Up Coming Gathering

This post has been edited by kimhoong: Feb 3 2009, 11:22 AM

The Emotional Highbury and The Grand Ashburton Grove

Highbury 1913-2006

For the majority of their time in south-east London, Arsenal played at the Manor Ground in Plumstead, a three-year period at the nearby Invicta Ground between 1890 and 1893 excepted. The Manor Ground was initially just a field, but the club installed stands and terracing in time for their first Football League match in September 1893. They played their home games there for the next twenty years (with two exceptions in 1894�95), until the move to north London in 1913.



Arsenal Stadium, widely referred to as Highbury, was Arsenal's home from September 1913 until May 2006. The original stadium was designed by the renowned football architect Archibald Leitch, and had a design common to many football grounds in the UK at the time, with a single covered stand and three open-air banks of terracing. In the 1930s, the entire stadium was given a massive overhaul, with new Art Deco West and East stands constructed, opening in 1932 and 1936 respectively; in addition, the North Bank terrace had a roof added, which was later bombed during World War II and not restored until 1956.

At its peak, Highbury could hold over 60,000 spectators, and had a capacity of 57,000 until the early 1990s. The Taylor Report and Premier League regulations forced Arsenal to convert Highbury into an all-seater in time for the 1993�94 season, reducing the capacity to 38,419 seated spectators. This capacity had to be reduced further during Champions League matches to accommodate additional advertising hoardings, so much so that for two seasons (1998�99 and 1999�00) Arsenal played Champions League home matches at Wembley, which could house more than 70,000 spectators.

Final moments - the emotions run high in Highbury



Ashburton Grove 2007-present

Expansion of Highbury was restricted because the East Stand had been designated as a Grade II listed building and the other three stands were close to residential properties. These limitations have prevented the club from maximising the revenue that their domestic form could have brought in recent seasons. After considering various options, in 2000 Arsenal proposed building a new 60,000-seater stadium at Ashburton Grove, since renamed the Emirates Stadium, about 500 metres south-west of Highbury. The project was initially delayed by red tape and rising costs, but construction was completed in July 2006, in time for the start of the 2006�07 season. The stadium is named after its sponsors, the airline company Emirates, with whom the club signed the largest sponsorship deal in English football history, worth approximately �100 million; however some fans refer to the ground as Ashburton Grove, or the Grove, as they do not agree with corporate sponsorship of stadium names.The stadium will be officially known as Emirates Stadium until at least 2012, and the airline will be the club's shirt sponsor until the end of the 2013�14 season.

Construction and completion of the Ashburton Grove

The Gunners 2008/2009


Arsenal Kit 2008/2009


Defining Moments of Arsenal FC

From foundation to the first World War

Arsenal Football Club began life when a group of workers at the Woolwich Arsenal Armament Factory decided to form a football team in late 1886. The Club played under the name of Dial Square. Their first match was a 6-0 victory over Eastern Wanderers, on December 11, 1886. Soon after, the name Royal Arsenal was adopted and the Club continued playing in friendlies and local cup competitions for the next few years.


In 1891 the Club turned professional and changed its name to Woolwich Arsenal, finally joining the Football League in 1893. The Gunners moved to their current home at Highbury in 1913, as a Second Division side. Following the First World War Arsenal were voted into the newly expanded First Division, where they have remained ever since.

Chapman and the glorious thirties

Herbert Chapman took over at Arsenal in 1925, and in 1930 he guided the Gunners to their first ever trophy � beating Huddersfield Town in the FA Cup Final. The following season Arsenal were champions for the first time. Between 1933 and 1935 the Club won a hattrick of league titles (which has only been achieved by four teams in the top flight). Sadly Chapman died in the middle of the run, by which time he had reached legend status.

George Allison took over and the dominance continued for the rest of the decade, winning one more FA Cup (1936) and another title (1938). During this time Arsenal had some of the game�s greatest players on its books: Alex James, Ted Drake, Cliff Bastin, David Jack, Eddie Hapgood and George Male were just some of the names in what was one of the greatest sides ever to play in the Football League.



Post War to the first double

The Second World War stopped Arsenal in their tracks but Tom Whittaker became manager and more success followed. Arsenal were Champions in 1947/48 and 1952/53; FA Cup winners in 1950 and runners-up in 1952. The �60s provided little in the way of silverware at Highbury, with two losing appearances in the League Cup Final in 1968 and 1969 being the closest thing to success. Bertie Mee had taken over in the mid-Sixties and Arsenal lifted their first ever European trophy in 1969/70, beating Anderlecht 4-3 over the two legged Fairs Cup Final.
Better was to follow the following season. An Arsenal side containing the likes of Charlie George, George Armstrong, Ray Kennedy and captain Frank McLintock, won the league and FA Cup �double�. They clinched the title at White Hart Lane, then beat Liverpool after extra time at Wembley to win the Cup. The side returned to Wembley for three consecutive FA Cup Finals under Terry Neill at the end of the decade � winning the second of them, 3-2 against Manchester United. The game became known as the �Five Minute Final�. The Gunners also reached the 1980 Cup Winners� Cup Final, with a team that included Graham Rix, Frank Stapleton, Pat Rice, David O�Leary and Liam Brady, but lost on penalties to Valencia.

George Graham's honours

In 1986 George Graham, a member of the 1971 �double� winning team, took over as manager from Don Howe and more glory days followed. He led Arsenal to their first ever League Cup triumph in 1986/87, beating Liverpool 2-1 in the Final. Two years later the Gunners won the League Championship, with a famous last minute goal from Michael Thomas clinching the title with a 2-0 win at Anfield. Another title followed in 1990/91, when the side, including the famous defensive back four, lost just one league game.

More silverware followed. In 1992/93 Arsenal became the first club to win both domestic cups in the same season. Sheffield Wednesday were the beaten side on both occasions. Graham�s era of success was rounded off the following season. A superb run in the European Cup Winners� Cup ended with a memorable 1-0 win over Parma in the Final in Copenhagen, thanks to Alan Smith�s strike. Arsenal failed to retain the trophy the following season, losing in the 1995 final to Real Zaragoza. By this time George Graham had left the Club. He was succeeded by Bruce Rioch, who was in charge for one season, during which time he signed Dennis Bergkamp.

The Arsene Wenger and the Invincibles Era

Early in the 1996/97 season Ars�ne Wenger arrived at Highbury, becoming the Club�s first ever manager from outside the British Isles. In 1997/98, Wenger�s first full season at Highbury, Arsenal achieved the League and FA Cup �double�, for the second time in the Club�s history. Dennis Bergkamp was named Football Writers� Association (FWA) Player of the Year, and PFA Player of the Year. A tremendous season was rounded off perfectly for French Internationals Emmanuel Petit and Patrick Vieira as the Gunners stars played their part in France�s victorious World Cup campaign. The Club also said goodbye to striking legend Ian Wright, who left Arsenal as record goalscorer with 185 goals in all competitions.

In each of the next three seasons Arsenal were runnersup in the Premier League, and had plenty of involvement in cup competitions. In 2000 Arsenal lost in the UEFA Cup Final on penalties to Galatasaray, and the following year lost the first ever FA Cup Final played at the Millennium Stadium, 2-1 to Liverpool. In 2001 the Gunners also reached the Quarter- Final stages of the UEFA Champions League for the first time, but lost out on away goals to Valencia. 2001/02 was to prove another momentous, recordbreaking season for the Club. Arsenal completed the first leg of their third �double� by beating Chelsea 2-0 in the FA Cup Final, and ended the season with a 13-game winning streak. The 12th Championship was made secure with a game to spare courtesy of a memorable 1-0 win over Manchester United at Old Trafford. Arsenal were unbeaten away from home for the entire league campaign.

The following season Arsenal narrowly missed out on retaining the title but the Gunners became the first English club in more than 20 years to retain the FA Cup with their 1-0 victory over Southampton at Cardiff. Thierry Henry was voted player of the season by the PFA and the Football Writers� Association. Season 2003/2004 saw Arsenal win back the title in unbeatable fashion - managing to go though the entire league season without a single defeat. Finishing 11 points ahead of second-place Chelsea, Arsenal smashed several records on the way to their 13th league title win.
Spanish youngster Cesc Fabregas arrived in January and by the end of the season he had broken the records for the youngest Arsenal player and goalscorer. The Club, playing some mesmerising attacking football, were also close to an unprecedented fourth �double� but lost in the FA Cup semi-final. The Champions League campaign came to an end at the quarter-final stage.

The unbeaten run continued into the following season, and in August 2004 Arsenal overtook Nottingham Forest�s record for the longest all-time unbeaten sequence in English league football. The tally eventually reached 49 games. The Gunners made it five trophies in four seasons by winning the FA Cup following a penalty shoot-out success over Manchester United. Arsenal skipper Patrick Vieira converted the decisive spot-kick, and it proved to be his final kick for the Club, as he left after nine years� service to join Juventus shortly afterwards. The 2005/06 campaign will be Arsenal�s final season at Highbury, the Club�s home since 1913.

The Trophy Cabinet

The LYN Gooners


This post has been edited by kimhoong: Feb 3 2009, 10:44 AM

For signature sharing

OK, let's rock and roll (not rickrolled )

The poll is "Just for fun"

Some last posts of previous thread:

I think arsenal will sign some1 we least expected.

Woah! new house.
Bro can you add me on the ARSENAL FAN list.
I still hoping for Arteta to come, he also can play in the wing when Cesc come back
another one I always wanted to play for Arsenal is Lorik Cana and Jesus Navas

This post has been edited by atreyuangel: Jan 7 2009, 09:31 AM

In fact, Signing Arteta news getting more quiet nowadays while news about Arshavin becomes a gunner is hotting up.

long time din't come in edi..

well, the fact that zenit have already confirmed that arsenal have inquired about the player doesn't really help with the rumours right? =)
although i would rather a midfielder with more defensive steel... i guess arshavin would be better than nobody... IF it happens that is...

---

Added on January 7, 2009, 10:08 amhere's more rumours to fuel your day...

Jack signs on (not like a scouser) + transfer rumours



This post has been edited by lostasylum: Jan 7 2009, 10:08 AM

Yep the Arshavin news has become more hot with the statement from Advocaat that he admit defeat in holding him.
Btw in Arteta case, we should get him and swap with Bendtner on loan to Everton,
they are in dire need of a strike and Nicky can also have a lot of 1st team experience.

Come on Gunners, just wrap up the players we intend to sign and sell the players who we dont need. I smell, Nicky and Toure off to elsewhere.

Arshavin is a possibility and i think he'll bring some creativity, tenacity and extra movement. Just hope he doesnt end up like Roman Pavyluchenko who so far hasnt proven anything yet.

i don't think both of them will be going anywhere (at least not in this transfer window)... but that's just my gut feeling and not based on any fact or reliable source... =)

wonder why lucas' name hasn't been linked to you guys yet? He's a simple, no fuss midfielder, the kind who embodies what Arsenal is today - get the ball, pass it and move into a new position. Most of the Liverpool fans cannot understand the beauty of his play and while Alonso is pretty much the flavour of the season, this brazilian lad is very much under appreciated.

This post has been edited by madmoz: Jan 7 2009, 11:04 AM

yea heard a lot of liv fans of my friends says lucas is rubbish... but i think he's doing ok now aight?

Lucas caught my attention during our match. Yes you are right about his quality, in fact, he was good in tackling and provoking But still, I don't think he will be allowed to leave... yet

surely his not allowed to leave, despite liv fans not appreciating his qualities on the pitch. Rafa benitez still rates that kid high. haha

am very excited about the prospect of arshavin's move is possible =)

He was bought as hot prospect for the future...And he wont come cheap if any party is interested