List of Arsenal F.C. Seasons - History

History

Arsenal were formed in 1886 as Royal Arsenal F.C. by workers at the Royal Arsenal in Woolwich. The club became the first southern member of the Football League in 1893 and won promotion to the First Division in 1904. In the same period, the club changed its name to Woolwich Arsenal F.C. after becoming a limited company. After nine years of moderate success which included the club reaching the semi-finals of the FA Cup in 1906 and 1907, Arsenal were relegated in 1913, having finished bottom of the division. Due to financial difficulties, the club relocated to Arsenal Stadium in Highbury, North London. In spite of finishing fifth in 1919, the club were elected to rejoin the First Division at the expense of local rivals Tottenham Hotspur under contentious circumstances. Arsenal have since remained in the top division of English football, holding the record for the longest uninterrupted period in the top flight.

Under the management of Herbert Chapman the club won its first major trophy—the FA Cup in 1930 and enjoyed a period of sustained success, winning five league championships in seven years. In 1963–64, the club first participated in European competition but were eliminated in the second round of the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup. They however won the same competition in 1970 and completed a double the following season. Arsenal have won a further two doubles in 1998 and 2002 and a unique Football League and FA Cup double in 1993. Arsenal became the first English football club since Preston North End in 1888–89 to go through a league season without defeat in 2004 and in 2006 were the first London team to reach a UEFA Champions League final.