Arsenal Fc!
Arsenal Football Club
Nickname The Gunners
Founded in 1886
Location London, England, UK
Home arena Emirates Stadium
Capacity 60 355
Owner Arsenal Holdings plc
Chairman Peter Hill-Wood
CEO Ivan Gazidis
Coach Arsene Wenger
Captain Francesc Fàbregas
Ass. Captain Robin van Persie
Series FA Premier League
Merits
League Champions 13 (1931, 1933, 1934, 1935, 1938, 1948, 1953, 1971, 1989, 1991, 1998, 2002, 2004)
FA Cup 10 (1930, 1936. 1950, 1971, 1979, 1993, 1998, 2002, 2003, 2005)
English League Cup 2 (1987, 1993)
Community Shield 12 (1930, 1931, 1933, 1934, 1938, 1948, 1953, 1991, 1998, 1999, 2002, 2004)
UEFA Cup Winners' Cup 1 (1994)
UEFA Cup 1 (1970)
Other
Home Arsenal.com
Arsenal or The Gunners, is a football club from north London, was established in 1886th The newly built five-star home stadium is called the Emirates Stadium (but is popularly known for Ashburton Grove) and is located next to the old stadium, Arsenal Stadium, better known as Highbury.
Arsenal is one of England's great clubs and in recent years has been struggling with Liverpool FC, Manchester United and Chelsea for supremacy in the English top football, the so-called "Big Four". The last period of greatness has been created under the French coach Arsene Wenger.
History [edit] 1886-1925: In the beginning [edit]
Arsenal's symbol of 1888-1925, with three guns, which have been taken from Woolwich vapen.Klubben was founded in 1886 by workers at the Royal Arsenal in Woolwich in southeast London. The club, originally called Dial Square, played their first game December 11, 1886, when they defeated Eastern Wanderers 6-0. The name of Dial Square, however, was not popular with club members, and at a meeting on Christmas Day 1886 the name was changed to Royal Arsenal. This meeting would also decide where to play their home games and the color match the shirts would have. The former Nottingham Forest player Fred Beardsley wrote to his old club to ask for help. Nottingham Forest then sent a set of red jerseys and a ball. As the home arena was Plumstead Common, which was to play until 1888, when it moved to the Manor Ground in Plumstead.
1891, the club became professional and changed its name to Woolwich Arsenal. That same year they moved again, this time to the Invicta Ground, which came to play for three years before moving back to the Manor Ground. 1893, the club became a member of the Football League. It was to spend eleven seasons in division two, before 1904 went up in division one. The first stints in the top division was dogged by financial difficulties. The fact that Arsenal were in inaccessible Plumstead made the audience did not find the stadium, and therefore lost a lot of money. The club was about to go bankrupt before 1910 was bought by businessman Sir Henry Norris. In order to increase club revenue Norris tried to merge Woolwich Arsenal with Fulham, but he was not authorized to do so by the league. 1913 Norris chose to move the club to Highbury in north London, and the year after the club changed its name to The Arsenal.
1919 decided that a division would be increased 20-22 team. Last season before the First World War had left Arsenal in fifth place in division two, while the neighboring club Tottenham Hotspur had finished 20th place in Division One. After the strange trips voted at a meeting that Arsenal would be moved up to division one at the expense of Tottenham. Since then, there is a huge rivalry between the two clubs. It has been argued that Norris bribed top people in the league, but this has never been proven. Arsenal have since 1919 played in first division, and is thus the club in England that played the most seasons in a row in the top division.
1925-1945: The days of glory [edit]
Arsenal Stadium's east grandstand, built 1936Sex years later, in 1925, but Herbert Chapman job as manager of Arsenal. This marked the start of Arsenal's first heyday. 1927 Arsenal went to the finals of the FA Cup for the first time, a final which, however, lost 1-0 against Cardiff City. Moreover, it is only time that a Welsh team won the FA Cup.
1930 Arsenal won their first major title when they beat Huddersfield Town 2-0 in the FA Cup final after goals from Alex James and Jack Lambert. The team in the finals, Charles Preedy, Tom Parker, Eddie Hapgood, Alf Baker, William Seddon, Bob John, David Jack, Jack Lambert, Alex James, Cliff Bastin.
The season 1930/31 Arsenal became the league champions for the first time after making less than 127 goals in 42 matches. Jack Lambert was top scorer with 38 direct hits. The season after it was ranked second in the league and also lost the FA Cup final against Newcastle United. This was followed by three victories in a row 1933-35.
At this time Arsenal had a very good team, and in an international match between England and Italy, November 14, 1934 was the England team of not less than seven players from Arsenal, namely goalkeeper Frank Moss, the slopes George Male and Eddie Hapgood, Wilf vänsterhalven Copping and inner trio consisting of Ray Bowden, Ted Drake and Cliff Bastin.
After seeing one's reserve game in January 1934, Herbert Chapman was hit by pneumonia and died shortly thereafter. He was replaced by George Allison, who came to have primary responsibility over the next thirteen years.
The season 1934/35 won Ted Drake top scorer with 42 goals after that, inter alia, have scored four goals against Birmingham, Chelsea, Middlesbrough and Wolverhampton. He also made three goals against Liverpool, Tottenham and Leicester City. During this season was also the attendance record that still applies at Highbury. On March 9, 1935 there were 73 295 spectators for the match against Sunderland. On 14 December the same year did Ted Drake, a record that although it is still standing: in the away match against Aston Villa, he made all seven goals for Arsenal in a match that ended 7-1. How many goals has no player made in a single match in the top division in England before or after.
1936 Arsenal won the FA Cup for the second time when beating Sheffield United 1-0 after goals by Ted Drake. The team in the finals: Alex Wilson, George Male, Eddie Hapgood, Jack Crayston, Herbie Roberts, Wilf Copping, Ray Bowden, Ted Drake, Alex James, Cliff Bastin.
1937/38 season Arsenal won the league for the fifth time in eight years, but this would prove the greatness of the future last great victory. 1939 sat WWII namely an end to league game in England. Nine players from Arsenal lost their lives during the war. They were Henry Cook, Bobby Daniel, William Dean, Hugh Glass, Leslie Lack, William Parr, Sidney Pugh, Herbie Roberts and Cyril Tooze.
1945-1966: From champions to mittenlag [edit] After the war started football in England get started again in earnest. The FA Cup 1945/46 Arsenal became the result even in the third round. League game resumed 1946/47 season when Arsenal finished in thirteenth place. George Allison stepped down as manager and replaced by Tom Whittaker. The following year, it improved considerably when they won the league for the sixth time. Ronnie Rooke became the leading scorer with 33 goals. 1953 Arsenal won the league again, this time with the narrowest of margins. Arsenal and Preston North End had the same number of points, and the league was decided, therefore, by comparing the two teams' target as regards (the number of goals scored divided by the number of goals). Arsenal target as regards proved to be 99 hundredths better than Preston's.
Between the two league winners Arsenal managed to win the FA Cup in 1950 after a 2-0 victory in the final against Liverpool (two cases made by Reg Lewis). The team in the finals: George Swindin, Laurie Scott, Walley Barnes, Alex Forbes, Les Compton, Joe Mercer, Freddie Cox, Jimmy Logie, Peter Goring, Reg Lewis, Denis Compton.
In the autumn of 1956 died manager Tom Whittaker. Jack Crayston, who had played for the club during the 1930s, took over, but he only stayed for nearly two years. Then took the old goalkeeper George Swindin over, but neither he could bring the team to any titles. 1962 hired the legendary Wolverhamptonspelaren Billy Wright as manager, but in the 1960s was the deteriorating for Arsenal. 1966 team finished in 14th place - the worst position since 1930. The audience was also reduced. 5 May 1966 was met Arsenal and Leeds at Highbury for only 4544 spectators, which was the lowest audience figure since the First World War.
1966-1971: Triple [edit] 1966 was manager Billy Wright fired. He was replaced by the physiotherapist Bertie Mee, who brought Arsenal to the final of the League Cup in both 1968 and -69. It lost, although both matches against Leeds United and Swindon Town, but it would be better. Arsenal's junior team had won the FA Youth Cup in 1966, and of the players on that team were, among others, Charlie George, Ray Kennedy and John Radford to establish himself in the first team in the coming years. 1969/70 season Arsenal won the Fairs Cup (forerunner to the UEFA Cup) after the final victory against Belgian Anderlecht. It lost the first match in Brussels 3-1. Arsenal's only goal was made by Ray Kennedy at the end of the match, and this would prove to be decisive. It won the return home at Highbury with a 3-0 (goal by Jon Sammel, John Radford and Eddie Kelly) and a total of 4-3.
The season 1970/71 was a great triumph for Arsenal. After a hesitant start to the season which, inter alia, lost by 5-0 against Stoke City in September, lost only one of the thirteen final league matches. The club's eighth league victory was secured after a 1-0 win over Tottenham in the final round. Ray Kennedy nodded in case that led to Arsenal moved past Leeds United in the league table. Five days later, on 8 May 1971, they met Liverpool in the FA Cup final. It was aimless at full time, but ultimately gave Steve Heighway Liverpool the lead. Eddie Kelly acknowledged, however, and after 111 minutes of play ruled Charlie George in the final with a shot from 20 yards - one of the most classic goals in Arsenal's history. The team in the finals: Bob Wilson, Pat Rice, Bob McNab, Peter Storey, Frank McLintock, Peter Simpson, George Armstrong, George Graham, John Radford, Ray Kennedy, Charlie George, Subs: Eddie Kelly.
1971-1986: A New Generation [edit] Although, in December 1971 had enlisted the former world champion Alan Ball from Everton for 220 000 pounds, was the worse for the team. 1972, Arsenal, although the final of the FA Cup, but this time we lost to Leeds United having scored only one goal, and the year after Arsenal came second in the league for Liverpool. After two unsuccessful seasons with a sixteenth place 1974/75 and a seventeenth place 1975/76, retired manager Bertie Mee and was replaced by Terry Neill. 1976 was recruited Newcastle's top scorer Malcolm Macdonald for the odd transfer fee is 333 333 pounds and 33 pence. Macdonald won the top scorer on 25 goals during the first season, but the fall of 1978 he was injured and could not come back. After the 1976/77 season left winger George Armstrong Arsenal as the club's best player of all time with 621 appearances.
New, young players like Liam Brady, Frank Stapleton and David O'Leary was soon discovered during these years, and the team went to the FA Cup final in three consecutive years (1978, -79, -80). 1978 finale was lost surprisingly at Ipswich, but instead donated to the finals 1979th When they met Manchester United and won 3-2. Having had the lead 2-0 with United came back to 2-2, but in the last minute of the match was Alan Sunderland victory target. The team in the Finals: Pat Jennings, Pat Rice, Sammy Nelson, Brian Talbot, David O'Leary, Willie Young, Liam Brady, Alan Sunderland, Frank Stapleton, David Price, Graham Rix, Subs: Steve Walford. It was, therefore, to victory in the FA Cup, but the path was crooked. In the third round, it took four replay games to Sheffield Wednesday in the case. In the winter of 1978/79 was unusually cold, and replay the matches (played at neutral venue) were held at Filbert Street in Leicester, which was one of the few arenas of game fitness plan. The league ended Arsenal in seventh place. The most memorable league match this season was meeting with arch-rivals Tottenham Hotspur at White Hart Lane December 23, 1978. Arsenal won 5-0 and Alan Sunderland was tremålsskytt. Frank Stapleton and Liam Brady were the other objectives. Brady's goal is also a classic: from the edge of the penalty area, he bolted to the outside of the left foot the ball into the far corner.
1979/80 season Arsenal lost the FA Cup final against West Ham United. It even went to the quarterfinals of the League Cup and reached the final of the Cup Winners Cup. In addition, the creation of the 42 matches in the league, which meant that Arsenal this season played all 70 games in nine months, and still won, no title. The league was a bit so-so with the scoring, but the cups had to be any real direct hits. In the second round of the League Cup defeat Leeds United 7-0 and the Cup Winners Cup quarter-finals by beating it with IFK Gothenburg 5-1. In the finals of the Cup Winners Cup but lost Arsenal v Valencia, Spain after penalty shootout. Liam Brady and Graham Rix became scapegoats by missing his penalty kicks. One of the season's highlights was the FA cupsemifinalen against Liverpool. The match ended 0-0, and it would take three replay games before Arsenal were victorious. This was the longest of time the semifinals of the FA Cup. After this season were sold Arsenal best player Liam Brady to Juventus.
Then came a worse year. Terry Neill was sacked as manager in December 1983 and two years later resigned his successor Don Howe. When hired George Graham as manager in 1986, and a new successful period could begin.
1986-1995: George Graham era [edit] George Graham's career as Arsenal manager had a good start. The season 1986/87 they won the League Cup for the first time after winning 2-1 in the final against Liverpool, both goals were scored by Charlie Nicholas. Graham gave several young players the chance to establish themselves in the starting line in the second half of the 1980s, including David Rocastle, Paul Merson and Tony Adams. While Graham did away with some of the older players that he did not consider its worth. Viv Anderson said Charlie Nicholas was among those who had to leave the club.
On May 26, 1989 is a date forever etched in Arsenal Supporters memories. The day was met Arsenal and Liverpool at Anfield Road in Liverpool in the season's final game. Before the match, Liverpool led the series three points ahead of Arsenal. For that Arsenal could pass Liverpool needed to win by two goals difference. A seemingly hopeless task given the fact that Liverpool have not lost at home by two goals since 1986. Seven minutes into the second half gave Alan Smith Arsenal the lead. Match clock had expired 90 minutes and the result was still 1-0 to Arsenal. Liverpool players began congratulating each other when they learned that there was only one minute of the match. But what happens? Well, Lee Dixon hit a långboll Alan Smith, who forwards it to Michael Thomas who comes free with Liverpool goalkeeper Bruce Grobbelaar. Thomas makes no mistake and put the ball in the net in the match very last seconds and Arsenal have won the league for the first time in 18 years! The most dramatic ever dissolution of the league is a fact and the English television commentator Brian Moore's commentary has become classic:
"Arsenal come streaming forward now, into Surely What Will Be Their last attack. A good ball by Dixon, finding Smith ... for Thomas, charging through the Midfield: Thomas, it's up for grabs noowww! THOMAS!"
Two years later, in 1991, Arsenal won the league again - now with Swedish Anders limp to the left of midfield. This was a very eventful season. Limp had a successful first season at Arsenal and made eleven goals in the league. In the final league game of the season we won at home against Coventry 6-1 after three goals of the loaf. During the match against Manchester United at Old Trafford there was a small brawl between players and Arsenal were taken from two points. The team captain Tony Adams got busted for DUI in December 1990 and had to sit in jail for two months. Nevertheless, Arsenal lost just one league game all season (away game against Chelsea).
A further two seasons later, 1992/93, it was time for the next title, or titles rather. It was only in tenth place in the league, but instead they both won the FA Cup and League Cup. Arsenal met Sheffield Wednesday in both finals and the FA Cup final replay was required to take home the trophy (first match had ended 1-1). In omspelet Arsenal won 2-1 (goals by Ian Wright and Andy Linighan) and the team looked like this: David Seaman, Lee Dixon, Nigel Winterburn, Paul Davis, Andy Linighan, Tony Adams, John Jensen, Ian Wright, Alan Smith , Paul Merson, Kevin Campbell, Subs: David O'Leary.
During ärevarvet after victory in the League Cup Final Tony Adams lifted up game hero Steve Morrow on his shoulders, but Adams dropped him, and Morrow was taken to hospital with a broken arm.
Thanks to victory in the FA Cup in 1993, beat Arsenal participate in the Cup Winners Cup in the 1993/94 season. Arsenal took the way to the finals, which was played in Copenhagen. There they met Italian Parma. With two such strong defense team was not so strange that it just became a goal in the match. That case was made by Arsenal's Alan Smith. Arsenal's Cup Winners' Cup Champions: David Seaman, Lee Dixon, Nigel Winterburn, Paul Davis, Steve Boulder, Tony Adams, Kevin Campbell, Steve Morrow, Alan Smith, Paul Merson, Ian Selley, Subs: Eddie McGoldrick.
On 21 February 1995, Graham sacked after it emerged that he had received 425 000 pounds in bribes from a Norwegian agent Rune Hauge in connection with solicitations of Pål Lydersen and John Jensen. Despite this, Arsenal once again getting to the final of the Cup Winners Cup. This time, however, lost against the Spanish Real Zaragoza after David Seaman let in a shot from the half-plane in the long run.
1995-2008: The French invasion [edit]
Arsene wenger 1995/96 season was Bruce Rioch responsibility as manager of the club. It was not a successful season and he was also fired in summer 1996. However, one should not forget that it was Rioch who bought the Dutch star Dennis Bergkamp from Italian Inter.
In September 1996, arrived in the French coach Arsene Wenger to Arsenal from Japan where he had trained Nagoya Grampus Eight. The first thing he did was buy the young French midfielder Patrick Vieira, who had not managed anything further to AC Milan in Italy, but Wenger knew what he was doing. Wenger's first season at Arsenal ended with a third place in the league, and the next season had been fortified by Frenchmen Nicolas Anelka and Emmanuel Petit and Dutchman Marc Overmars. When Wenger simultaneously sold the audience favorite, Paul Merson, became supporters say the least hesitant about the new manager. But thanks to the already strong defensive line and the new foreign players, Arsenal managed to win the Triple 1997/98 season for the second time in history. Arsenal won the league one point ahead of Manchester United and the FA Cup final defeat to Newcastle 2-0 after goals from two of the league's fastest players, Anelka and Overmars. The team in the finals: David Seaman, Lee Dixon, Martin Keown, Tony Adams, Nigel Winterburn, Ray Parlour, Patrick Vieira, Emmanuel Petit, Marc Overmars, Christopher Wreh, Nicolas Anelka, Subs: David Platt.
Then followed three years without titles. Arsenal came second in the league for Manchester United in 1999, 2000 and 2001. In addition, lost the FA Cup final against Liverpool in 2001 after Michael Owen Loves pool with two late goals and Uefacup-final against Galatasaray in 2000 after a shootout. In the autumn of 1998, Fredrik Ljungberg from Blackburn Rovers to Highbury, and he introduced himself immediately. Ljungberg set out their goals in his debut against Manchester United. For the season 1999/2000 Wenger bought another Frenchman, Thierry Henry from Juventus.
2001/02 season played Arsenal home Triple than once. After a season where the team did not lose a single league match away to Arsenal won the league seven points ahead of second-placed Liverpool. Fredrik Ljungberg made his best season so far in his career and Thierry Henry won the top scorer with 24 goals. The FA Cup final against Chelsea to 2-0. The targets were made by Ray Parlour and Fredrik Ljungberg. The team in the finals: David Seaman, Lauren, Sol Campbell, Tony Adams, Ashley Cole, Sylvain Wiltord, Ray Parlour, Patrick Vieira, Freddie Ljungberg, Dennis Bergkamp, Thierry Henry, Subs: Edu, Nwankwo Kanu, Martin Keown.
After this season ended veteran, team captain and Arsenal legend Tony Adams after 19 seasons at Arsenal's A-team.
Arsenal failed to defend the league title, but won the FA Cup again the 2002/03 season after the final victory of 1-0 (goals by Robert Pires) over Southampton. FA Cup winners: David Seaman, Lauren, Martin Keown, Oleg Luzhny, Ashley Cole, Robert Pires, Ray Parlour, Gilberto Silva, Freddie Ljungberg, Dennis Bergkamp, Thierry Henry, Subs: Sylvain Wiltord.
The season after, 2003/04, it became the first club since Preston North End in 1889 to go undefeated through the English league. Arsenal won 26 matches and played a draw 12 times in the 38 league matches, which meant that it was finished eleventh points ahead of second-placed Chelsea, however they were knocked out by Chelsea and Manchester United in the Champions League quarter-final and FA Cup semifinals. Thierry Henry became the first Arsenal player since Ronnie Rooke in 1948 to 30 goals in the league, which was enough to win the Premier League scorer.
2004/05 Arsenal finished second in the league, 12 points behind Chelsea. During the fall broke the suite of 49 league games in a row without a loss, a record in English league football, when Manchester United won 2-0. In the Champions League failed to go beyond the fourth round, where Bayern Munich became too difficult. At the end of the season scratched, however, courage and defeated Everton 7-0 in a league match. Thierry Henry became the club's leading scorer for the sixth consecutive year, and with his 25 league goals, he won the top scorer for the third time. Arsenal went to the finals of the FA Cup, where they defeated Manchester United 5-4 on penalty kicks after the match ended goalless. FA Cup winners: Jens Lehmann, Lauren, Philippe Senderos, Kolo Toure, Ashley Cole, Gilberto Silva, Patrick Vieira, Francesc Fabregas, Robert Pires, Dennis Bergkamp, Jose Antonio Reyes. Subs: Robin Van Persie, Edu, Freddie Ljungberg.
During the final season at Highbury, 2005/06, it went a bit shaky in the league. Man missing Patrick Vieira much after his sale to Juventus. The only new acquisition was Belarusians Alexander Hleb from VfB Stuttgart. In the fall, it was slow, but after New Year's play Arsenal, and in particular the new rising stars, resigned. It won the one game against Middlesbrough with a 7-0. In the final match at Highbury against Wigan won it 4-2 after a hat-trick by Henry. The match was settled by two Swedes. In the 73rd minutes were replaced Freddie Ljungberg and Andreas Johansson in Wigan. 44 seconds later tore down Ljungberg Johansson and saw the red card. Penalties pushed Henry in goal. Arsenal moved past the Spurs and tricks hence the all-important fourth spot, which meant that the club secured a kvalplats to next season's Champions League. In the Champions League was the contrast better. Goalkeeper Jens Lehmann was zero throughout the seven times. Arsenal knocked out Real Madrid in the eighth and Juventus in the quarter. In the semi-final defeat to Villareal at home 1-0 in the last European cup matches at Highbury (Kolo Toure scored the goal). In this match ran into a squirrel at Highbury grass, which attracted some attention. After 0-0 away from home, where goalkeeper Jens Lehmann took a penalty in the final minutes, took Arsenal to their first European Cup final, which, however, was loss of 2-1 against Barcelona. In the final, Arsenal were a nightmare start to goalkeeper Jens Lehmann was sent off after 18 minutes. But a few minutes after the expulsion order nodded Sol Campbell surprising in 1-0 to Arsenal, but Barca took advantage of the number-over mode and turned the match. Arsenal put Champions League record by keeping a clean sheet in 820 minutes (over nine games) in a row. Thierry Henry was the top scorer in the Premier League for the third consecutive year, and during the season he passed Ian Wright as Arsenal's leading scorer of all time. After eleven seasons at Highbury chose Dutchman Dennis Bergkamp to end his career.
The season 2006/07 was a season marked by injuries and habituation problems to the new home stadium Emirates Stadium, where only five of the first 10 home games ended with the victory. Key offensive players Thierry Henry and Robin van Persie was injured for longer periods and early in the season there were problems in the back line in which both William Gallas and Emmanuel Eboue was injured. Arsenal fell behind in the league pretty early in the autumn but progressed from the group stage of Champions League and reached the final of the League Cup. Over a period of February to April, so the team had great difficulty in scoring (only six goals in eleven matches) something that brought to the club for 10 days in February was eliminated in eighth finals of the Champions League by PSV Eindhoven, lost the final of League Cup against Chelsea and was excluded from the FA Cup by Blackburn. Notably, however, to Arsenal in the space of three days managed to win two games against Liverpool in January (the 6th and 9th) and both matches at Anfield Road. The first match was the third round of the FA Cup, winning 3-1. The second was the quarterfinals of the League Cup, which ended 6-3 to the Arsenal where Julio Baptista made no less than four goals, it must also be said that Arsenal mustered a team of juniors and reserves, while Liverpool had a multi-team players. In league club reached a new 4th place and qualified for kvalplats to next season's Champions League. After eight seasons and 226 goals for Arsenal captain Thierry Henry opted to leave the club for Barcelona.
Season 2007/08 was another season without a title for Arsenal, although at times offered a dazzling and audience ratings game. Unlike last year's season as the team was once again a long time about fighting for the league title. After a very good fall season where the team led the league at Christmas, so they went into a period of weakness in mid-February to mid-April, which only took two wins in 13 games played. The team ended the season in third place in the Premier League which is qualified to kvalplats to next season's UEFA Champions League. A slightly weaker squad and injuries especially on Robin van Persie and Eduardo da Silva was something that caused problems for the team. In UEFA Champions League, Arsenal reached the quarter-finals place after defeating AC Milan in the eighth finals. In the quarterfinals, however, became Liverpool FC too strong. In the FA Cup Arsenal went to the fifth round. Notable was that Tottenham Hotspur managed to win over Arsenal for the first time since 1999 when they won the semi-finals of the Carling Cup at White Hart Lane with a 5-1. Worth noting is that Emmanuel Adebayor made 30 goals for the club during the season. After the season, Mathieu Flamini decided to leave the club for Italian AC Milan, while goalkeeper Jens Lehmann went to German VfB Stuttgart after not been offered new contracts. Later in the summer of 2008, including Alexander Hleb, and went to FC Barcelona. Another unknown midfielder, Gilberto Silva from Brazil, left Arsenal for the Greek Panathinaikos.
2008/09 season started badly for Arsenal, who are not impressed and lost to teams that Hull, Fulham, Stoke City and Manchester City. Points pin at the start of the season meant that the team had too much uphill in the league. Despite the fourth place was under threat over a long period of Aston Villa and Everton might be still pinch the coveted spot that gives Champions League games next season. During the season gave Arsenal the many great games in the league. For example, we won against both Manchester United and Chelsea, and Liverpool languished against the newly acquired Russian Andrey Arshavin to make four goals in one match, the match ended on 4-4. In the League Cup Arsenal went on well and it was particularly the young reserves who beat up his feet. Against Sheffield United on 19-year-old striker Carlos Vela a hat-trick in a match which Arsenal won 6-0 with all. In the same match did the 16-year-old Jack Wilshere goal, and became the second youngest goalscorer for the club after Francesc Fabregas. In the FA Cup Arsenal reached the semi-final where Chelsea were too strong. Even in the Champions League Arsenal reached a semifinal, which may be viewed as a success. Roma Italian and Spanish Villareal defeated the eighth-and quarter-finals before Manchester United knocked out Arsenal. After the season, dropped Arsenal Emmanuel Adebayor and Kolo Toure to Manchester City.
Emirates Stadium [edit] See also:: Emirates Stadium
Emirates Stadium.Under 2003 the club started construction of a new stadium at Ashburton Grove, next to Highbury. The stadium was completed in July 2006 and has a capacity of 60 432 spectators.
