Arsenal

Arsenal

About the club

Season 2011/12:

3rd place

Nickname:

The Gunners

Stadium:

Emirates Stadium, London

Capacity:

60335

Away end:

South-East Lower Tier

Top scorer 11/12:

Robin van Persie

Manager:

Arsène Wenger

Assistant Manager:

Steve Bould

Home kit:

Red shirts, white and blue trim, white shorts, white socks

Away kit:

Black and Purple shirts, black shorts, black socks

Honours:

* Premier League: 2004, 2002, 1998 * Div One: 1991, 1989, 1953, 1948, 1938, 1935, 1934, 1933, 1931 * FA Cup: 2005, 2003, 2002, 1998, 1993, 1979, 1971, 1950, 1936, 1930 * League Cup: 1993, 1987 * European Cup Winners' Cup: 1994 * Fairs Cup: 1970

Essential reading:

Fever Pitch, by Nick Hornby

Did you know:

Arsenal were unbeaten in the top flight during the 2003/04 season, earning themselves the nickname the 'Invincibles'.

More information:

Arsenal Official Website

Text
Task

Text

Around and about Arsenal

1. Does the word ‘Arsenal’ actually mean anything in English?
An arsenal is a place where guns and other weapons are made or stored.

2. So is this how Arsenal FC got its name?
Yes, the Royal Arsenal in a place called Woolwich in South East London which was where the British military manufactured and stored its weapons. At one time 80,000 people worked there, and the workers founded the football club that became Royal Arsenal. When they turned professional in 1891, the club was once again renamed, this time becoming Woolwich Arsenal.

3. Is the club still associated with Woolwich?
The club moved to Highbury in North London in 1913. As they were no longer playing in Woolwich, they dropped this from their name, and became simply Arsenal. They have used this name ever since. In fact, the area around Arsenal Stadium and the nearest Underground station are now called Arsenal.

4. So do Arsenal still play at Arsenal Stadium?
Not any more. The building is now converted into flats, and the team now play at the new Emirates Stadium, which is just a few hundred metres from the old ground.

5. Why is it called Emirates Stadium?
Arsenal’s ground is named after the airline from the United Arab Emirates, whose sponsorship deal with Arsenal is the biggest in English football history.

6. Who attends Arsenal’s games?
The games are extremely well attended, and almost all Arsenal home games sell out. Arsenal have the highest attendance of non-white supporters at their games (with 7.7% being from other ethnic groups).

7. Who are Arsenal’s supporters?
Although Arsenal’s home games sell out, only a tiny proportion of Arsenal supporters ever go to an Arsenal game. This is because the club has an estimated 27 million fans around the world. There are supporters groups everywhere from Liberia to Hong Kong.

8. How successful have Arsenal been?
Arsenal have been phenomenally successful. They hold the record for the longest continuous period in the top league of English football (since 1919). And they are the only Premier League side to have got through a whole season without losing a match.