 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
ARSENAL FC
It is an honour to welcome football-superpower Arsenal with stars like Gilberto Silva, Francesc Fabregas and Robin van Persie back to the LG Amsterdam Tournament after a one year absence. In 2005 the team of manager Arsène Wenger took the trophy back to London after beating Ajax and FC Porto. Having moved to their spectacular new home ground, the Emirates Stadium, did cost them quite a few points at the start of the season. However, Arsenal finished in fourth position in the Premiership, securing next year’s Champions League preliminaries.
Arsenal are one of the most successful clubs in English football. Arsenal have won thirteen First Division and Premier League titles, ten FA Cups, one European Cup Winners’ Cup and in 2005–06 became the first London club to reach the UEFA Champions League final, which the Gunners lost to Barcelona. Arsenal have also set records in English football, most notably the most consecutive seasons spent in the top flight (80 as of 2006-07) and the longest run of unbeaten League matches (49 between May 2003 and October 2004).
Current club icons are manager Arsène Wenger and striker Van Persie. Arsène Wenger - who will next year enter his 12th season in charge of the Arsenal side - is the most successful manager in the club's history. He has won seven major trophies with the Gunners - three league titles and four FA Cups - as well as four Charity/Community Shields. He is the only Arsenal manager to have won the FA Cup more than once, and has won the League and FA Cup double twice (1998 and 2002), the first Arsenal manager to do so.