Arsenal Football Club was founded in 1886, turning professional in 1891. In the early 1990s they got promoted to the First Division (1904). The club had moved to Highbury in 1913 after Sir Henry Norris bought out the club being close to bankruptcy.
The 1930s saw Arsenal get 12 honours. Five first division titles, two FA Cups and five Community Shields. Arsenal started off the ‘1930 era’ with an FA Cup win on the 26th of April, 1930. That day they played a 3-4-3 formation and beat Huddersfield 2-0. More than 90 thousand fans attended the game.
Tom Whittaker took over as Arsenal’s manager in 1947, and won the title in his first season. Three years later, Arsenal beat Liverpool 2-0 to win the FA Cup. Two seasons later Arsenal were close to winning the double – coming close to winning the league and losing in the FA Cup final. A season later Arsenal got their hands on their seventh league title. Arsenal went on to be trophy less for the next 17 years. Tom Whittaker sadly passed away in 1956.
Arsenal appointed Bertie Mee in 1966, who broke the trophy less drought with a 3-1 win over Anderlecht to win Arsenal’s first ever European trophy. A season later they secured their first double, winning the league and FA Cup. The next ten seasons saw Arsenal lose three FA Cup finals. In the 1980s Arsenal won their first ever League cup and also heir 9th league title. The 1988/89 season was one to remember. It looked like Arsenal had thrown away the title. Their last game of the season was against Liverpool which were on the top. Arsenal had to win by two goals, and they were 1-0 up approaching the full time. On the 90th minute Michael Thomas raced to the penalty area and scored the winning goal bringing the 9th League trophy to the club. Two seasons later the Gunners got their 10th league title.
Arsenal made history by becoming the first ever team to win domestic cups in the same season, the league cup and FA Cup in 1993. Arsenal appointed Arsene Wenger 1996, two seasons into his reign he won his first double in 1998 – the Premier League and the FA Cup. Arsene did it again four seasons later, winning Arsenal’s second Premier League trophy and their 8th FA Cup.
In the 2003/04 season Arsenal went the whole season unbeaten, earning the nickname”The Invincibles”. (Another team called by the same nickname were Preston North End. They won 22 games in a row in 1888/89’s season). Arsenal went 49 games unbeaten, a new record, losing finally to Manchester United 2-0.
After Arsenal’s FA Cup win in 2005, they had another trophy drought, which lasted nine years. Arsenal moved to the Emirates in 2006, after 93 years at Highbury. The first game at the Emirates was Bergkamp’s testimonial on July 22, 2006. The Gunners finally ended their trophy drought, beating Hull 3-2. Arsenal needed extra time to finish them off, with Ramsey getting the winner. Hull were 2-0 up in just eight minutes into the game, and were leading until the 71st minute. It was a great day for Arsenal Football Club as they grabbed their 11th FA Cup trophy.