We have been known as ‘The Arsenal’ for quite some time.
Herbert Chapman was the man who put the club on the map, and his players referred to the team as ‘The Arsenal’ regularly, as you can see below.
The clip is from a Pathé newsreel in 1932, focussing on the Arsenal side as they prepared for a second FA Cup Final in three years. The game ended badly in the ‘North v South Cup Final’ with Newcastle winning in controversial circumstances.
Bob John had given Arsenal the lead but Newcastle equalised through Jack Allen, who then scored the winner. That winning goal came from a cross which was delivered after the ball had gone out of play, but a goal-kick wasn’t given and Arsenal left Wembley empty handed.
Still, it’s nice to see players who we can read about but never had the privilege of watching as they nervously shuffle in front of a television camera. Something that today’s professionals are very much used to.