bayer Leverkusen) 6 DF Gabriel Magalhães 7 FW Bukayo Saka 8 MF Martin Ødegaard (captain) 9 FW Gabriel Jesus 10 MF Eberechi Eze 11 FW Gabriel Martinelli 12 DF Jurriën Timber

No. Position Player 13 GK Kepa Arrizabalaga 14 FW Viktor Gyökeres 16 MF Christian Nørgaard 19 FW Leandro Trossard 20 FW Noni Madueke 23 MF Mikel Merino 29 FW Kai Havertz 33 DF Riccardo Calafiori 35 GK Tommy Setford 36 MF Martín Zubimendi 41 MF Declan Rice 49 DF Myles Lewis-Skelly

Club Management

Having served as Arsenal's club captain during his playing career, Arteta was appointed as manager in December 2019.

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

• Manager: Mikel Arteta
• Assistant Manager: Albert Stuivenberg
• Academy Manager: Per Mertesacker
• Co-chairmen: Stan Kroenke and Josh Kroenke

Arsenal's Amazing Records and Statistics

Arsenal has achieved many impressive records in football. Their 14 league titles are the third highest in English football history. They also hold the record for the most FA Cup trophies, with 14 wins.

The club has won the League and FA Cup "Double" three times (in 1971, 1998, and 2002). 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.

Arsenal has been in the top division for more consecutive seasons than any other club (98 seasons as of 2023–24). They also hold the record for the longest unbeaten run in the league. This was 49 matches between May 2003 and October 2004. This included their entire 2003–04 title-winning season, where they were "The Invincibles".

David O'Leary holds the record for most appearances for Arsenal, playing 722 games. Thierry Henry is the club's all-time top goalscorer with 228 goals. Declan Rice is Arsenal's record signing, joining for £100 million in July 2023.

The highest attendance for an Arsenal match was 73,707. This was for a Champions League game against Lens at Wembley in 1998. At their current home, the Emirates Stadium, the record attendance is 60,161.

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

Arsenal's Trophies and Honours

Arsenal has won many trophies throughout its history. Their first national trophy was the FA Cup in 1930. The club has won the league and cup "Double" three times. The 2003–04 season was special because they won the league without losing a single game. A unique gold Premier League trophy was made for this achievement.

•      record
• ^s shared record

Images for kids

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  Arsenal F.C. in 1964 with players as Bob Wilson, Geoffrey Strong, John Snedden, David Bacuzzi, Terry Neill, Fred Clark, John Barnwell, Johnny MacLeod, Edward Magill and George Armstrong.

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  A panorama of the Emirates Stadium before a match

See also

In Spanish: Arsenal Football Club para niños