Arsenal are one of the big guns in English football and challenge consistently for top honours. Under the leadership of Arsene Wenger, they are one of the most attractive teams to watch in Europe. Thanks in the early days to the immense influence of Tony Adams and the astute signings of players such as Thierry Henry, Patrick Vieira - now departed for Juventus - and Robert Pires now with Villareal, Arsenal climbed back to the top of the pile. Their rise culminated in a second FA Premier League and FA Cup double in 2002, to add to their 1998 achievement. Three runners-up finishes in the intervening years displays how the North London giants have lived up to their high standards over the last decade. The famous old Arsenal defence has a new look these days, but the replacements, and the recruits to midfield and attack have done enough to assure fans that they can live up to the achievements of their Highbury predecessors.
London's most successful FA Premier League club was formed by workers at the Royal Arsenal, Woolwich and was initially known as Dial Square before adopting the name Royal Arsenal in 1886. Renamed Woolwich Arsenal in 1891, they moved to Highbury in 1913 and dropped the prefix. They had to wait until the 1930s for their first period of sustained success when five Division One championships were won under Herbert Chapman and George Allison. Another pair of league trophies were lifted soon after the Second World War before further success arrived with the league and FA Cup Double in 1971. More near misses came before George Graham, a hero of 1971, was named manager in 1986 and the glory days returned. Two league titles, two League Cups, the FA Cup and the European Cup Winners' Cup were garnered during his nine-year reign. Frenchman Arsene Wenger was named Gunners boss in 1996 and the roll of honour continued. A first FA Premier League title made up half of the club's second Double in 1998. Their second FA Premier League title in 2002 - when they ended the season on a 28-game domestic unbeaten run - was also coupled with victory in the FA Cup final.

The Gunners added a third Premiership crown of Wenger's reign as their astonishing and unprecedented unbeaten run throughout the entire 2003-04 league season saw them lift the title. Wenger guided the Gunners to the Champions League final in 2006 only to lose 2-1 in the final to Barcelona.