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'{{for|an account of the club's history since 1966|History of Arsenal F.C. (1966–present)}} The '''history of Arsenal Football Club between 1886 and 1966''' covers their time from the club's foundation, through the first two major periods of success (the 1930s, and the late 1940s and early 1950s, respectively) and the club's subsequent decline to mid-table status in the 1960s. [[Arsenal F.C.|Arsenal Football Club]] were founded in 1886 as a workers' team from [[Woolwich]], [[South East London]]. They turned professional in 1891 and joined the [[Football League]] two years later. They were promoted to the [[Football League First Division|First Division]] in 1904 but financial problems meant they were close to bankruptcy by 1910. They were bought out by [[Henry Norris|Sir Henry Norris]] that year and to improve the club's financial standing, he moved the team to [[Arsenal Stadium]], [[Highbury]], [[North London]] in 1913. After [[World War I]] he arranged for the club's promotion back to the First Division, in controversial circumstances. It was not until the appointment of [[Herbert Chapman]] that Arsenal had their first period of major success; Chapman modernised and reformed the club's practices and tactics, and under him and his successor [[George Allison]] (who took over after Chapman's death in 1934), Arsenal won five First Division titles and two [[FA Cup]]s in the 1930s. After the [[Second World War]], [[Tom Whittaker (footballer)|Tom Whittaker]] continued the success, leading the club to two First Division titles and an FA Cup. However after Whittaker's death Arsenal's fortunes gradually declined; by 1966, they were in mid-table obscurity and had not won a trophy in thirteen years. This led to the dismissal of [[Billy Wright (footballer)|Billy Wright]] as manager in 1966, and with it the appointment of [[Bertie Mee]], who would go on to turn around the club's fortunes. ==Early years (1886–1910)== [[Image:Arsenal 1888 squad photo.jpg|right|thumb|300px|Royal Arsenal's squad of the [[1888-89 in English football|1888–89]] season.]] Arsenal were founded as ''Dial Square'' in 1886 by a group of workers employed by the Dial Square workshop at the [[Royal Arsenal]], an [[Arsenal|armaments factory]] in [[Woolwich]], south east London.<ref>Another football team based at the Royal Arsenal, Woolwich Union, had been founded in 1884, and some Dial Square players, including [[Fred Beardsley]], had previously played for that side. However, club historians generally regard Dial Square as Arsenal's direct forerunners. Reference: {{cite book | author=Soar, Phil & [[Martin Tyler|Tyler, Martin]] | title=The Official Illustrated History of Arsenal | publisher=Hamlyn | year=2005 | pages=21–22 | isbn=0-600-61344-5 }}</ref> They were led by a [[Scotland|Scotsman]], [[David Danskin]], who purchased the club's first [[football (ball)|football]], and [[Jack Humble]]; amongst their number was former [[Nottingham Forest F.C.|Nottingham Forest]] [[goalkeeper]] [[Fred Beardsley]], who would later along with [[Morris Bates]] obtain a set of red kit from his old club, thus giving Arsenal the colours they still wear today.<ref name="soartyler23"/> Dial Square played their first match on 11 December 1886 against Eastern Wanderers on an open field in the [[Isle of Dogs]], which they won 6–0.<ref>The number of goals Dial Square scored is disputed, though six is the officially recorded figure. Reference: {{cite book | author=Soar & Tyler | year=2005 | title=The Official Illustrated History of Arsenal | page=23 }}</ref> The club were renamed ''Royal Arsenal'' soon after, reportedly on [[December 25|Christmas Day]].<ref name="soartyler23">{{cite book | author=Soar & Tyler | year=2005 | title=The Official Illustrated History of Arsenal | page=23 }}</ref> Initially the club played on [[Plumstead Common]], but soon sought alternative homes, firstly the Sportsman Ground in [[Plumstead]] before moving to the adjacent [[Manor Ground, Plumstead|Manor Ground]] in 1888. Unhappy with the Manor Ground's poor facilities, the club moved to the nearby [[Invicta Ground]] in 1890, before returning to the Manor Ground three years later as the Invicta Ground's rent proved too expensive.<ref name="soartyler25"/> During this period, Royal Arsenal started to win local trophies, winning both the [[Kent Senior Cup]] and [[London Charity Cup]] in [[1889-90 in English football|1889–90]] and the [[London Senior Cup]] in [[1890-91 in English football|1890–91]]; they also entered the [[FA Cup]] for the first time in 1889–90.<ref name="fchd_royal">{{cite web | url=http://www.fchd.info/ROYAL-AR.HTM | title=Royal Arsenal | work=Football Club History Database | accessdate=2007-05-04 }}</ref> However, the gulf between Arsenal and the professional sides from [[Northern England|the North]] soon became apparent, and Arsenal faced the threat of their amateur players being lured away by the money professional sides could offer; after [[Derby County F.C.|Derby County]] had played Arsenal in an FA Cup tie in 1891, they attempted to sign two of Arsenal's amateur players on professional contracts.<ref name="soartyler25">{{cite book | author=Soar & Tyler | year=2005 | title=The Official Illustrated History of Arsenal | page=25 }}</ref> Therefore the same year Royal Arsenal decided to turn professional, and at the same time they changed their name to ''Woolwich Arsenal''. Woolwich Arsenal's move to professionalism was frowned upon by many of the amateur Southern clubs, and they were banned from participating in local competitions by the [[London Football Association]].<ref name="soartyler26">{{cite book | author=Soar & Tyler | year=2005 | title=The Official Illustrated History of Arsenal | page=26 }}</ref> With friendlies and the FA Cup the only matches available for Woolwich Arsenal, they attempted to set up a southern equivalent of the [[Football League]], but the move failed;<ref name="soartyler26"/> Woolwich Arsenal's future looked bleak until the Football League came to their rescue by inviting them to join in 1893. Arsenal were the first Southern club to enter the League, initially joining the [[Football League Second Division|Second Division]]; in response, some of the club's amateur players who rejected professionalism and wanted a workers' team to represent just the Royal Arsenal, broke away to form a short-lived alternative side, [[Royal Ordnance Factories F.C.|Royal Ordnance Factories]].<ref>{{cite book | author=Roper, Alan | title=The Real Arsenal Story: In the Days of Gog | publisher=Wherry | year=2004 | isbn=0-9546259-1-9 | page=106}}</ref> [[Image:Woolwich Arsenal v. Newcastle United, April 1906.jpg|300px|thumb|right|Woolwich Arsenal (in dark shirts) playing [[Newcastle United F.C.|Newcastle United]] (in striped shirts) in an [[FA Cup]] semi-final — the club's first ever — at the [[Victoria Ground (Stoke)|Victoria Ground]], [[Stoke]] on 31 March 1906; Newcastle won 2–0.]] Woolwich Arsenal played in the Second Division for eleven seasons, and generally occupied mid-table before the appointment of [[Harry Bradshaw]] as manager in 1899;<ref name="fchd_woolwich">{{cite web | | url=http://www.fchd.info/WOOLWICA.HTM | title=Woolwich Arsenal | work=Football Club History Database | accessdate=2007-05-02 }}</ref> Bradshaw and his star signings, including goalkeeper [[Jimmy Ashcroft]] (Arsenal's first [[England national football team|England]] international) and captain [[Jimmy Jackson (footballer)|Jimmy Jackson]], won promotion to the [[Football League First Division|First Division]] in [[1903-04 in English football|1903–04]]. However, Bradshaw moved on to [[Fulham F.C.|Fulham]] in May 1904, before the Gunners had kicked a ball in the top flight. Despite some strong performances in the FA Cup — the club reached the semi-finals in both [[1905-06 in English football|1905–06]] and [[1906-07 in English football|1906–07]]<ref name="fchd_woolwich"/> — Arsenal were never able to challenge for the League title, only twice finishing above tenth place in the First Division between 1904 and 1913. The chief cause of this decline was the club's ongoing financial problems; despite the boom in football during the early 20th century, the club's geographic isolation, in the relatively underpopulated area of Plumstead (then on the outskirts of urban London), meant attendances and thus income were low.<ref>{{cite book | author=Spurling, Jon | title=Rebels For The Cause: The Alternative History of Arsenal Football Club | publisher=Mainstream | year=2004 | pages=28–29 | isbn=0-575-40015-3 }}</ref> To stay afloat, Woolwich Arsenal were forced to sell their star players (including Ashcroft, as well as [[Tim Coleman]] and [[Bert Freeman]]), and slowly started to slip down the table, which compounded their financial situation as crowds fell. By the end of the decade the average attendance at Manor Ground was 11,000, a little over half of what it was in 1904.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.islington.gov.uk/DownloadableDocuments/Environment/Pdf/highburyconservationplan_2005.pdf | format = PDF | title=A Conservation Plan for Highbury Stadium, London | publisher=Islington Council | pages=p.13 | accessdate=2007-06-07 }}</ref> The club were close to [[bankruptcy]], and in 1910 went into voluntary [[liquidation]] before being bought out by a consortium of businessmen; the largest shareholder amongst the new owners was property magnate [[Henry Norris|Sir Henry Norris]], who was also chairman of [[Fulham F.C.|Fulham]].<ref>{{cite book | author=Soar & Tyler | year=2005 | title=The Official Illustrated History of Arsenal | page=33 }}</ref> ==Move to Highbury (1910–25)== Norris was acutely aware of the problems associated with Woolwich Arsenal's location, and was desperate to improve the club's income. First, Norris tried to merge Woolwich Arsenal with his other club, Fulham. When that was blocked by the Football League, Norris abandoned the merger and looked to move the club elsewhere, eventually picking a site in [[Highbury]], [[north London]]. Despite objections both from Woolwich-based fans and residents of Highbury,<ref>{{cite book | author=Spurling | year=2004 | title=Rebels For The Cause | pages=34–37 }}</ref> Norris tenaciously saw the move through. He reportedly spent £125,000<ref name="soartyler34">{{cite book | author=Soar & Tyler | year=2005 | title=The Official Illustrated History of Arsenal | page=34 }}</ref> (approximately £8.2m in 2005 prices<ref>According to the [[Retail Price Index (United Kingdom)|RPI]] Calculator at: {{cite web | url=http://www.measuringworth.com/calculators/ukcompare/ | title=Five Ways to Compute the Relative Value of a UK Pound Amount | work=MeasuringWorth.com | accessdate=2007-05-29 }}</ref>) on building the new stadium, designed by [[Archibald Leitch]], on a [[divinity (academic discipline)|divinity]] [[college]]'s [[playing field]]s. Woolwich Arsenal moved there in the 1913 [[Season (sports)#Offseason|close season]], having finished bottom and relegated back to the Second Division in [[1912-13 in English football|1912–13]].<ref name="fchd_woolwich"/> They dropped the "Woolwich" from their name in April 1914, and although they were officially plain "Arsenal", the press at the time often referred to them as "The Arsenal" at first.<ref name="soartyler34"/> The club controversially rejoined the First Division in 1919,<ref name="soartyler40"/><ref name="spurling40"/> despite only finishing sixth in [[1914-15 in English football|1914–15]], the last season of competitive football before the [[First World War]] had intervened — although an error in the calculation of [[goal average]] meant Arsenal had actually finished fifth,<ref name="1914-15"/> an error which was corrected by the Football League in 1975.<ref>{{cite book | author=Soar, Phil & Tyler, Martin | title=Arsenal 1886-1986: The Official Centenary History of Arsenal Football Club | year=1986 | publisher=Guild Publishing | page=42 }}</ref> The First Division was being expanded from 20 teams to 22, and the two new entrants were elected at an [[annual general meeting|AGM]] of the Football League. One of the extra places was given to [[Chelsea F.C.|Chelsea]], who had finished 19th in the First Division and thus had been already relegated. The other spot could have gone to 20th-placed [[Tottenham Hotspur F.C.|Tottenham Hotspur]] (also relegated), or to [[Barnsley F.C.|Barnsley]] or [[Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C.|Wolves]], who had finished third and fourth in the Second Division respectively.<ref name="1914-15">{{cite web | url=http://www.rsssf.com/engpaul/FLA/1914-15.html | title=England 1914/15 | work=RSSSF | accessdate=2005-05-03 }}</ref> Instead, the League decided instead to promote fifth-placed Arsenal, for reasons of history over merit; Norris argued that Arsenal be promoted for their "long service to league football", having been the first League club from the South.<ref name="spurling40">{{cite book | author=Spurling | year=2004 | title=Rebels For The Cause | page=40 }}</ref> The League board agreed; they voted eighteen votes to eight to promote Arsenal ahead of their local rivals Tottenham Hotspur,<ref name="soartyler40"/> which has fuelled the long-standing enmity between the two clubs. It has been alleged that this was due to backroom deals or even outright bribery by Sir Henry Norris,<ref name="soartyler40"/> colluding with his friend [[John McKenna]], chairman of [[Liverpool F.C.|Liverpool]] and the Football League, who recommended Arsenal's promotion to the AGM.<ref name="soartyler40">{{cite book | author=Soar & Tyler | year=2005 | title=The Official Illustrated History of Arsenal | page=40 }}</ref> No conclusive proof of wrongdoing has ever come to light, though other aspects of Norris's financial dealings unrelated to the promotion controversy have fuelled speculation on the matter; Norris resigned as chairman and left the club in 1929, having been found guilty by [[the Football Association]] of financial irregularities; he was found to have misused his expenses account, and to have pocketed the proceeds of the sale of the Arsenal team bus.<ref>{{cite book | author=Spurling | year=2004 | title=Rebels For The Cause | pages=46–48 }}</ref> Regardless of the circumstances of their promotion in 1919, Arsenal have remained in the top division since then, and as a result hold the English record for the longest unbroken stretch of top-flight football.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://football.guardian.co.uk/news/theknowledge/0,,778382,00.html | title=Did Bobby Moore win the US League with West Ham? | work=Guardian Unlimited | accessdate=2007-05-02 }}</ref> [[Image:Arsenal FC 1920-21.jpg|thumb|300px|Arsenal's squad for the [[1920-21 in English football|1920–21]] season, the club's best under [[Leslie Knighton]], finishing ninth in the [[Football League First Division|First Division]].]] The move to Highbury brought about much larger crowds; the average attendance in Arsenal's first season at Highbury was 23,000 (compared to 11,000 at the Manor Ground) and rose further after promotion in 1919, finally warding off the spectre of financial ruin.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.islington.gov.uk/DownloadableDocuments/Environment/Pdf/highburyconservationplan_2005.pdf | format = PDF | title=A Conservation Plan for Highbury Stadium, London | publisher=Islington Council | pages=p.14 | accessdate=2007-06-07 }}</ref> However, Arsenal's return to the First Division was not immediately successful. Under [[Leslie Knighton]], the club never finished better than ninth, and in [[1923-24 in English football|1923–24]] came close to returning to the Second Division, finishing 19th and only a point clear of the relegation zone.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.rsssf.com/engpaul/FLA/1923-24.html | title=England 1923/24 | work=RSSSF | accessdate=2007-05-02 }}</ref> Arsenal did no better [[1924-25 in English football|the following season]], finishing 20th (although paradoxically the club were a lot safer this time, being seven points clear of the relegation places), which was the last straw for Norris; he fired Knighton in May 1925,<ref>{{cite book | author=Soar & Tyler | year=2005 | title=The Official Illustrated History of Arsenal | page=43 }}</ref> and appointed the [[Huddersfield Town A.F.C.|Huddersfield Town]] manager, [[Herbert Chapman]] in his place. ==The Chapman era (1925–34)== [[Image:Herbert Chapman bust 20050922.jpg|thumb|right|200px|[[Herbert Chapman]]'s achievements are commemorated by a bronze bust inside the marble hall of Arsenal Stadium.]] Chapman reformed many of the club's practices, including modernising the training and physiotherapy regimes, adding numbers to the players' shirts in August 1928,<ref>{{cite book | author=Soar & Tyler | year=2005 | title=The Official Illustrated History of Arsenal | page=18 }}</ref> and changing the team's colours, adding white sleeves to the red shirt in March 1933. Chapman also insisted on journalists dropping the [[definite article]] from the club's name, becoming just "Arsenal", and he successfully campaigned for the renaming of the local [[London Underground|Tube]] station, [[Gillespie Road]], to [[Arsenal tube station|Arsenal]].<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.tfl.gov.uk/corporate/media/newscentre/3709.aspx | title=London Underground and Arsenal present The Final Salute to Highbury | work=Transport for London | accessdate=2007-05-03 }}</ref> At the same time, Chapman had a large transfer budget by virtue of Arsenal's improved revenue from their new stadium and a change of heart from Henry Norris; previously a highly prudent chairman, Norris now dictated that there was to be heavy spending on new players.<ref>{{cite book | author=Soar & Tyler | year=2005 | title=The Official Illustrated History of Arsenal | page=45 }}</ref> Chapman's first signing was veteran [[Charlie Buchan]] from [[Sunderland A.F.C.|Sunderland]]; as well as his contributions on the pitch, Buchan would play an important part off it. After Arsenal were beaten 7–0 by [[Newcastle United F.C.|Newcastle United]] in October 1925, Buchan suggested a change to the formation to adapt to a relaxation of the [[offside law (football)|offside law]], adjusting Arsenal's [[formation (football)|formation]] to the "[[formation (football)#The WM|WM]]", strengthening the defence by pushing the [[centre half]] back into defence and the [[full-back (football)|full-back]]s out to the wings.<ref>{{cite book | author=Soar & Tyler | year=2005 | title=The Official Illustrated History of Arsenal | pages=46–47 }}</ref> Over time, Chapman developed the formation further, putting an emphasis on a pacy forward line, [[winger (sport)|winger]]s cutting inside, and the role of a creative ball-playing [[midfield]]er.<ref>{{cite book | author=Soar & Tyler | year=2005 | title=The Official Illustrated History of Arsenal | pages=16–17 }}</ref> Arsenal came second in Chapman's [[1925-26 in English football|first season]], their best ever finish at that time,<ref name="fchd"/> but this proved to be a false dawn; for the next few seasons they stayed in mid-table as Chapman took his time to assemble his side, slotting new signings such as winger [[Joe Hulme]], forward [[Jack Lambert (association footballer)|Jack Lambert]] and defenders [[Tom Parker (footballer)|Tom Parker]] and [[Herbie Roberts]] into his new formation. In [[1926-27 in English football|1926–27]], Arsenal reached their first FA Cup final, only to [[FA Cup Final 1927|lose 1–0]] to [[Cardiff City F.C.|Cardiff City]], after Arsenal's goalkeeper [[Dan Lewis (footballer)|Dan Lewis]] let a harmless-looking shot slip through his arms and into the net;<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.thefa.com/TheFACup/TheFACup/History/Postings/2003/11/47802.htm | title=Classic Cup Finals: 1927 | work=TheFA.com | accessdate=2007-05-03 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/wales/walesonair/database/facup.shtml | title=Wales On Air - The 1927 FA Cup | work=BBC Wales | accessdate=2007-05-03 }}</ref> it was the only occasion in history that the FA Cup has been won by a club from outside England.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/wales/matchofthedaywales/features/history/ccfc1297.shtml | title=Cardiff's 1927 FA Cup Victory | work=BBC Wales | accessdate=2005-06-07 }}</ref> Chapman was not deterred, and continued to build his side, signing future captain [[Eddie Hapgood]], as well as three of the club's great attacking players, [[David Jack]], [[Alex James (footballer)|Alex James]] and [[Cliff Bastin]]; it was especially Alex James, Arsenal's playmaker in midfield, supplying the forward line and wingers, who became celebrated as the engine of the team.<ref>{{cite book | author=Soar & Tyler | year=2005 | title=The Official Illustrated History of Arsenal | page=66 }}</ref> Three years after their first Cup final, in [[1929-30 in English football|1929–30]], Arsenal reached Wembley again, this time up against Chapman's old club Huddersfield Town. [[FA Cup Final 1930|The match]] was notable for being "buzzed" by the enormous German [[airship]] ''[[LZ 127 Graf Zeppelin|Graf Zeppelin]]'' Arsenal were not distracted from their task; they won 2–0 with goals from James and Lambert to bring home the club's first major trophy. This success was the first in a decade in which Arsenal were the dominant club in England. They won the First Division for the first time in [[1930-31 in English football|1930–31]]; Arsenal performed strongly in a free-scoring title race with [[Aston Villa F.C.|Aston Villa]], recording heavy wins of (including 7–1 ''v.'' [[Blackpool F.C.|Blackpool]], 7–2 ''v.'' [[Leicester City F.C.|Leicester City]], and 9–1 ''v'' [[Grimsby Town F.C.|Grimsby Town]], which remains a club record for the top flight). Arsenal won the title with two games to spare, and finished the season having scored 127 league goals (another club record), though Aston Villa managed to score 128, which is still a record for the most goals in an English top flight season. [[Image:1932 FA Cup Final.jpg|thumb|300px|The "[[1932 FA Cup Final|Over The Line Final]]" – [[Newcastle United F.C.|Newcastle United]]'s [[Jimmy Richardson]] crosses the ball back into the Arsenal penalty area, setting up [[Jack Allen (footballer)|Jack Allen]] to score; the ball however was fully over the goal-line at the time and thus out of play. Newcastle went on to win 2–1.]] The following season, [[1931-32 in English football|1931–32]], Arsenal reached the FA Cup final again, [[FA Cup Final 1932|losing controversially]] to [[Newcastle United F.C.|Newcastle United]]. Arsenal had led 1-0 with a [[Bob John]] goal, but Newcastle's equaliser came after a long ball had gone over the goal line, and out for a goal kick;<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.fa-cupfinals.co.uk/1932.htm | title=FA Cup Final 1932 | work=FA Cup History (unofficial site) | accessdate=2006-06-27 }}</ref> Newcastle winger [[Jimmy Richardson]] nevertheless crossed the ball back into play and [[Jack Allen (footballer)|Jack Allen]] levelled the match for the Magpies; Allen scored again in the second half to win the match 2–1. Arsenal's pain was compounded by the fact that [[Everton F.C.|Everton]] had pipped them to the League title; a poor start to the [[1931-32 in English football|1931–32]] campaign meant Arsenal played catch-up for most of the season, finishing two points adrift.<ref>{{cite book | author=Soar & Tyler | year=2005 | title=The Official Illustrated History of Arsenal | page=57 }}</ref> Arsenal bounced back [[1932-33 in English football|the following season]], winning their second League title. Arsenal had started the season weakly, but then went on a long winning run to catch up and then overtake fellow title challengers Aston Villa, whom they beat 5–0 at Highbury in April to clinch the title.<ref name="soartyler60">{{cite book | author=Soar & Tyler | year=2005 | title=The Official Illustrated History of Arsenal | page=60 }}</ref> By this time Chapman's first set of signings had started to show their age<ref>{{cite book | author=Soar & Tyler | year=2005 | title=The Official Illustrated History of Arsenal | page=59 }}</ref> so with an eye to the future Chapman promoted [[George Male]] to the first team to replace Tom Parker, and signed [[Ray Bowden]] to take over from David Jack. The only blot on the club's record was an infamous loss to [[Walsall F.C.|Walsall]] of the [[Football League Third Division North|Third Division North]] in the FA Cup; five of the first team were out with injury or [[influenza|flu]] and had their place taken by reserves,<ref>{{cite book | author=Soar & Tyler | year=2005 | title=The Official Illustrated History of Arsenal | page=63 }}</ref> but despite six first-team players Arsenal lost 2–0 in one of the greatest FA Cup upsets of all time.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.thefa.com/TheFACup/TheFACup/NewsAndFeatures/Postings/2006/01/FA_Cup_Third_Round_Shocks.htm | title=Third Round upsets | work=TheFA.com | accessdate=2007-05-03 }}</ref> One of the stand-ins, [[Tommy Black (Scottish footballer)|Tommy Black]], was particularly to blame (conceding a [[penalty kick|penalty]] for Walsall's second), and was sold by an enraged Chapman to [[Plymouth Argyle F.C.|Plymouth Argyle]] within a week of the result; another, striker [[Charlie Walsh (footballer)|Charlie Walsh]], was transferred to [[Brentford F.C.|Brentford]] a week later.<ref>{{cite book | author=Soar & Tyler | year=2005 | title=The Official Illustrated History of Arsenal | page=64 }}</ref> ==A hat-trick of League titles (1934–39)== [[Image:Arsenal Stadium Highbury east facade.jpg|thumb|right|300px|[[Arsenal Stadium]]'s East Stand, which was built in 1936]] Arsenal had started the [[1933-34 in English football|1933–34]] season solidly, but in January 1934 Herbert Chapman died suddenly from [[pneumonia]]. Despite this, under [[caretaker manager]] [[Joe Shaw (footballer born 1883)|Joe Shaw]] Arsenal retained the title that season; Hulme and James were both out with injury for a large portion, and so Arsenal were not the attacking side they had been the previous season, scoring only 75 in the League, compared with 118 in 1932–33.<ref name="fchd"/> [[George Allison]] (who had formerly been a director of the club) took over the job of team manager in summer 1934 and soon signed new blood for the side, including wing halves [[Jack Crayston]] and [[Wilf Copping]] (whose signings had been initiated by Chapman), and striker [[Ted Drake]].<ref name="soartyler60"/> With these new signings, Allison oversaw the completion of a [[hat-trick]] of League titles in [[1934-35 in English football|1934–35]], and Arsenal were back to their attacking best; Drake scored a club record 42 league goals that season and Arsenal racked up a series of heavily one-sided scorelines reminiscent of the 1930–31 season (including 7–0 ''v.'' [[Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C.|Wolves]], 8–1 ''v.'' [[Liverpool F.C.|Liverpool]], and 8–0 twice, ''v.'' [[Leicester City F.C.|Leicester City]] and ''v.'' [[Middlesbrough F.C.|Middlesbrough]]).<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.rsssf.com/engpaul/FLA/1934-35.html | title=England 1934/35 | work=RSSSF | accessdate=2007-05-03 }}</ref> Such was Arsenal's strength that in November 1934, seven players that started for the [[England national football team|England]] side that beat [[Football World Cup|World Champions]] [[Italy national football team|Italy]] 3–2 (in the so-called "[[Battle of Highbury]]") were on Arsenal's books, a record number of players from a single club, which still stands today.<ref>Arsenal hold the record outright for an England starting lineup; with respect to players on the pitch at any one time, the record is shared with Manchester United; seven United players were on the pitch at the end of England's match against [[Albania national football team|Albania]] on 28 March 2001, but two of them had come on as substitutes. Reference: {{cite web | url=http://www.englandfootballonline.com/TeamClubs/ClubsMostPlyrsMatch.html | title=Most Players from a Single Club in an England Team | work=England Football Online | accessdate=2007-05-03 }}</ref> Arsenal's ongoing success attracted larger and larger crowds. Arsenal's home, Highbury, was completely redeveloped, with Leitch's stands from 1913 demolished and replaced with modern [[Art Deco]] stands, parts of which remain to this day — the façade of the East Stand is now a Grade II [[listed building]],<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.islington.gov.uk/DownloadableDocuments/Environment/Pdf/highburyconservationplan_2005.pdf | format = PDF | title=A Conservation Plan for Highbury Stadium, London | publisher=Islington Council | pages=p.4 | accessdate=2007-06-07 }}</ref> and both façades have been retained as part of the modern-day redevelopment of Highbury into an [[apartment complex]]. Meanwhile, the North Bank and Clock End terraces had roofs installed. The new stadium saw its largest ever attendance, 73,295, on 9 March 1935 for a match against [[Sunderland A.F.C.|Sunderland]].<ref name="attendances">{{cite web | url=http://www.arsenal.com/history/club-records | title=Club Records | work=Arsenal.com | accessdate=2007-05-03 }}</ref> Arsenal's dominance of the decade was sealed with a second FA Cup in [[1935-36 in English football|1935–36]], [[FA Cup Final 1936|winning 1–0]] against [[Sheffield United F.C.|Sheffield United]] with a goal from Drake. Arsenal faded in the League somewhat after the 1934–35 title, and were weakened by the retirement of Alex James and the club's inability to replace him, as well as long-term injuries to several other key players such as Herbie Roberts and Joe Hulme. Nevertheless, they won a fifth League title in [[1937-38 in English football|1937–38]], pipping [[Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C.|Wolves]] on the final day of the season, to cap off a highly successful decade. ==The Second World War (1939–45)== Soon after the outbreak of the [[Second World War]] in 1939, all first-class football in Britain was suspended, and the [[1939-40 in English football|1939–40]] Football League season annulled. Highbury was requisitioned as an [[Air Raid Precautions|ARP]] station, with a [[barrage balloon]] operating behind the Clock End. During [[the Blitz]], a bomb fell on the North Bank, destroying the roof and setting fire to the scrap that was being stored on the terrace. With Highbury closed, Arsenal instead played their home matches at [[White Hart Lane]], home of their rivals Tottenham Hotspur.<ref>{{cite book | author=Soar & Tyler | year=2005 | title=The Official Illustrated History of Arsenal | page=87 }}</ref> Wartime matches do not count in official statistics; competitions were played on a regional basis and teams often did not complete a full season; many footballers served in the armed forces as trainers or instructors and were away from their clubs for long periods of time, so they would often star as "guests" at other clubs. Arsenal won the [[Football League War Cup|Football League War Cup South]] in [[1942-43 in English football|1942–43]] and the London or Southern league titles in [[1939-40 in English football|1939–40]], [[1941-42 in English football|1941–42]] and [[1942-43 in English football|1942–43]].<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.arseweb.com/history/wartime.html | title=ArseWeb on... Wartime Arsenal | work=Arseweb | accessdate=2007-05-02 }}</ref> Participation in the London League led to their expulsion from [[the Football League]] in 1941 along with 14 other clubs; it was not until April 1942 when they were readmitted after expressing regret and paying a £10 fine.<ref>{{cite book |last= Rollin |first= Jack | title= Soccer At War 1935-45 |year= 2005 |pages=75-77 |isbn=0-7553-1431-X }}</ref> In November 1945, with league competition still suspended, Arsenal were one of the teams that played a [[FC Dynamo Moscow|Dynamo Moscow]] side touring the UK. With many players still serving abroad in the armed forces, Arsenal were severely depleted and used six guest players, including [[Stanley Matthews]] and [[Stan Mortensen]], which led Dynamo to declare they were playing an [[England national football team|England]] XI,<ref>{{cite book | author=Spurling | year=2004 | title=Rebels For The Cause | page=72 }}</ref> although three of the side were actually [[Wales|Welsh]]. In any case, Dynamo themselves had [[Vsevolod Bobrov]] on loan from [[PFC CSKA Moscow|CDKA Moscow]].<ref>{{cite book | author=Spurling | year=2004 | title=Rebels For The Cause | page=77 }}</ref> The match, at White Hart Lane, kicked off in thick [[fog]] and the slick and technically proficient Dynamo won 4–3, after Arsenal had led 3–1 at half-time. Though the score is generally agreed upon, after that accounts of the match diverge; even the identity of the goalscorers is disputed.<ref>For example, [[Cliff Bastin]] and [[Bernard Joy]], who both played in the game, claimed [[Vasili Kartsev]] scored Dynamo's first goal, while the journalist [[Brian Glanville]], a spectator that day, asserts it was [[Vsevolod Bobrov]]. Reference: {{cite book | author=Spurling | year=2004 | title=Rebels For The Cause | page=74 }}</ref> English reports alleged Dynamo fielded twelve players at one point, and tried to pressurise the [[referee (football)|referee]] into abandoning the match when they had been behind; in turn, the Soviets accused Arsenal of persistent foul play and even alleged George Allison had bet money on the result (a claim that was later retracted).<ref>{{cite book | author=Spurling | year=2004 | title=Rebels For The Cause | pages=74–76 }}</ref> The acrimony after the match was such that it inspired [[George Orwell]] to write his 1945 essay ''The Sporting Spirit'', in which he famously opined on the [[sportsmanship|nature of sport]], namely that in his view "it is war minus the shooting".<ref>{{citation | url=http://www.orwell.ru/library/articles/spirit/english/e_spirit | title=The Sporting Spirit | author=[[George Orwell|Orwell, George]] | date=14 December 1945 | journal=Tribune }}</ref> With the fog obscuring much of the action, not to mention the language barriers and the early-[[Cold War]] mutual suspicion between both sides, it is unlikely any reliable account of the match will ever emerge. ==The post-war years (1945–66)== [[Image:Arsenal fc old crest small.png|thumb|right|200px|Arsenal adopted this red [[crest (heraldry)|crest]] in 1949, which was a familiar sight until its replacement in 2002.]] The war had claimed the lives of nine Arsenal first team players, the most of any top flight club,<ref>{{cite book | title=Gas Masks for Goal Posts: Football in Britain During the Second World War | author=Rippon, Anton | year=2007 | publisher=Sutton | id=ISBN 075094031X | pages=153–6 }}</ref> and the intervening time had cut short the careers of several others, including Bastin and Drake. Additionally, the debts from the construction of Highbury and the costs of repairing war damage were a heavy financial burden, and Arsenal struggled at first when competitive football resumed in 1946. They lost 6–1 on [[aggregate score|aggregate]] to [[West Ham United F.C.|West Ham United]] in the third round of the [[1945-46 in English football|1945–46]] FA Cup, and upon the league's resumption in [[1946-47 in English football|1946–47]] the club finished 13th, their worst in 17 years.<ref name="fchd"/> George Allison decided to retire from football at the end of that season, and was replaced by his assistant [[Tom Whittaker (footballer)|Tom Whittaker]], a long-time servant of the club who had been trainer under Chapman. Whittaker enjoyed immediate success, winning the League title in [[1947-48 in English football|1947–48]]; led by captain [[Joe Mercer]]'s strong defence and with goals from attacking front two of [[Reg Lewis]] and [[Ronnie Rooke]], Arsenal were top of the table from October until the season's climax, winning by a seven point margin.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.rsssf.com/engpaul/FLA/1947-48.html | title=Season 1947–48 | work=RSSSF | accessdate=2007-05-14 }}</ref> However, given the age of the Arsenal side at the time (Rooke and Mercer were both over thirty, as were [[Denis Compton|Denis]] and [[Leslie Compton]]), long-term success was not possible. In response, Whittaker had brought in younger players such as [[Doug Lishman]], [[Alex Forbes]] and [[Cliff Holton]].<ref>{{cite book | author=Soar & Tyler | year=2005 | title=The Official Illustrated History of Arsenal | pages=92–93 }}</ref> Although Arsenal were unable to sustain any challenges for the League title, with the new blood they won the FA Cup in [[1949-50 in English football|1949–50]], with Reg Lewis scoring both goals in [[FA Cup Final 1950|a 2–0 win]] over Liverpool. The [[1951-52 in English football|1951–52]] season saw the club nearly win the Double, but ultimately end up empty-handed; a series of injuries and a fixture pile-up at the end of the season saw Arsenal lose their last two matches, including the title decider against eventual champions [[Manchester United F.C.|Manchester United]] at [[Old Trafford (football)|Old Trafford]] on the last day of the season;<ref>{{cite book | author=Soar & Tyler | year=2005 | title=The Official Illustrated History of Arsenal | page=98 }}</ref> after losing 6–1, the Gunners finished third, equal on points with Tottenham.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.rsssf.com/engpaul/FLA/1951-52.html | title=Season 1951–52 | work=RSSSF | accessdate=2007-05-04 }}</ref> A week later, Arsenal played Newcastle United in the [[FA Cup Final 1952|1952 FA Cup Final]], with several recovering players rushed back into the first team; [[Walley Barnes]] was taken off injured with a twisted knee after 35 minutes (no [[substitute (soccer)|substitute]]s were allowed then), and ten-man Arsenal suffered further injuries to Holton, [[Don Roper|Roper]] and [[Ray Daniel|Daniel]], so that by the end of the match they had only seven fit players on the pitch;<ref>{{cite book | author=Soar & Tyler | year=2005 | title=The Official Illustrated History of Arsenal | page=99 }}</ref> with the numerical advantage in their favour, Newcastle won 1–0 with a goal from [[George Robledo]]. Despite the disappointment of the previous season, Arsenal won their seventh League title in [[1952-53 in English football|1952–53]]; in one of the closest title races ever, they beat [[Preston North End F.C.|Preston North End]] to the title on [[goal average]] after finishing level on points.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.rsssf.com/engpaul/FLA/1952-53.html | title=Season 1952–53 | work=RSSSF | accessdate=2007-05-04 }}</ref> The title looked to be Preston's after Arsenal lost to them 2–0 at [[Deepdale]] in the penultimate game of the season, but Arsenal came from behind to beat [[Burnley F.C.|Burnley]] 3–2, to take the title on 0.099 of a goal.<ref>{{cite book | author=Soar & Tyler | year=2005 | title=The Official Illustrated History of Arsenal | page=100 }}</ref> That proved to be Arsenal's last trophy for seventeen years, as Arsenal's fortunes began to wane, particularly after the unexpected death of Tom Whittaker in October 1956. As the club's fortunes declined, they found themselves unable to attract many stars (Welsh international goalkeeper [[Jack Kelsey]] being a notable exception), while up and coming players such as [[David Herd (footballer)|David Herd]] left for more successful clubs. [[Jack Crayston]] and [[George Swindin]], both former players, followed Whittaker but could not replicate his success. Apart from finishing third in [[1958-59 in English football|1958–59]] and fifth in both [[1955-56 in English football|1955–56]] and [[1956-57 in English football|1956–57]], Arsenal usually finished in mid-table.<ref name="fchd">{{cite web | url=http://www.fchd.info/ARSENAL.HTM | title=Arsenal | work=Football Club History Database | accessdate=2007-05-02 }}</ref> Nor did the club have much luck in the FA Cup — after reaching the final in 1951–52, Arsenal would not get beyond the quarter-finals again until [[1970-71 in English football|1970–71]].<ref name="fchd"/> To make matters worse for the club, up the road their fierce rivals Tottenham Hotspur won the Double in [[1960-61 in English football|1960–61]]. In 1962, Arsenal made the bold but ultimately unsuccessful step of appointing former England and Wolves captain [[Billy Wright (footballer)|Billy Wright]] as manager, despite his lack of managerial experience and the fact he had no prior experience with the club. Like his two immediate predecessors, Wright was not very successful, although it was under his leadership that the club made their debut in [[UEFA|European]] competition, in the [[Inter-Cities Fairs Cup 1963-64|1963–64]] [[Inter-Cities Fairs Cup]] after finishing seventh in [[1962-63 in English football|1962–63]].<ref name="fchd"/> In [[1965-66 in English football|his final season]], Arsenal finished 14th, their lowest position in 36 years, and recorded the lowest-ever attendance at Highbury — 4,554 in a match against [[Leeds United F.C.|Leeds United]] on 5 May 1966.<ref name="attendances"/><ref>In mitigation, that same night the [[UEFA Cup Winners' Cup 1965-66|1966 European Cup Winners' Cup]] final between [[Borussia Dortmund]] and [[Liverpool F.C.|Liverpool]] was screened live on [[television]], a comparatively rare and prestigious event for the time, while the Arsenal ''v.'' Leeds United match had no bearing on either team's fortunes, which partly accounts for the low attendance.</ref> The only Arsenal player to figure in England's [[1966 FIFA World Cup]]-winning squad was [[George Eastham]], who did not play at all during the tournament.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.englandfootballonline.com/CmpWC/CmpWC1966Squad.html | title=England in World Cup 1966: Squad Records | work=England Football Online | accessdate=2007-05-02 }}</ref> Wright was dismissed by the Arsenal board in the summer of 1966,<ref>{{cite book | author=Soar & Tyler | year=2005 | title=The Official Illustrated History of Arsenal | page=103 }}</ref> and was replaced by club [[physiotherapist]] [[Bertie Mee]]. Though the club's directors did not know it at the time, Mee would turn around the club and lead them to success both in Europe and at home within the next five years. ==See also== *[[History of Arsenal F.C. (1966–present)]] for the club's history since 1966 ==Notes and references== {{reflist|2}} ==Further reading== ;Websites *{{cite web | title=Club History | work=Arsenal.com | url=http://www.arsenal.com/history/club-history | accessdate=2007-05-13 }} *{{cite web | title=History of Arsenal FC | work=Arsenal-Mania | url=http://arsenal-mania.com/articles/History-of-Arsenal/10/ | accessdate=2007-05-13 }} *{{cite web | title=The History of Arsenal Football Club | work=Arseweb | url=http://www.arseweb.com/history/history1.html | accessdate=2007-05-13 }} ;Books *{{cite book | author=[[Bernard Joy|Joy, Bernard]] | title=Forward Arsenal! | publisher=Phoenix House | year=1952 }} *{{cite book | author=Maidment, Jem | title=The Official Arsenal 100 Greatest Games | publisher=Hamlyn | year=2005 | isbn=0-600-61376-3 }} *{{cite book | author=Roper, Alan | title=The Real Arsenal Story: In the Days of Gog | publisher=Wherry | year=2003 | isbn=0-9546259-0-0 }} *{{cite book | author=Soar, Phil & [[Martin Tyler|Tyler, Martin]] | title=The Official Illustrated History of Arsenal | publisher=Hamlyn | year=2005 | isbn=0-600-61344-5}} *{{cite book | author=Spurling, Jon | title=Rebels For The Cause: The Alternative History of Arsenal Football Club | publisher=Mainstream | year=2004 | isbn=0-575-40015-3 }} *{{cite book | author=Weaver, Graham | title=Gunners' Glory: 14 Milestones in Arsenal's History | publisher=Mainstream | year=2005 | isbn=1-84018-667-4 }} <br/> {{fb start}} {{Arsenal F.C.}} {{fb end}} {{featured article}} [[Category:Arsenal F.C.|History 1886-]] [[Category:History of sport in London|Arsenal 1886]] [[Category:History of English football|Arsenal 1886-1966]] [[Category:History of football (soccer) by club|Arsenal 1886-1966]] {{Link FA|it}} {{Link FA|zh}} [[fr:Histoire de l'Arsenal Football Club]] [[it:Storia dell'Arsenal Football Club (1886-1966)]] [[mk:Историја на Арсенал ФК (1886–1966)]] [[mt:Storja ta' Arsenal FC (1886–1966)]] [[no:Arsenal FCs historie (1886–1966)]] [[zh:阿仙奴足球會歷史 (1886年至1966年)]]'