Arsenal is a member of the Premier League, England's top football league. The club has won a record 14 FA Cups, two League Cups, 16 FA Community Shields, the League Centenary Trophy, one European Cup Winners' Cup, and one Inter-Cities Fairs Cup. In 1893, Arsenal became the first club from the South of England to join the Football League, and in 1904, they were promoted to the First Division. They have only been relegated once, in 1913, and they have the longest unbroken run in the top flight.
Arsenal were founded as Dial Square in 1886 by munitions workers at the Royal Arsenal in Woolwich. The club relocated to Arsenal Stadium in Highbury in 1913. While they have been very successful in their history, they have also faced many downs. Here we take a look at the most embarrassing defeats of the club in history.
5. Chelsea 6-0 Arsenal (2013-14 Premier League)
Arsene Wenger's 1,000th game in charge of Arsenal was a disaster for the Frenchman, as his 10-man squad was thrashed by Chelsea. After seven minutes, Arsenal had fallen two goals behind, with Samuel Eto'o and then Andre Schurrle benefiting from clinical Chelsea counter-attacking. Hazard scored the third through a penalty and Oscar bagged a brace to make it five. Salah's goal rounded off a miserable afternoon for the visitors, who were defeated 6-0 away from home. It was Jose Mourinho's biggest Premier League victory as Chelsea manager, and it was also the first time Chelsea had scored six goals against their London rivals in their history.
4. West Brom 7-0 Arsenal (1922-23 First Division)
After four consecutive seasons in the top-flight, Arsenal faced West Bromwich Albion at the Hawthorns. It was the 11th matchday of the top-flight and the Gunners has defeated the Baggies 3-1 at home just a week ago. They were in a comfortable position and weren’t aware of what was coming their way. West Brom bounced back from the 3-1 loss and defeated Arsenal 7-0 at home. It was their heaviest defeat in the top-tier for three seasons when they lost 7-0 again against the Hammers.
3. West Ham 7-0 Arsenal (1926-27 First Division)
West Ham hosted the Gunners at home in the 31st game week of the 1926-27 First Divison League. It was the 35th season of the English Football League. However, things didn’t go as planned for the Gunners as they succumbed to an embarrassing 7-0 loss away from home. This wasn’t the only heavy defeat inflicted upon them that season as they lost against Sunderland (5-1), Newcastle United (6-1), Leeds (4-1), Sheffield (4-0), Liverpool (3-0). Arsenal ended up 11th in the league with 17 wins and 16 losses.
2. Manchester United 8-2 Arsenal (2011-12 Premier League)
Arsenal had a depleted squad due to injury, and they were still looking for their first win of the season. Instead, they were on the receiving end of one of their most heinous scorelines in franchise history. Manchester United defeated Arsenal 8–2, their heaviest league defeat since 1927. Wayne Rooney scored a hat-trick, Ashley Young scored a brace, and Nani, Park Ji-Sung, and Danny Welbeck, who scored the game's first goal, all scored for United. Arsenal's scorers were Theo Walcott and Robin Van Persie.
1. Loughborough Town 8-0 Arsenal (1896 2nd Division)
Woolwich Arsenal was the Football League's first southern member, starting in the Second Division and progressing to the First Division in 1904. The Gunners were thrashed 8-0 by Loughborough back in 1896. To this day, that record stands as Arsenal's largest defeat margin. On December 12, 1896, Arsenal was forced to play two matches on the same day, which was unusual. While the first team competed in the League against Loughborough, the reserves competed in the FA Cup against Leyton. The irony is that Arsenal's reserves won convincingly, 5–0, while the seniors suffered their first league defeat.
