Arsenal is a major English soccer club. Soccer is called football in England and many other countries. Arsenal competes in the Premier League, England’s top soccer league. The club plays its home games in Emirates Stadium in London. Domestically, the club has won 13 league championships and 14 Football Association (FA) Cups. The FA Cup is England’s oldest and most prestigious annual club soccer tournament. Arsenal has won two international championships, the Fairs Cup in 1970 and the European Cup Winners’ Cup in 1994.
In 2004, Arsenal went undefeated with a record of 26 victories and 12 ties. It was the first undefeated season in the top level of English soccer since Preston North End went undefeated in 1889. Eventually, Arsenal went undefeated in 49 straight matches, breaking the previous Premier League record of 42 matches without a defeat set by Nottingham Forest from 1977 to 1979.
Arsenal was the dominant English soccer club during the 1930’s under the British manager Herbert Chapman of England. The club had another period of success from 1986 to 1995 under manager George Graham of Scotland. The French manager Arsene Wenger led Arsenal to several trophies in the late 1990’s and early 2000’s. Stars who have played for Arsenal include forwards Dennis Bergkamp of the Netherlands, Ian Wright of England, and Thierry Henry of France; midfielder Patrick Vieira of France; and English defender Tony Adams.
Arsenal was established in 1886. It took its name from a munitions factory in London where the club originated.
