WOULD THIS CHEER UP JOSE?

I suspect a few Manchester United fans, players, backroom staff, manager and investors would wish that this score line could be replicated sometime soon, to raise spirits.

This victory occurred on August 28th 2011 at Old Trafford in the Premier League, when Arsenal conceded 8 goals for the first time since 1896. The 1896 result was a 0-8 defeat on December 12th at Loughborough Town in the Football League Division 2. Arsenal ended up 10th in the division and Loughborough 13th.

Manchester United joined the Football League in 1892 when they were put straight into the First Division as it grew from 14 to 16 clubs. This was the first season of two Football League divisions and Newton Heath (later to be Man Utd) came bottom of Division One but were not relegated as the FL grew. Division Two was made up from 12 teams.

In 1893-4 the Football League continued with two divisions, Division One had 16 clubs and Newton Heath came bottom again and were relegated. Meanwhile, Woolwich Arsenal joined Division Two during this season, coming 9th in the division.

The first official match between the United and Arsenal was played between Newton Heath and Woolwich Arsenal, who visited and played out a 3-3 draw on October 13th 1894. (Makes you wonder how they would have travelled?) At the end of that season, Newton Heath were 3rd and Woolwich Arsenal 9th in the div.

Here are two of Arsenal original crests, including the first one from 1888 (sadly slightly out of focus) and number 2, the Crest of the Borough of Woolwich on which is was based.
The "Art Deco" one (below/below!) from the early 1950s, is classy don't you think?


More recently, Arsenal were beaten 2-6 by United on 28th November 1990 in the League Cup.
Overall, results between the two clubs result have been; Arsenal won 82 games, United 98, with 47 drawn.

Down the road in North London on 27th August 1988, Paul Gascoigne's debut for Tottenham v Coventry, in the first match of the season, was delayed because of unfinished building of the South Stand at White Hart Lane! Now there's a coincidence.