Arsenal pada awalnya ditubuhkan sebagai "Dial Square" pada tahun 1886 oleh para pekerja di Royal Arsenal di Woolwich, London Tenggara. However, they changed their name to “Royal Arsenal” soon after, and did so again in 1891, calling themselves “Woolwich Arsenal” before going professional. Namun, mereka menukar nama menjadi "Royal Arsenal" akan selepas itu, dan melakukannya lagi pada tahun 1891, menyebut diri mereka "Woolwich Arsenal" sebelum pergi profesional. They were admitted to the Second Division of the Football League in 1893, and won promotion to the First Division in 1904. Mereka mengakui ke Divisi II Liga Bola Sepak pada 1893, dan memenangi promosi ke Divisi Pertama pada tahun 1904.
The club then started to have financial troubles, and went bankrupt by 1910. Kelab ini kemudian mulai mempunyai masalah kewangan, dan muflis menjelang tahun 1910. Their geographic isolation in Woolwich was the main reason for this, as their attendances were lower than any of the other clubs. Isolasi geografi mereka di Woolwich adalah sebab utama untuk ini, kerana kehadiran mereka lebih rendah daripada salah satu kelab yang lain. Thus when Henry Norris took over after bankruptcy, he did so with a view to moving them elsewhere. Jadi ketika Henry Norris mengambil alih selepas kebangkrutan, ia melakukannya dengan maksud untuk memindahkan mereka di tempat lain. Although they were relegated back to the Second Division soon after, Arsenal still moved to their new home – the Arsenal Stadium, in Highbury, North London. Walaupun mereka diserahkan kembali ke Divisi Kedua akan selepas itu, Arsenal masih pindah ke rumah baru mereka - Stadium Arsenal, di Highbury, London Utara. A year later, they dropped “Woolwich” from their name, and came to be known by their present name of Arsenal. Setahun kemudian, mereka menjatuhkan "Woolwich" daripada nama mereka, dan kemudian dikenali dengan nama mereka saat Arsenal.
In 1919, as administrators sought to reshape the league, Arsenal were invited to join the First Division, controversially at the expense of local rivals Tottenham . Pada tahun 1919, sebagai pentadbir berusaha membentuk kembali kumpulan, Arsenal dijemput untuk bergabung dengan Divisi Pertama, kontroversial dengan mengorbankan saingan tempatan Tottenham . They were deemed as being a more attractive proposition for the league, although there were also suspicions of underhanded methods being employed by Henry Norris, but it was the birth of much success for Arsenal, who have never been relegated from the top-tier since. Mereka dianggap sebagai proposisi lebih menarik untuk kumpulan, walaupun ada juga kecurigaan kaedah licik yang digunakan oleh Henry Norris, tapi kelahiran banyak kejayaan untuk Arsenal, yang tidak pernah diturunkan dari top-tier sejak.
In 1925, Arsenal appointed Huddersfield Town manager Herbert Chapman to take over at the club, and it was to be a masterstroke, as Chapman went on to be an innovator and legend that changed the club as well as English football. Pada tahun 1925, Arsenal dilantik Huddersfield Town pengurus Herbert Chapman untuk mengambil alih kelab, dan itu menjadi masterstroke, seperti Chapman terus menjadi inovator dan legenda yang mengubah kelab serta bola sepak Inggeris. Chapman had just won the league twice with Huddersfield Town in 1923–24 and 1924–25, and he brought his Midas touch to Arsenal. Chapman baru saja memenangi kumpulan dua kali dengan Huddersfield Town pada tahun 1923-1924 dan 1924-1925, dan dia membawa sentuhan Midas-nya ke Arsenal. He revolutionized the training methods for the club, as well as the tactics (the famous WM formation), and gave them their first period of major success. Dia merevolusi kaedah latihan untuk kelab, serta taktik (formasi WM terkenal), dan memberi mereka masa pertama mereka berjaya besar. He signed their first real star players in Alex James and former top-scorer Cliff Bastin, and gave Arsenal the platform to dominate English football in the 1930s. Dia menandatangani Pemain bintang pertama mereka nyata dalam Alex James dan bekas top-gol Cliff Bastin, Arsenal dan memberikan platform untuk mendominasi bola sepak Inggeris pada 1930-an. Under Chapman, Arsenal won the FA Cup in 1929–30, and the First Division in 1930–31 and 1932–33. Dalam Chapman, Arsenal memenangi Piala FA pada 1929-1930, dan Divisi Pertama di 1930-1931 dan 1932-1933. In 1932, it was under his influence that the local Gillespie Road tube station was renamed to “Arsenal”, making it the first station ever to be named after a football club. Pada tahun 1932, itu berada di bawah pengaruhnya bahawa Gillespie Road tempatan stesen kereta diubah namanya menjadi "Arsenal", sehingga stesen pertama yang diberi nama setelah sebuah kelab bola sepak.
In 1934, Chapman died suddenly and tragicly of pneumonia, but the appointments of Joe Shaw and George Allison from within the club ensured that the success continued. Pada 1934, Chapman meninggal secara mengejut dan tragicly pneumonia, tetapi pengangkatan Joe Shaw dan George Allison dari dalam kelab memastikan bahawa kejayaan terus. In the various periods under their guidance the Gunners won three more league titles in 1933–34, 1934–35 and 1937–38, and an FA Cup in 1935–36. Dalam berbagai tempoh di bawah bimbingan mereka The Gunners memenangi tiga gelaran kumpulan lebih di 1933-1934, 1934-1935 dan 1937-1938, dan Piala FA pada 1935-1936. Unfortunately, Arsenal faded as the decade ended with the advent of World War II, and professional football in England was suspended. Malangnya, Arsenal memudar sebagai dekad berakhir dengan munculnya Perang Dunia II, dan bola sepak profesional di Inggeris dihentikan.
In the post-war period, Arsenal once again managed to find success under Allison's successor – Tom Whittaker, winning the league in 1947–48 and 1952–53, and the FA Cup in 1949–50. Dalam tempoh pasca-perang, Arsenal kembali berhasil menemukan kejayaan di bawah pengganti Allison - Tom Whittaker, memenangi kumpulan tahun 1947-1948 dan 1952-1953, dan Piala FA 1949-1950. However, they experienced a period of decline after that, going most of the 1950s and 1960s without winning anything, and unable to attract any top players to the club. Namun, mereka mengalami masa penurunan selepas itu, sebahagian besar berlaku tahun 1950-an dan 1960-an tanpa memenangi apa-apa, dan tidak mampu menarik setiap pemain top ke kelab. Former England captain Billy Wright was brought in as manager to try and revive the club's fortunes, but his reign from 1962-66 was disappointing and trophyless. Mantan kapten Inggeris Billy Wright dibawa pengurus untuk mencuba dan menghidupkan kembali kekayaan kelab, tapi pemerintahannya 1962-66 sangat mengecewakan dan meraih satu gelaran.
In 1966, Arsenal made the interesting choice of appointing their physio Bertie Mee as manager, and it was to pay rich dividends. Pada tahun 1966, Arsenal membuat pilihan yang menarik penunjukan fisioterapi mereka Bertie Mee sebagai pengurus, dan itu untuk membayar dividen kaya. Despite losing two consecutive League Cup finals in 1967-68 and 1968-69, they went on to win the Fairs Cup in 1969-70, giving them their first European trophy. Meskipun kehilangan dua kali berturut-turut di final Piala Liga 1967-68 dan 1968-69, mereka pergi untuk memenangi Piala Pameran di 1969-1970, memberi mereka piala Eropah pertama mereka. They followed this up with the historic achievement of winning the double in 1970-71, the first such achievement for the club. Mereka mengikuti ini dengan pencapaian bersejarah memenangi ganda di 1970-1971, pencapaian seperti pertama untuk kelab. In the following years however, this history-making team was broken up, and despite a series of near misses in both the league and cups, Arsenal didn't manage any more success for the rest of the decade, apart from a classic, last-minute 3-2 FA Cup final victory over Manchester United in 1979. Pada tahun-tahun berikut Namun, pasukan ini sejarah pembuatan rosak, dan walaupun serangkaian nyaris baik di kumpulan dan cawan, Arsenal tidak berjaya berjaya lagi selama sisa dekad, selain dari klasik, terkini 3-2 minit kemenangan final Piala FA atas Manchester United pada tahun 1979.
In 1986, a golden era was ushered in by the return of Double-winning midfielder George Graham as manager. Pada tahun 1986, era keemasan diantar masuk dengan kembalinya gelandang memenangi Double-George Graham sebagai pengurus. The strict disciplinarian and tactician broke the drought in his first season with a League Cup win in 1986-87, and followed it with an historic league title win in 1988-89, where they beat their title rivals Liverpool 2-0 at Anfield in the last game of the season, scoring the deciding goal in injury time. The disiplin dan taktik pecah kekeringan di musim pertamanya dengan menang di Piala Liga 1986-1987, dan diikuti dengan gelaran kumpulan bersejarah menang di 1988-1989, di mana mereka mengalahkan saingan gelaran Liverpool 2-0 di Anfield dalam perlawanan diubah musim ini, mencetak gol penentu dalam injury time. This was the inspiration behind the book "Fever Pitch" by Nick Hornby, and the movie by the same name. Ini adalah inspirasi di balik buku "Fever Pitch" oleh Nick Hornby, dan filem dengan nama yang sama.
Graham won another title in 1990-91, with the team losing just a single game. Graham memenangi gelaran lain di 1990-91, dengan pasukan yang menang hanya permainan tunggal. He led the team to an FA and League Cup double in 1992-93, where they overcame Sheffield Wednesday in both finals, and brought the club their second European trophy, beating star-studded favourites Parma in the final of the 1993-94 Cup Winners' Cup final. Dia memimpin pasukan ke FA dan Piala Liga dua kali di 1992-1993, di mana mereka mengalahkan Sheffield Wednesday di kedua-dua final, dan membawa kelab piala Eropah kedua mereka, mengalahkan bintang-bintang kegemaran Parma di final Piala Winners 1993-1994 'Piala final. Graham was unfortunately sacked in 1995, after having been found guilty of taking bung payments from agent Rune Hauge in exchange for signing certain players. Sayangnya Graham dipecat pada tahun 1995, selepas dinyatakan bersalah memuat sumbat bayaran daripada wakil Rune Hauge dalam pertukaran untuk menandatangani pemain tertentu. His replacement Bruce Rioch lasted just a season, leaving after a dispute with the board of directors, who already had their eye on a new man. Penggantinya Bruce Rioch hanya berlangsung selama satu musim, meninggalkan selepas pertikaian dengan lembaga pengarah, yang sudah punya mata mereka pada orang baru. Rioch did not have much success, but restored some of the gloss with the signings of England international David Platt from Sampdoria , and Dutch maestro Dennis Berkgamp from Inter Milan . Rioch tidak mempunyai banyak kejayaan, tetapi dipulihkan beberapa gloss dengan pemain Inggeris David Platt antarabangsa dari Sampdoria , dan Belanda maestro Dennis Berkgamp dari Inter Milan . The latter would go on to become a club legend, and was instrumental in the following successes of Arsenal FC. Yang terakhir ini akan pergi untuk menjadi legenda kelab, dan berperanan penting dalam kejayaan seterusnya Arsenal FC.
Rioch's replacement was the little known Arsène Wenger. Rioch pengganti adalah sedikit dikenali Arsene Wenger. The cerebral Frenchman was largely unknown to the British press, but he revolutionised English football with his tactics, training and an attractive, passing style of football that was then alien to the English game. Orang Perancis otak sebahagian besar tidak diketahui oleh akhbar Inggeris, tapi ia merevolusi bola sepak Inggeris dengan taktik, latihan dan menarik, lewat gaya sepakbola yang kemudian asing bagi permainan Inggeris. He signed unknown, but highly-talented (mostly French) foreign players to complement the clubs ageing English core, and won the Double in his first full season as manager in 1997-98. Dia menandatangani diketahui, tetapi sangat-berbakat (terutama Perancis) Pemain asing untuk melengkapkan penuaan teras kelab Inggeris, dan memenangi Double di musim pertamanya penuh sebagai pengurus pada tahun 1997-98. He repeated this feat in 2001-02, and in 2003-04 achieved the improbable feat of winning the league unbeaten, with the “Invincibles” creating an unbeaten streak of 49 games spanning across 3 seasons in the process. Ia mengulangi prestasi di 2001-02, dan 2003-04 mencapai prestasi mustahil untuk menang kumpulan tak terkalahkan, dengan "Invincibles" mencipta streak terkalahkan dari 49 permainan yang merangkumi di 3 musim dalam proses. Apart from the 3 Premier League titles, Wenger has won 4 FA Cups , reached a UEFA Cup and Carling Cup Final, and took Arsenal to their first Champions League final. Selain daripada 3 gelaran Liga Perdana, Wenger telah memenangi 4 Piala FA , mencapai Piala UEFA dan Carling Cup Final, dan membawa Arsenal untuk pertama final Liga Champions. Arsenal have finished in the top 2 in 8 of Wenger's 10 seasons at the club, although they have never managed to retain the title after any of the 3 seasons in which they won it. Arsenal telah selesai dalam 2 utama di 8 dari 10 Wenger musim di kelab, meskipun mereka tidak pernah berjaya mengekalkan gelaran selepas salah satu daripada 3 musim di mana mereka menang.
Wenger was responsible for many things in the club – the creation of Arsenal's academy infrastructure, a state-of-the-art new training ground, and it was under his counsel that they changed location as well, moving from Highbury to the nearby stadium they had constructed at Ashburton Grove, the Emirates Stadium. Wenger bertanggung jawab untuk banyak hal di kelab tersebut - kejadian infrastruktur akademi Arsenal, tempat latihan state-of-the-seni baru, dan berada di bawah nasihatnya bahawa mereka mengubah lokasi juga, berpindah dari Highbury ke stadium di dekat situ mereka telah dibina di Ashburton Grove, Emirates Stadium. The new stadium had a much larger pitch, and at 60,000 seats accommodated a lot more fans than the 38,000+ seater Highbury. Stadium baru memiliki pitch yang lebih besar, dan 60.000 kerusi fans ditampung lebih banyak daripada penumpang yang Highbury 38.000 +.
Although the club went into severe debt, they were very well managed, and they have managed a decent level of success on the pitch, allied with low spending, and much-increased revenue from tickets. Meskipun kelab masuk ke hutang yang parah, mereka sangat dikendalikan dengan baik, dan mereka telah berjaya tahap kejayaan yang layak di lapangan, bersekutu dengan pengeluaran yang rendah, dan pendapatan yang sangat meningkat dari tiket. The stadium is now generally always sold out, and after a period of transition for the young team that Wenger built, the club is well on its way to recovery. Stadium sekarang umumnya selalu terjual habis, dan setelah masa peralihan untuk pasukan muda yang dibina Wenger, kelab baik dalam perjalanan menuju penyembuhan.
