Arsenal are a team that has been consistently at the forefront of topflight English football since they were promoted to the Premier League in 1919. Part of that success is down to the fact that they have had some of the best managers to grace the beautiful game at their helm.
In this article, we’ll be looking at Arsenal’s top managers of all time.
Harry Bradshaw
Arguably the manager that set Arsenal on the path to becoming the footballing powerhouse they are today, Harry Bradshaw joined the Gunners from Burnley in 1899 when the team was still called the Woolwich Arsenal, and led them from being a mid-table club to being prompted into the then Second Division.
Herbert Chapman
If Harry Bradshaw started Arsenal’s winning ways, the Herbert Chapman cemented them in place. Joining the Gunners from Huddersfield Town, Chapman revitalized the way Arsenal played football, instituting the WM formation and the idea of counterattacking football.
Chapman would also make some key signings for the club, taking on Charlie Buchan, Alex James, and Arsenal legend Cliff Bastin. The new player and new approach to football won Arsenal’s two First Division titles and one FA Cup title.
Off the pitch, Chapman designed the red body and white sleeves of the iconic Arsenal kit and even had Arsenal added as an underground station stop.
Bertie Mee
Bertie Mee makes this list by doing something that only one other Arsenal manager has achieved; winning a European tournament.
Mee was at the helm when Arsenal won the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup final against the Belgian side Anderlecht. During his time at the club, he also won a First Division title and an FA Cup title in the same year, becoming the first Arsenal manager in history to “do the double”.
George Allison
Having taken over from Herbert Chapman after Chapman‘s tragically early death, George Allison continued to drive the kind of attacking football that had seen Arsenal become so effective under Chapman. He went on to two league titles and an FA Cup, while also becoming Arsenal’s second longest-serving manager.
Mikel Arteta
Arsenal took a fairly large chance when hiring Arteta. The Spanish player might have made a name for himself as one of the games best midfield playmakers in his day, but he had virtually no experience as a head coach.
His three and a half year contract was an indication that the Arsenal board had faith in his ability and, so far, that faith has been rewarded. The Gunners are holding steady at the top end of the Premier League and have 7.30 odds, according to Marathon Bet, of winning the Europa League and bringing home Arsenal’s first European trophy since 1994.
George Graham
Having been a Gunner’s player during the Bertie Mee years, George Graham joined Arsenal as the manager in 1986. He would go on to lead the team on one of its most successful trophy hunts, picking up two First Division titles, one FA Cup, two League Cups, and one UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup during his time at the helm.
In contrast to Herbert Chapman’s aggressive football, George Graham would see the Gunners become known for their defensive solidity and would sign key players such as Ian Wright and David Seaman.
Arsene Wenger
No list of great Arsenal managers could be complete without mentioning everyone’s favorite Frenchman. Arsene Wenger joined the club in 1996, having previously managed the Japanese side Nagoya Grampus the same side that football legend Gary Lineker had seen out the end of his career at.
Famously obsessive about football, Wenger encouraged his players to make decisions on the fly and not rely on him to micromanage them on the pitch. This approach paid off, with Arsenal winning seven trophies, four FA Cups and three League titles. During the 2003-04 season, he also led Arsenal to a completely unbeaten season.
He was also famous for getting the best from his players, promoting Patrick Vieira, Thierry Henry, and Cesc Fabregas to superstar status and implementing a youth program that still benefits arsenal to this day.
