Arsenal History: The historic character and footprint of Arsenal FC

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·12 settembre 2025

Arsenal History: The historic character and footprint of Arsenal FC

One matchday after travelling by train, one will mostly walk out of Arsenal tube station which was once called Gillespie Road (1906-1932) before the North Londoner’s managerial pioneer Herbert Chapman had it renamed after sealing the club their first ever set of silverware, the 1930 FA Cup and the 1931 English First Division. Another option is Finsbury Park, just further down the line.

Not far from the left of the station as you come out, at the front of one’s house is Arsenal’s Supporters Club with a set of red corrugated iron gates guarding the property, which many have entered since originally opening in 1949. The site of Arsenal pandemonium has attracted many heroes who have previously worn the famous red and white shirt emblazoned with the golden Gunner insignia, including the likes of Liam Brady, most well known for scoring in Arsenal’s 1979 FA Cup 3-2 victory against Manchester United. In front of the main building is a white metal hut selling merchandise and next to that a brown wooden garden shed containing pretty much every single Arsenal programme under the sun in recent times.

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Highbury, Chapman and the Marble Halls

Coming out of the Arsenal Supporters Club on St Thomas Road, if you take the next right following Avenell Road upwards you will come across “the Home of Football” Highbury, home of The Arsenal from 1913 to 2006. It was designed by the famous 19th/20th century architect Archibald Leitch, who was the mastermind behind Anfield, Old Trafford, Ibrox, Craven Cottage and many other sports grounds across the UK, including England Rugby’s home, Twickenham. The red and white art deco edifice displays a red and white black Gun on the front beneath “Arsenal Stadium” in further prominent red lettering. If you dare to walk through the site’s entrance decorated by red silhouette windows you come across Arsenal’s legendary Marble Halls, where on the floor lies a mighty red cannon. To the left is the original club ticket office, pointed out by an original metal plated sign hanging above it on the wall. Right in front of you is the bust of Herbert Chapman, who said he wanted to make Arsenal the greatest club in the world and certainly put the Gunners on the map across all continents. He joined Arsenal after setting up Huddersfield Town for a hat trick of First Division league titles in the late 1920s, which no football outfit had achieved before. He would end up creating the same feat in North London during the early 1930s before passing away from pneumonia in 1934. In that time, on top of the tube station name change, he introduced the famous WM formation, floodlights, numbered shirts, the white ball and arguably the most well known change, adding white sleeves to Arsenal’s shirts which stick to this day almost a century later (1933).

If you walk back out of the ground and turn round the corner you can enter Highbury Square, where on Arsenal’s old pitch is a garden with a variety of green wildlife on display. You can see all four sides of the ground which do not look too different to how it used to look originally, despite the stadium being adapted to accommodate flats. By the old Clock End on the wall are a couple of memorial plaques to pay legacy to one of Arsenal’s greatest goalscorers in history, Ted Drake, who holds the record (7) for the most strikes bagged in a top flight game of English football during a 7-1 thumping of Aston Villa in December 1935, as well as one for the Laughing Policeman, Charles Penrose, who gave thousands of Arsenal fans great pre match entertainment for many years.

Emirates Stadium (getty images)

Emirates Stadium and the modern Arsenal identity

Leaving Highbury, if you resume up Avenell Road and walk round the corner you will find Arsenal’s current home, the Emirates Stadium, since 2006. After leaving Highbury Arsenal have won four FA Cups (2014, 2015, 2017, 2020), five Community Shields (2014, 2015, 2017, 2020, 2023) and nine Emirates Cups (2007, 2009, 2010, 2015, 2017, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025). The 60,704 capacity modern designed oval stadium, which is due to be upgraded to 80,000 by Euro 28, holds several key banners with each one meaning something unique to Arsenal fans, alongside displaying over 50 club men’s and women’s Gunner heroes.

The Victoria Concordia Crescit (translating to Victory Through Harmony) depicts a neo-classical style cover displaying 12 club legends standing by the iconic Arsenal cannon and flags in the background. Remember Who You Are pays homage to Highbury, showing off its infamous East Stand, completed by manager and players from all periods of history. The name originates from a sadly no longer with us Arsenal legend, David Rocastle.

The Invincible commemorates two of the Gunners’ greatest achievements, the men’s 2003/04 Premier League campaign (which they went unbeaten in) and the women’s 2006/07 Champions League moment of glory, which Arsenal Women eclipsed in 2025 when they became the Champions of Europe once again.

Eighteen Eighty Six, perhaps less exciting but most crucial, displays the year Arsenal were founded in Woolwich down the River Thames in South London, as well as covering the motto “Always Forward”.

Come to See The Arsenal, the towering font of the red wording is inspired by the lettering on Arsenal’s old East Stand at Highbury and can be seen from the railway line surrounding the ground.

We All Follow The Arsenal demonstrates the Gunners’ global presence, compiling 187 handmade flags and banners from over 150 official supporter groups around the world.

Future Brilliance, inspired by a quote from previous manager Arsene Wenger, shines on players becoming club legends.

Found A Place Where We Belong, last but not least, paints a picture of 721 supporters and staff, past and present, which I can say I am proudly on alongside my Grandad. It draws its name from a quote made by the North Londoner’s tenth all time top striker (120) Dennis Bergkamp, who the fans still chant about today “walking in a Winter Wonderland”.

Outside are a few statues paying tribute to a number of club legends. By the bridge, as you come into the ground from the tube end, is a monument of a young boy playing with a football, unveiled in 2014. His name is Ken Friar, the now 91 year old has worked at Arsenal for over 70 years (1950) and is currently Arsenal’s Life President.

Just like at Highbury, the Emirates offers a home for a statue for Chapman, stood with his hands behind his back staring in awe at Arsenal’s most recent architectural achievement, which arguably they might not have had without his earlier success and ethos he installed at Arsenal. It was erected in 2011 next to the Clock End.

Outside the North Bank Stand, in the same year, a bronze casting was installed of one of Arsenal’s best ever captains, Tony Adams, positioned in his most memorable celebration with his hands out in the air after scoring in 1998 to help Arsenal win their first ever Premier League title under Arsene Wenger.

By the South East corner during 2014, a casting was put in place of Arsenal’s most successful striker ever (228), Thierry Henry, with him sliding down on the floor beside the club’s silver metal picture showcase of every team to date in history.

Arsenal’s longest serving manager of 22 years, Wenger, was gifted his own statue outside by the North Bank Stand in 2023 with him holding the Premier League trophy to the sky, which he heralded three times between 1998 and 2004 at Arsenal, including a golden one which no other team has secured in the competition’s history.

A level below the Emirates Stadium are three club shops in one, The Armoury, Finsbury Park store and The Arsenal at Highbury. Outside are two black cannons on display and many fan plaques with their names on and the names of loved ones.

There are a number of pubs to explore on matchday before and afterwards which have been visited for decades. The Tollington Arms, The Highbury Tavern and The Gunners Pub are a few names to boast about.

This is the character The Arsenal has brought to North London and Islington since arriving over the River Thames in 1913 from Woolwich.

Liam Harding

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