The twenties to the forties

Herbert Chapman

Herbert Chapman

The Herbert Chapman period 

In the 20's, Arsenal stayed in the First Division but usually kept in the middle of the tables until the now legendary Herbert Chapman took over as manager in the second half of the decade. He would stay for 8 years, transforming Arsenal to one of the greatest world football teams. The Chapman managership proved to be yet another important turning point for Arsenal. Chapman had made a sterling job with Huddersfield Town before and he applied a lot of new ideas, taking Arsenal up to the 2nd position in 1926 and all the way to the FA Cup Final in the year 1927 where they lost narrowly to Cardiff City. So far, this was the best year in the Arsenal FC history. 

1933-34 season programme

The thirties - a good period 

Chapman managed to rename the nearest underground station in a brilliant PR move. He was the pioneer in the use of shirt numbers and he created the famous white sleeves. Under Chapman, Arsenal got their first major trophy when they won the FA Cup in 1930. After that, there was the first league championship (1931)and this was to be followed by several other titles and one more FA Cup in the next seven years.

Chapman pioneered in many other ways, he introduced medical care for the players, the best available, he started up young player training schemes, he created the first under-soil heating system so Arsenal could play in all weathers. Chapman, much ahead of his time, managed to make Arsenal the most powerful and the richest football club in the country. Arsenal was at the top.