List of Arsenal F.C. seasons

Arsenal Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Holloway, London. The club was formed in Woolwich in 1886 as Dial Square before it was shortly renamed to Royal Arsenal, and then Woolwich Arsenal in 1893.[1] They became the first southern member[a] admitted into the Football League in 1893, having spent their first four seasons solely participating in cup tournaments and friendlies.[4] The club's name was shortened to Arsenal in 1914, a year after moving to Highbury.[5] In spite of finishing fifth in the Second Division in 1915, Arsenal rejoined the First Division at the expense of local rivals Tottenham Hotspur when football resumed after the First World War.[6] Since that time, they have not fallen below the first tier of the English football league system and hold the record for the longest uninterrupted time in the top flight.[7]

A black-and-white team photograph of the Arsenal squad in their third season of existence.
The Royal Arsenal squad of the 1888–89 season

In the 1930s, Arsenal were the dominant side of England, winning five league championships and two FA Cups. Their fortunes waned, but the club soon enjoyed infrequent periods of success, including Inter-Cities Fairs Cup triumph and a first league and cup double in the 1970s. During the late 1980s, Arsenal had built a side that threatened Liverpool's league dominance, and performed greatly in cup competitions. The club played an active role in the formation of the Premier League in 1992, won the FA Cup in 1993 and the European Cup Winners Cup in 1994 and two doubles followed in 1998 and 2002. Arsenal made league history in 2003–04 when they became the first team in a 38-game season to go unbeaten.[8] In the 2000s, Arsenal were finalists in both the UEFA Cup and UEFA Champions League,[9] and have since equalled Real Madrid's record for most consecutive seasons in the latter competition.[10]

As of the end of the 2022–23 season, the club's first team have spent 106 seasons in the top division of English football, and 13 in the second. Their worst league finish to date is 10th in the second tier, their placing at the end of the 1896–97 season. Arsenal's best-ever start to a Premier League season came in 2022–23, when they won 9 of their first 10 matches.[11] The club's longest period without a competitive honour is 17 years, between the 1953-54 and 1969–70 seasons. Ted Drake holds the record for most competitive goals in a single season for Arsenal; he scored 44 during the 1934–35 campaign. The table details the club's achievements in major competitions, and the top scorers for each season. Records of competitions such as the London Combination and the London War Cup are not included.

History

When Arsenal was founded in 1886 by munition workers' from Woolwich, the club resisted the lure of professionalism and remained an amateur side.[12] Success in local cup competitions soon followed, and a tie against Derby County in the FA Cup on 17 January 1891 led to the opposition approaching two of Arsenal's players, in view of offering them professional contracts.[12] Later that year the club resigned its membership of the Kent County and London Football Associations – both amateur governing bodies – and voted to turn professional, a move which attracted criticism from many southern clubs.[12][b] In 1893, the club received an invitation to join the Football League, which the board accepted.[12] Arsenal played in the Second Division for eleven seasons, while also participating in regional competitions, the Southern Combination and United League.[14] The club won promotion in 1904, and enjoyed strong FA Cup campaigns in the mid-1900s, but the increase of football clubs in the capital and falling attendances at the Manor Ground pushed Arsenal close to bankruptcy by 1910.[15] Sir Henry Norris and William Hall in that year took over Arsenal, and planned to relocate the team to Highbury in order to improve their financial standing.[15] Arsenal were relegated back to the Second Division in 1913, but the move to North London brought about larger attendances than ever before.[16]

A valedictory campaign was held at Highbury during 2005–06, to mark Arsenal's final season at the ground.[17]

In 1919, Norris arranged for the club's promotion back to the First Division, in contentious circumstances.[18] With increased financial resources, the club established themselves as a permanent fixture in the division and was better able to spend money on new players.[19] In 1930, Arsenal beat Huddersfield Town to win its first major piece of silverware: the FA Cup.[20] Success continued right throughout the decade,[21] as they won five league championships and a further FA Cup in seven years.[22] Following the Second World War, Arsenal won two more championships and a FA Cup, but their fortunes gradually declined.[23] It was not until 1970 that the club won another trophy – the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup,[24] a European club competition designed to promote trade fairs.[25] A first league and cup double was completed a year later; by the end of the decade Arsenal added another FA Cup, beating Manchester United in the 1979 final.[26][27] 1980 saw Arsenal lose two finals in quick succession, defeated by West Ham United in the FA Cup final and then to Valencia in the Cup Winners' Cup on penalties.[28] The club won their first League Cup in 1987, but a year later failed to retain the trophy as outsiders Luton Town beat them in the final.[29] In 1989, Arsenal won their first league championship in 18 years, courtesy of Michael Thomas' last-minute goal against closest challengers Liverpool in the final game of the season.[30] The club did not build on their success, finishing fourth the following season, but regained the title in 1991.[31][32] As champions, Arsenal were eligible to play in the European Cup,[c] but their time in the competition ended abruptly as they were eliminated in the second round by Benfica.[35]

The growth of commercialism in English football during the late 1980s and early 1990s paved the way for Arsenal and other prominent clubs to seek the possibility of setting up a new top-flight division.[36] Unhappy with how income was distributed to the lower leagues and wanting to exploit television rights, Arsenal and 21 other First Division clubs handed a notice of resignation from the Football League by August 1991.[37] The breakaway division, entitled the Premier League, was administered by The Football Association and received financial backing from Sky Television.[38][39] Arsenal finished 10th in the inaugural season;[40] the club did well in other competitions, winning a unique FA and League Cup double.[41] They were victorious in the 1994 Cup Winners' Cup Final,[42] and came close to defending the trophy in 1995, before losing to Real Zaragoza.[43]

Arsenal added more league and cup doubles in 1998 and 2002,[44] and in 2004 became the first club in Premier League history to win the title without a single defeat.[45] The side, nicknamed "The Invincibles" remained unbeaten for 49 games, before losing to Manchester United in October 2004.[46] In 2006, Arsenal reached their first UEFA Champions League final but Barcelona scored twice in the second half to win the competition.[47] Later that year, Arsenal moved to the Emirates Stadium which commenced a transitional period.[48] Though the club strengthened their position in the league's "top four" and frequently participated in the Champions League, they struggled to hold on to their best players.[49] In 2011–12, Arsenal made their worst start to a season for 58 years,[50] but a strong finish saw the club overtake rivals Tottenham Hotspur to third position.[51] After nine years without silverware, the club beat Hull City to win the 2014 FA Cup Final and retained the trophy with a dominant display against Aston Villa in 2015,[52][53] before clinching a record 13th in 2017. Arsenal won their fourteenth FA Cup in 2020, beating Chelsea.[54]

Key

Key to league competitions:

Key to league record:

  • Season = The year and article of the season
  • Pos = Final position
  • Pld = Matches played
  • W = Matches won
  • D = Matches drawn
  • L = Matches lost
  • GF = Goals scored
  • GA = Goals against
  • Pts = Points

Key to cup record:

  • En-dash (–) = Arsenal did not participate
  • DNE = The club did not enter cup play
  • QR1 = First qualification round
  • QR2 = Second qualification round, etc.
  • Group = Group stage
  • GS2 = Second group stage
  • R1 = First round
  • R2 = Second round, etc.
  • R32 = Round of 32
  • R16 = Round of 16
  • QF = Quarter-finals
  • SF = Semi-finals
  • RU = Runners-up
  • W = Winners

Seasons

Results of league and cup competitions by season
SeasonDivisionPldWDLGFGAPtsPosFA Cup[56][d]League
Cup
[57]
Community
Shield
[57]
CompetitionResultPlayer(s)Goals
League[58]Other / Europe[59][e]Top goalscorer(s)[f]
1886–87n/a
1887–88London Senior CupR2n/a
1888–89London Senior Cup
SF
R3
Peter Connolly13
1889–90QR4London Senior Cup
Kent Senior Cup
London Charity Cup
RU

W

W
Hope Robertson
Humphrey Barbour
15
1890–91R1London Senior Cup
London Charity Cup
W

SF
Humphrey Barbour7
1891–92R1George Davie1
1892–93R1Charles Booth
James Henderson
5
1893–94Div 228124125255289thR1James Henderson19
1894–95Div 230146107558348thR1Peter Mortimer14
1895–96Div 230144125842327thR1Henry Boyd13
1896–97Div 2
United[g]
30
14
13
6
4
3
13
5
68
28
70
34
30
15
10th
3rd
QR5Patrick O'Brien20
1897–98Div 2
United
30
16
16
8
5
5
9
3
69
35
49
24
37
21
5th
3rd
R1Fergus Hunt16
1898–99Div 2
United
34
20
18
10
5
4
11
6
72
40
41
30
31
24
7th
3rd
R1Fergus Hunt26
1899–1900Div 2
S Comb
34
16
16
8
4
1
14
7
61
27
43
22
36
17
8th
4th
QR3Ralph Gaudie17
1900–01Div 234156133935367thR2Ralph Gaudie8
1901–02Div 2
Lon Lge
34
16
18
2
6
2
10
4
50
9
26
13
42
6
4th
5th
R1Tommy Briercliffe12
1902–03Div 2
Lon Lge
34
10
20
6
8
0
6
4
66
14
30
10
48
12
3rd

3rd
R1Tim Coleman22
1903–04Div 2

Lon Lge
34
12
21
6
7
2
6
4
91
24
22
19
49
14
2nd

3rd
R2Tommy Shanks25
1904–05Div 1341291336403310thR1Charlie Satterthwaite11
1905–06Div 1381571662643712thSFTim Coleman15
1906–07Div 138204146659447thSFCharlie Satterthwaite19
1907–08Div 13812121451633614th[h]R1Peter Kyle9
1908–09Div 1381410145249386thR2London Challenge CupSFThomas Fitchie10
1909–10Div 1381191837673118thR2London Challenge CupR2Charles Lewis8
1910–11Div 13813121341493810thR2London Challenge CupR2Jackie Chalmers16
1911–12Div 1381581555593810thR1London Challenge CupR2Alf Common19
1912–13Div 1383122326741820thR2London Challenge CupR1Charles Lewis4
1913–14Div 23820995438493rdR1London Challenge CupSFPat Flanagan12
1914–15Div 2[i]38195146941435th[j]R2London Challenge CupRUHarry King33
1915–19[k]n/a
1919–20Div 14215121556584210thR2London Challenge CupR2Henry White15
1920–21Div 1421514135963449thR1London Challenge CupR3Fred Pagnam18
1921–22Div 1421572047563717thQFLondon Challenge CupWHenry White22
1922–23Div 14216101661624211thR1London Challenge CupR2Bob Turnbull21
1923–24Div 1421292140633319thR2London Challenge CupWHarry Woods12
1924–25Div 1421452346583320thR1London Challenge CupR2Jimmy Brain15
1925–26Div 142228128763522ndQFLondon Challenge CupRUJimmy Brain43
1926–27Div 1421791677864311thRULondon Challenge CupR1Jimmy Brain34
1927–28Div 14213151482864110thSFLondon Challenge CupR1Jimmy Brain29
1928–29Div 1421613137772459thQFLondon Challenge CupR1David Jack26
1929–30Div 14214111778663914thWLondon Challenge CupR1Jack Lambert23
1930–31Div 1422810412759661stR4WLondon Challenge CupWJack Lambert39
1931–32Div 1422210109048542ndRUWLondon Challenge CupR2Jack Lambert26
1932–33Div 142258911861581stR3London Challenge CupSFCliff Bastin33
1933–34Div 14225987547591stQFWLondon Challenge CupWCliff Bastin15
1934–35Div 1422312711546581stQFWLondon Challenge CupR2Ted Drake44 ♦
1935–36Div 1421515127848456thWRULondon Challenge CupWTed Drake27
1936–37Div 142181688049523rdQFRULondon Challenge CupRUTed Drake27
1937–38Div 1422110117744521stR5London Challenge CupSFTed Drake18
1938–39Div 142199145541475thR3WLondon Challenge CupSFTed Drake16
1939–45[l]n/a
1945–46R3[m]Kevin O'Flanagan11
1946–47Div 1421691772704113thR3London Challenge CupR1Reg Lewis29
1947–48Div 142231368132591stR3London Challenge CupR1Ronnie Rooke33 ♦
1948–49Div 1421813117444495thR4WLondon Challenge CupR2Reg Lewis18
1949–50Div 1421911127955496thWLondon Challenge CupR1Reg Lewis24
1950–51Div 142199147356475thR5[n]London Challenge CupR1Doug Lishman17
1951–52Div 1422111108061533rdRULondon Challenge CupR1Doug Lishman29
1952–53Div 142211299764541stQFLondon Challenge CupR2Doug Lishman25
1953–54Div 14215131475734312thR4WLondon Challenge CupWDoug Lishman20
1954–55Div 142179166963439thR4London Challenge CupWDoug Lishman19
1955–56Div 1421810146061465thQFLondon Challenge CupSFDerek Tapscott21
1956–57Div 142218138569505thQFLondon Challenge Cup
Southern Floodlight Challenge Cup
SF
SF
Derek Tapscott32
1957–58Div 1421671973853912thR3London Challenge Cup
Southern Floodlight Challenge Cup
W

R1
David Herd24
1958–59Div 142218138868503rdR5London Challenge Cup
Southern Floodlight Challenge Cup
SF
W
David Herd21
1959–60Div 1421591868803913thR3London Challenge Cup
Southern Floodlight Challenge Cup
R2
SF
David Herd14
1960–61Div 14215111677854111thR3DNE[o]London Challenge CupRUDavid Herd30
1961–62Div 14216111571724310thR4DNELondon Challenge CupWAlan Skirton23
1962–63Div 1421810148677467thR5DNELondon Challenge CupWJoe Baker31
1963–64Div 1421711149082458thR5DNEInter-Cities Fairs Cup
London Challenge Cup

R2
Geoff Strong31
1964–65Div 1421771869754113thR4DNELondon Challenge CupR1Joe Baker25
1965–66Div 14212131762753714thR3DNELondon Challenge CupRUJoe Baker13
1966–67Div 1421614125847467thR5R3London Challenge CupR2George Graham12
1967–68Div 1421710156056449thR5RULondon Challenge CupR1George Graham21
1968–69Div 142221285627564thR5RULondon Challenge CupR1John Radford19
1969–70Div 14212181251494212thR3R3Inter-Cities Fairs Cup
London Challenge Cup

R2
John Radford19
1970–71Div 14229767129651stWR4Inter-Cities Fairs Cup
London Challenge Cup

R2
Ray Kennedy26
1971–72Div 142228125840525thRUR4[p]European Cup
London Challenge Cup

R2
Ray Kennedy19
1972–73Div 142231185743572ndSFQFLondon Challenge CupR1John Radford19
1973–74Div 14214141449514210thR4R2London Challenge CupSFRay Kennedy13
1974–75Div 14213111847493716thQFR2Brian Kidd23
1975–76Div 14213101947533617thR3R2Brian Kidd11
1976–77Div 1421611156459438thR5QFMalcolm Macdonald29 ♦
1977–78Div 1422110116037525thRUSFMalcolm Macdonald26
1978–79Div 1421714116148487thWR2UEFA CupR3Frank Stapleton28
1979–80Div 142181685236524thRUQFRUCup Winners' CupRUAlan Sunderland29
1980–81Div 142191586145533rdR3R4Frank Stapleton16
1981–82Div 1[q]422011114837715thR3R4UEFA CupR2Alan Sunderland12
1982–83Div 14216101658565810thSFSFUEFA CupR1Tony Woodcock21
1983–84Div 142189157460636thR3R4Tony Woodcock23
1984–85Div 142199146149667thR4R3Tony Woodcock13
1985–86Div 142209134947697thR5QFCharlie Nicholas18
1986–87Div 1422010125835704thQFWMartin Hayes24
1987–88Div 1401812105839666thQFRUAlan Smith16
1988–89Div 138221067336761stR3R3Football League Centenary TrophyWAlan Smith25 ♦
1989–90Div 138188125438624thR4R4RUAlan Smith13
1990–91Div 13824131741883[r]1stSFR4Alan Smith27 ♦
1991–92Div 142191588146724thR3R3WEuropean CupR2Ian Wright26[s]
1992–93Prem4215111640385610thWWIan Wright30
1993–94Prem42181775328714thR4R4RUCup Winners' CupWIan Wright35
1994–95Prem4213121752495112thR3QFCup Winners' Cup
Super Cup
RU
RU
Ian Wright30
1995–96Prem38171294932635thR3SFIan Wright22
1996–97Prem38191186232683rdR4R4UEFA CupR1Ian Wright30
1997–98Prem3823966833781stWSFUEFA CupR1Dennis Bergkamp22
1998–99Prem38221245917782ndSFR4WChampions LeagueGroupNicolas Anelka19
1999–2000Prem3822797343732ndR4R4WChampions League
Group
Thierry Henry26
2000–01Prem38201086338702ndRUR3Champions LeagueQFThierry Henry22
2001–02Prem3826937936871stWQFChampions LeagueGS2Thierry Henry32 ♦
2002–03Prem3823968542782ndWR3WChampions LeagueGS2Thierry Henry32
2003–04Prem38261207326901stSFSFRUChampions LeagueQFThierry Henry39[u]
2004–05Prem3825858736832ndWQFWChampions LeagueR16Thierry Henry30[v]
2005–06Prem38207116831674thR4SFRUChampions LeagueRUThierry Henry33 ♦
2006–07Prem38191186335684thR5RUChampions LeagueR16Robin van Persie13
2007–08Prem38241137431833rdR5SFChampions LeagueQFEmmanuel Adebayor30
2008–09Prem38201266837724thSFQFChampions LeagueSFRobin van Persie20
2009–10Prem3823698341753rdR4QFChampions LeagueQFCesc Fàbregas19
2010–11Prem38191187243684thQFRUChampions LeagueR16Robin van Persie22
2011–12Prem38217107449703rdR5QFChampions LeagueR16Robin van Persie37 ♦
2012–13Prem38211077237734thR5QFChampions LeagueR16Theo Walcott21
2013–14Prem3824776841794thWR4Champions LeagueR16Olivier Giroud22
2014–15Prem3822977136753rdWR3WChampions LeagueR16Alexis Sánchez25
2015–16Prem38201176536712ndQFR3WChampions LeagueR16Olivier Giroud24
2016–17Prem3823697744755thWQFChampions LeagueR16Alexis Sánchez30
2017–18Prem38196137451636thR3RUWEuropa LeagueSFAlexandre Lacazette17
2018–19Prem38217107351705thR4QFEuropa LeagueRUPierre-Emerick Aubameyang31 ♦
2019–20Prem381414105648568thWR4Europa LeagueR32Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang29
2020–21Prem38187135539618thR4QFWEuropa LeagueSFAlexandre Lacazette17
2021–22Prem38223136148695thR3SFBukayo Saka12
2022–23Prem3826668843842ndR4R3Europa LeagueR16Gabriel Martinelli
Martin Ødegaard
Bukayo Saka
15

Footnotes

References

General

  • Dobson, Stephen; Goddard, Jeff (2001). The Economics of Football. London: Cambridge University Press. ISBN 0-521-51714-1.
  • Harris, Jeff; Hogg, Tony (1995). Arsenal Who's Who. London: Independent UK Sports. ISBN 1-899429-03-4.
  • Joy, Bernard (1952). Forward, Arsenal!. London: GCR Books Limited. ISBN 0-9559211-1-2.
  • Kelly, Andrew. "Arsenal first team line-ups". The Arsenal History. Retrieved 26 September 2016.
  • King, Anthony (2002). The end of the terraces: the transformation of English football in the 1990s. London: Continuum International Publishing Group. ISBN 0-7185-0259-0.
  • Motson, John (2005). Motson's FA Cup Odyssey: The World's Greatest Knockout Competition. London: Robson. ISBN 1-86105-903-5.
  • Ollier, Fred (1995). Arsenal: A Complete Record. London: Breedon Books. ISBN 1-85983-011-0.
  • Palmer, Myles (2007). The Professor: Arsène Wenger. London: Virgin Books. ISBN 978-0-7535-1097-1.
  • Rundle, Richard. "Arsenal". Football Club History Database. Retrieved 27 February 2006.
  • Scott, Les (2008). End to End Stuff. London: Random House. ISBN 978-0-593-06068-1.
  • Soar, Phil; Tyler, Martin (1986). Arsenal 1886–1986: The Official Centenary History of Arsenal Football Club. Hamlyn. ISBN 0-600-35871-2.
  • Soar, Phil; Tyler, Martin (2005). The Official Illustrated History of Arsenal. London: Hamlyn. ISBN 0-600-61344-5.
  • Soar, Phil; Tyler, Martin (2011). Arsenal 125 Years in the Making: The Official Illustrated History 1886–2011. Hamlyn. ISBN 978-0-600-62353-3.

Specific

External links