A football club like Arsenal has a rich and storied history. What that does is create facts and trivia that all Gunners fans can boast about to their friends.
Given their stature as one of the world’s foremost clubs, Arsenal often feature in easy to hard football quizzes, and some fans will have encyclopaedic knowledge of the club. Do you know some of the key pieces of information about the club like records, though?
Most Successful Team in FA Cup History
No club has lifted the world’s oldest knockout football competition, the FA Cup, more times than Arsenal with 14 successes. Those have come over a 90-year period starting with their maiden victory at the old Wembley over Huddersfield Town in 1930.
The Gunners extended their FA Cup record with a 14th win on their 21st appearance in the final in 2020 when beating London rivals Chelsea 2-1 thanks to Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s double. After lifting the trophy four times since 2013-14, you wouldn’t put it past them to enjoy more glory either.
Most Arsenal Appearances – David O’Leary
Many footballing greats have pulled on Arsenal jersey down the years, but the player who turned out most for the team was Republic of Ireland defender David O’Leary. Between 1975 and 1993, he made 722 appearances
O’Leary, who went on to finish his playing career with Leeds United, won the old First Division, League Cup and FA Cup twice each during his 18 years in the Gunners’ first-team. Following such loyal service, it’s no surprise that he holds the individual records for the most league and cup appearances.
Record Arsenal Goalscorer – Thierry Henry
Only one player has scored more than 150 league goals for Arsenal and over 200 in all competitions – Thierry Henry. This prolific Gunners marksman was a revelation when switched from operating out on the wing to a central striking role.
Henry swept defenders aside with his pace and lethal finishing. Voted into the PFA Team of the Year in six consecutive seasons, he fired the Gunners’ Invincibles vintage to an unbeaten Premier League campaign in 2003-04, netting a career-best 30 in 37.
With France, Henry tasted World Cup glory on home soil in 1998 and followed-up at Euro 2000. It is Arsenal with whom he is synonymous, however, and he returned for a brief loan spell at the Emirates during the winter of 2012.
Record Arsenal Signing – Nicolas Pepe
The transfer fees paid by the Gunners have gone up notably in recent years. Germany playmaker Mesut Ozil was their record signing for almost four years until Alexandre Lacazette joined from Lyon.
He was then eclipsed by Aubameyang’s arrival at the Emirates Stadium from Borussia Dortmund six months later. The Gabon forward didn’t cost as much as Ivory Coast winger Nicolas Pepe, however.
It cost £72,000,000 to prise him away from Lille over the summer of 2019. Pepe enjoyed a prolific previous season in France but it seems he’s still adjusting to the rigours of Premier League life.
