The History of Arsenal F.C. and other statistics

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Founded

1886

Former names

Dial Square 1886, Royal Arsenal 1886-91, Woolwich Arsenal 1891-1914

Largest attendance

73,295 v Sunderland, Division I, 9th March 1935

Managers

Sam Hollis 1894-97
Tom Mitchell 1897-98
George Elcoat 1898-99
Harry Bradshaw 1899-1904
Phil Kelso 1904-1908
Gearge Morrell 1908-1915
Leslie Knighton 1919-1925
Herbert Chapman 1925-1934
George Allison 1934-1947
Tom Whittaker 1947-1956
Jack Crayston 1956-1958
George Swindin 1958-1962
Billy Wright 1962-1966
Bertie Mee 1966-1976
Terry Neil 1976-1983
Don Howe 1984-1986
George Graham 1986-1995
Bruce Rioch June 95-Aug 96
Arsene Wenger Sep 96-

Record transfer fee paid

�7,500,000 to Internazionale for Dennis Bergkamp June 1995

Record transfer fee received

�5,000,000 for Paul Merson from Middlesbrough, July 1997

Highest scorer for Arsenal

Ian Wright

History

Formed in 1886, Dial Square began playing competitive football in South London. After changing their name to Royal Arsenal and then Woolwich Arsenal, they moved to the present ground, Highbury, in 1913, and changed names again, finally becoming known as Arsenal. Holding the record for unbroken years in the top division having been there since 1919, Arsenal are well known as being one of the biggest and most successful football clubs in the world. The legendary Herbert Chapman brought the glory years to North London during the 1930s when the Gunners won the league championship 5 times and the FA Cup twice and although the 1940s brought more trophies, their finest hour didn't come until 1971 when they became only the fourth team to win the league and FA Cup double. More recently, Arsenal have been very successful, winning 6 trophies in the last 10 years including the unforgettable League Championship win in 1989 when Michael Thomas' last minute goal destroyed the dreams of Liverpool, the European Cup Winners Cup in 1994 and the Double in 1997-1998, after THAT goal from Tony Adams.