October 1886...or more seriously in 1893/4 when we became the first southern and London team to join the Football League. The next southern team to join was Luton in 1898/9; and then not until 1905/6 did London get members with Chelsea and Leyton Orient. In 1907/8 Fulham joined, and a year later Spurs. West Ham joined in 1919/20. In 1920/1 the League added a third division and that is when more London clubs joined - Palace, QPR, Millwall and Brentford. In 1921/2 the third division was divided into north and south, and Charlton joined.

In all the years since 1893/4 Arsenal have been London's biggest club - we never needed to usurp any other club. From time to time others have been more successful, and while Spurs may be our biggest rivals, they have won comparatively few trophies. Historiccally speaking Chelsea are getting closer to eclipsing us in that regard - possibly by the 2030s.

October 1886...or more seriously in 1893/4 when we became the first southern and London team to join the Football League. The next southern team to join was Luton in 1898/9; and then not until 1905/6 did London get members with Chelsea and Leyton Orient. In 1907/8 Fulham joined, and a year later Spurs. West Ham joined in 1919/20. In 1920/1 the League added a third division and that is when more London clubs joined - Palace, QPR, Millwall and Brentford. In 1921/2 the third division was divided into north and south, and Charlton joined.

In all the years since 1893/4 Arsenal have been London's biggest club - we never needed to usurp any other club. From time to time others have been more successful, and while Spurs may be our biggest rivals, they have won comparatively few trophies. Historiccally speaking Chelsea are getting closer to eclipsing us in that regard - possibly by the 2030s.

Although we did fiddle our way into the top division at others expense.

Can someone he hasn’t blocked tell him, again, that Arsenal have been relegated. A long time ago, in 1913. But it did happen.

I choose to ignore that. We have never been relegated. That's the story I'm sticking with.

Lee Mason once again showing his utter incompetence as a referee. Watch the West Brom v Brighton game later if you haven’t seen what happened.
He disallows a goal, then gives it, then disallows it again.....and no one is still any the wiser why

Lee Mason once again showing his utter incompetence as a referee. Watch the West Brom v Brighton game later if you haven’t seen what happened.
He disallows a goal, then gives it, then disallows it again.....and no one is still any the wiser why

Never thought I'd see a ref use several minutes of VAR checks to determine whether a free kick was taken before or after he blew the whistle. If that's what he was checking - it certainly wasn't clear what the reason was, and didn't seem clear to Mason either.

A farce made in heaven, by Mason. How he didn't see or aware that the WBA GK was still lining up his defense prior to the free kick is anyone's guess. The GK was reclining against the post, cool as you like, as though casually smoking a cig outside a bar. Whistle blown, kick taken, GK suddenly wakes up, leaps across goal, too late to stop ball. Mason decides to blow whistle a second time as ball crosses to the net. Absolute confusion follows.
Goal stands, doesn't stand. Obviously Mason wasn't aware that the GK wasn't ready before blowing whistle for the free kick. Realised it too late after the kick taken, blew whistle second time. Ball already was over the line before second whistle blown it looked like. Needed VAR to sort it. So no goal.

If you want to see refereeing incompetence re-defined, watch a re-run of Wales v England this afternoon.

All Mason had to do is get both captains together and say ‘I thought everyone was set up so a blew to restart the game, then I realised the gk wasn’t set, that’s my mistake, I’m sorry lads but we’re going to have to take the free kick again’
I don’t know if there is anything actually in the rules saying the ref must allow the defence to set themselves up but surely once he’s said to both teams that no quick free kick will happen and they must play to his whistle he is obligated to make sure both teams are ready when he restarts the game

This for AG's benefit, as apparently he doesn't seem to research info entirely.

Arsenal was the first club from the South of England to join The Football League, in 1893, and they reached the First Division in 1904. Relegated only once, in 1913, they continue the longest streak in the top division, and have won the second-most top-flight matches in English football history.

Hello Zed,

Thanks for your post. I'm actually well aware of our history and of us being relegated. It's one of the first things any Gooner reads about when they look at our history and sperz fans will remind us at ever turn. Perhaps my answer to Long Time Gooner ("I choose to ignore that. We have never been relegated. That's the story I'm sticking with.")
prompted your post.

The 'that' I am referring to is our being relegated. In jest I said I chose to ignore that. Weak attempt at humour perhaps. I just choose to ignore us being relegated, just like a lot of revisionist history such as America choosing to ignore we lost to you lot in what we call the 'War of 1812'

Anyway, good luck to he boys today.

Cheers

*%^@

All Mason had to do is get both captains together and say ‘I thought everyone was set up so a blew to restart the game, then I realised the gk wasn’t set, that’s my mistake, I’m sorry lads but we’re going to have to take the free kick again’
I don’t know if there is anything actually in the rules saying the ref must allow the defence to set themselves up but surely once he’s said to both teams that no quick free kick will happen and they must play to his whistle he is obligated to make sure both teams are ready when he restarts the game

No Martinelli again despite 6 changes and his favorite son Willian gets to start.

Arteta has done his best to *%^@ up Saliba and now appears to be doing the same thing with Martinelli. He wasn't even picking Martinelli before his injury so clearly he does not rate him. He is hardly nurturing his or Saliba's talents.

I've had it with Arteta, he talks the talk but all I see from him is poor man management, questionable team selections, poor substitutions and favoritism.

I want Arteta gone........the sooner the better. There, I've said it.

No Martinelli again despite 6 changes and his favorite son Willian gets to start.

Arteta has done his best to *%^@ up Saliba and now appears to be doing the same thing with Martinelli. He wasn't even picking Martinelli before his injury so clearly he does not rate him. He is hardly nurturing his or Saliba's talents.

I've had it with Arteta, he talks the talk but all I see from him is poor man management, questionable team selections, poor substitutions and favoritism.

I want Arteta gone........the sooner the better. There, I've said it.

1 Leno
17 Cédric Soares
23 David Luiz
22 Marí
3 Tierney
25 Elneny
34 Xhaka
19 Pépé
32 Smith Rowe
12 Willian
9 Lacazette

Substitutes
2 Bellerín
7 Saka
8 Ceballos
11 Ødegaard
14 Aubameyang
16 Holding
18 Partey
33 Ryan
35 Martinelli

For the life of me I do not understand what Arteta is doing..............

The Martinelli thing is just weird. He’s had plenty of minutes this season and done nothing. He’s a promising lad but it’s not like we are ignoring Messi also clearly he’s struggling since he came back from injury.

A self created stick to beat the manager with. Utter nonsense

No Martinelli again despite 6 changes and his favorite son Willian gets to start.

Arteta has done his best to *%^@ up Saliba and now appears to be doing the same thing with Martinelli. He wasn't even picking Martinelli before his injury so clearly he does not rate him. He is hardly nurturing his or Saliba's talents.

I've had it with Arteta, he talks the talk but all I see from him is poor man management, questionable team selections, poor substitutions and favoritism.

I want Arteta gone........the sooner the better. There, I've said it.

Arteta prioritising Europa League