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Arsenal vs Aston Villa: The 1st match

Arsenal vs Aston Villa (or Aston Villa vs Arsenal if you prefer) is a fixture that has been played since 1904 and it has returned more than it’s fair share of entertainment, but how did it all start?

Barely visible crowd at Arsenal vs Aston Villa, Plumstead, 1904
Barely visible crowd at Arsenal vs Aston Villa, Plumstead, 1904, Kentish Independent by Messrs Baldby & Rixon, Wellington Street, Woolwich

Arsenal vs Aston Villa first took place on 8 October, 1904, in front of 32,000 spectators at the Manor Ground, Plumstead. The Gunners had only just been promoted to the First Division ahead of the start of the season and were still called Woolwich Arsenal.

Playing into the sun and against a strong wind in the first half, Arsenal really let fly in the second. “And then how much Woolwich Arsenal had been playing within themselves against the ill conditions was shown when they ‘let themselves go’,” The Morning Post wrote two days later.

“Woolwich in pace and skill outplayed Aston Villa in the last half house, and their zealous and high-spirited football was worth much more than the odd goal of the match. The victory was the triumph of the half-backs.

“Woolwich Arsenal have now thoroughly justified their promotion to the first degree of the League. They have not been beaten at home, and their success in two matches against strong sides have drawn from them that fine ability which their brilliant career in the Second Division made it almost obvious that they possessed.

“Aston Villa were criticised on Saturday as being something of a disappointment. But, after all, there is something in the dictum, that ‘a side generally plays as well as its opponent let it.’

“That the Arsenal football has ‘caught on’ tremendously in the London area was again proved by the immense attendance. And it is now time that the South-Eastern and Chatham Company should endeavour to make it possible to get to Plumstead on a Saturday with some slighter degree of discomfort than has been recently experienced. The congested state of the trains from Cannon-Street and London Bridge on Saturday afternoon was an appeal in itself to the officials of the company to move in the matter.”

The winning goal was scored 20 minutes into the first half, Tim Coleman chasing down the ball before shooting. The Villa keeper, George, came out but as the ball hit him it fell to William Henry Gooing who rolled it into an empty net.

Arsenal went on to finish their first season in the top flight in 10th place, 15 points behind League title winners, Newcastle. Villa finished fourth and there was no sign of Spurs, Chelsea, or Manchester United.

1904-1905 First Division League table via Wikipedia
1904-1905 First Division League table via Wikipedia

Arsenal have remained in the top flight ever since.

Arsenal vs Aston Villa/Aston Villa vs Arsenal Head-to-Head

vs Aston Villa
Games won:83
Games drawn:45
Games lost:68
DateMatchResultScoreCompetition
08 Oct 1904Woolwich Arsenal vs Aston VillaW1-0League Division One
26 Dec 1904Aston Villa vs Woolwich ArsenalL3-1League Division One
27 Dec 1905Aston Villa vs Woolwich ArsenalL2-1League Division One
13 Apr 1906Woolwich Arsenal vs Aston VillaW2-1League Division One
29 Sep 1906Aston Villa vs Woolwich ArsenalD2-2League Division One
01 Apr 1907Woolwich Arsenal vs Aston VillaW3-1League Division One
12 Oct 1907Aston Villa vs Woolwich ArsenalW0-1League Division One
08 Feb 1908Woolwich Arsenal vs Aston VillaL0-1League Division One
07 Novs 1908Woolwich Arsenal vs Aston VillaL0-1League Division One
13 Mar 1909Aston Villa vs Woolwich ArsenalL2-1League Division One
01 Sep 1909Aston Villa vs Woolwich ArsenalL5-1League Division One
11 Apr 1910Woolwich Arsenal vs Aston VillaW1-0League Division One
17 Sep 1910Aston Villa vs Woolwich ArsenalL3-0League Division One
15 Mar 1911Woolwich Arsenal vs Aston VillaD1-1League Division One
09 Sep 1911Aston Villa vs Woolwich ArsenalL4-1League Division One
06 Jan 1912Woolwich Arsenal vs Aston VillaD2-2League Division One
16 Sep 1912Woolwich Arsenal vs Aston VillaL0-3League Division One
24 Mar 1913Aston Villa vs Woolwich ArsenalL4-1League Division One
24 Jan 1920Arsenal vs Aston VillaL0-1League Division One
11 Feb 1920Aston Villa vs ArsenalL2-1League Division One
28 Aug 1920Aston Villa vs ArsenalL5-0League Division One
04 Sep 1920Arsenal vs Aston VillaL0-1League Division One
18 Mar 1922Aston Villa vs ArsenalL2-0League Division One
25 Mar 1922Arsenal vs Aston VillaW2-0League Division One
31 Mar 1923Arsenal vs Aston VillaW2-0League Division One
07 Apr 1923Aston Villa vs ArsenalD1-1League Division One
16 Feb 1924Arsenal vs Aston VillaL0-1League Division One
12 Mar 1924Aston Villa vs ArsenalL2-1League Division One
18 Oct 1924Arsenal vs Aston VillaD1-1League Division One
01 Apr 1925Aston Villa vs ArsenalL4-0League Division One
20 Feb 1926Aston Villa vs ArsenalD1-1FA Cup
24 Feb 1926Arsenal vs Aston VillaW2-0FA Cup
02 Apr 1926Aston Villa vs ArsenalL3-0League Division One
05 Apr 1926Arsenal vs Aston VillaW2-0League Division One
15 Apr 1927Arsenal vs Aston VillaW2-1League Division One
18 Apr 1927Aston Villa vs ArsenalW2-3League Division One
10 Sep 1927Aston Villa vs ArsenalD2-2League Division One
21 Jan 1928Arsenal vs Aston VillaL0-3League Division One
18 Feb 1928Arsenal vs Aston VillaW4-1FA Cup
24 Novs 1928Arsenal vs Aston VillaL2-5League Division One
02 Mar 1929Aston Villa vs ArsenalL1-0FA Cup
06 Apr 1929Aston Villa vs ArsenalL4-2League Division One
25 Sep 1929Aston Villa vs ArsenalL5-2League Division One
03 May 1930Arsenal vs Aston VillaL2-4League Division One
08 Novs 1930Arsenal vs Aston VillaW5-2League Division One
10 Jan 1931Arsenal vs Aston VillaD2-2FA Cup
14 Jan 1931Aston Villa vs ArsenalW1-3FA Cup
14 Mar 1931Aston Villa vs ArsenalL5-1League Division One
31 Oct 1931Arsenal vs Aston VillaD1-1League Division One
25 Apr 1932Aston Villa vs ArsenalD1-1League Division One
19 Novs 1932Aston Villa vs ArsenalL5-3League Division One
01 Apr 1933Arsenal vs Aston VillaW5-0League Division One
28 Oct 1933Aston Villa vs ArsenalW2-3League Division One
Sat 03 MarArsenal vs Aston VillaL1-2FA Cup
Sat 10 MarArsenal vs Aston VillaW3-2League Division One
17 Novs 1934Arsenal vs Aston VillaL1-2League Division One
30 Mar 1935Aston Villa vs ArsenalW1-3League Division One
Sat 14 DecAston Villa vs ArsenalW1-7League Division One
18 Apr 1936Arsenal vs Aston VillaW1-0League Division One
24 Sep 1938Arsenal vs Aston VillaD0-0League Division One
28 Jan 1939Aston Villa vs ArsenalW1-3League Division One
14 Sep 1946Aston Villa vs ArsenalW0-2League Division One
Sat 18 JanArsenal vs Aston VillaL0-2League Division One
11 Oct 1947Arsenal vs Aston VillaW1-0League Division One
Sat 28 FebAston Villa vs ArsenalL4-2League Division One
11 Sep 1948Arsenal vs Aston VillaW3-1League Division One
Sat 22 JanAston Villa vs ArsenalL1-0League Division One
26 Novs 1949Aston Villa vs ArsenalD1-1League Division One
Wed 29 MarArsenal vs Aston VillaL1-3League Division One
21 Oct 1950Aston Villa vs ArsenalD1-1League Division One
Sat 10 MarArsenal vs Aston VillaW2-1League Division One
08 Sep 1951Aston Villa vs ArsenalL1-0League Division One
Sat 5 JanArsenal vs Aston VillaW2-1League Division One
23 Aug 1952Aston Villa vs ArsenalW1-2League Division One
Sat 20 DecArsenal vs Aston VillaW3-1League Division One
29 Aug 1953Aston Villa vs ArsenalL2-1League Division One
Sat 9 JanArsenal vs Aston VillaW5-1FA Cup
06 Apr 1954Arsenal vs Aston VillaD1-1League Division One
Sat 23 OctAston Villa vs ArsenalL2-1League Division One
12 Mar 1955Arsenal vs Aston VillaW2-0League Division One
Sat 1 OctArsenal vs Aston VillaW1-0League Division One
28 Jan 1956Arsenal vs Aston VillaW4-1FA Cup
Sat 11 FebAston Villa vs ArsenalD1-1League Division One
03 Novs 1956Arsenal vs Aston VillaW2-1League Division One
Sat 16 MarAston Villa vs ArsenalD0-0League Division One
02 Oct 1957Arsenal vs Aston VillaW4-0League Division One
26 Dec 1957Aston Villa vs ArsenalL3-0League Division One
22 Oct 1958Aston Villa vs ArsenalW1-2League Division One
Sat 13 DecArsenal vs Aston VillaL1-2League Division One
15 Oct 1960Arsenal vs Aston VillaW2-1League Division One
Sat 4 MarAston Villa vs ArsenalD2-2League Division One
11 Novs 1961Aston Villa vs ArsenalL3-1League Division One
31 Mar 1962Arsenal vs Aston VillaL4-5League Division One
04 Sep 1962Arsenal vs Aston VillaL1-2League Division One
10 Sep 1962Aston Villa vs ArsenalL3-1League Division One
10 Sep 1963Arsenal vs Aston VillaW3-0League Division One
Sat 19 OctAston Villa vs ArsenalL2-1League Division One
29 Aug 1964Arsenal vs Aston VillaW3-1League Division One
Sat 19 DecAston Villa vs ArsenalL3-1League Division One
04 Dec 1965Arsenal vs Aston VillaD3-3League Division One
Sat 30 AprAston Villa vs ArsenalL3-0League Division One
Sat 27 AugArsenal vs Aston VillaW1-0League Division One
31 Dec 1966Aston Villa vs ArsenalW0-1League Division One
Sat 26 JanArsenal vs Aston VillaD1-1FA Cup
30 Jan 1974Aston Villa vs ArsenalL2-0FA Cup
13 Sep 1975Aston Villa vs ArsenalL2-0League Division One
10 Jan 1976Arsenal vs Aston VillaD0-0League Division One
Wed 20 OctAston Villa vs ArsenalL5-1League Division One
25 Apr 1977Arsenal vs Aston VillaW3-0League Division One
10 Sep 1977Aston Villa vs ArsenalL1-0League Division One
04 Feb 1978Arsenal vs Aston VillaL0-1League Division One
07 Oct 1978Arsenal vs Aston VillaD1-1League Division One
25 Apr 1979Aston Villa vs ArsenalL5-1League Division One
22 Sep 1979Aston Villa vs ArsenalD0-0League Division One
09 Feb 1980Arsenal vs Aston VillaW3-1League Division One
Sat 29 NovAston Villa vs ArsenalD1-1League Division One
02 May 1981Arsenal vs Aston VillaW2-0League Division One
Sat 7 NovAston Villa vs ArsenalW0-2League Division One
27 Mar 1982Arsenal vs Aston VillaW4-3League Division One
Tue 7 DecArsenal vs Aston VillaW2-1League Division One
12 Mar 1983Arsenal vs Aston VillaW2-0FA Cup
Sat 14 MayAston Villa vs ArsenalL2-1League Division One
29 Oct 1983Aston Villa vs ArsenalW2-6League Division One
Sat 18 FebArsenal vs Aston VillaD1-1League Division One
10 Novs 1984Arsenal vs Aston VillaD1-1League Division One
Wed 13 MarAston Villa vs ArsenalD0-0League Division One
05 Oct 1985Arsenal vs Aston VillaW3-2League Division One
22 Jan 1986Aston Villa vs ArsenalD1-1League Cup
04 Feb 1986Arsenal vs Aston VillaL1-2League Cup
Sat 08 MarAston Villa vs ArsenalW1-4League Division One
29 Novs 1986Aston Villa vs ArsenalW0-4League Division One
02 May 1987Arsenal vs Aston VillaW2-1League Division One
03 Sep 1988Arsenal vs Aston VillaL2-3League Division One
Sat 31 DecAston Villa vs ArsenalW0-3League Division One
30 Dec 1989Aston Villa vs ArsenalL2-1League Division One
11 Apr 1990Arsenal vs Aston VillaL0-1League Division One
23 Dec 1990Aston Villa vs ArsenalD0-0League Division One
Wed 3 AprArsenal vs Aston VillaW5-0League Division One
24 Aug 1991Aston Villa vs ArsenalL3-1League Division One
Sat 11 JanArsenal vs Aston VillaD0-0League Division One
28 Dec 1992Aston Villa vs ArsenalL1-0Premier League
Mon 12 AprArsenal vs Aston VillaL0-1Premier League
06 Novs 1993Arsenal vs Aston VillaL1-2Premier League
30 Novs 1993Arsenal vs Aston VillaL0-1League Cup
23 Apr 1994Aston Villa vs ArsenalW1-2Premier League
26 Dec 1994Arsenal vs Aston VillaD0-0Premier League
17 Apr 1995Aston Villa vs ArsenalW0-4Premier League
Sat 21 OctArsenal vs Aston VillaW2-0Premier League
02 Dec 1995Aston Villa vs ArsenalD1-1Premier League
Wed 14 FebArsenal vs Aston VillaD2-2League Cup
21 Feb 1996Aston Villa vs ArsenalD0-0League Cup
07 Sep 1996Aston Villa vs ArsenalD2-2Premier League
28 Dec 1996Arsenal vs Aston VillaD2-2Premier League
Sun 26 OctArsenal vs Aston VillaD0-0Premier League
10 May 1998Aston Villa vs ArsenalL1-0Premier League
Sun 13 DecAston Villa vs ArsenalL3-2Premier League
16 May 1999Arsenal vs Aston VillaW1-0Premier League
11 Sep 1999Arsenal vs Aston VillaW3-1Premier League
05 Mar 2000Aston Villa vs ArsenalD1-1Premier League
Sat 14 OctArsenal vs Aston VillaW1-0Premier League
18 Mar 2001Aston Villa vs ArsenalD0-0Premier League
Sun 9 DecArsenal vs Aston VillaW3-2Premier League
17 Mar 2002Aston Villa vs ArsenalW1-2Premier League
Sat 30 NovArsenal vs Aston VillaW3-1Premier League
05 Apr 2003Aston Villa vs ArsenalD1-1Premier League
27 Aug 2003Arsenal vs Aston VillaW2-0Premier League
18 Jan 2004Aston Villa vs ArsenalW0-2Premier League
Sat 16 OctArsenal vs Aston VillaW3-1Premier League
05 Feb 2005Aston Villa vs ArsenalW1-3Premier League
Sat 31 DecAston Villa vs ArsenalD0-0Premier League
01 Apr 2006Arsenal vs Aston VillaW5-0Premier League
19 Aug 2006Arsenal vs Aston VillaD1-1Premier League
14 Mar 2007Aston Villa vs ArsenalW0-1Premier League
Sat 1 DecAston Villa vs ArsenalW1-2Premier League
01 Mar 2008Arsenal vs Aston VillaD1-1Premier League
15 Novs 2008Arsenal vs Aston VillaL0-2Premier League
26 Dec 2008Aston Villa vs ArsenalD2-2Premier League
27 Dec 2009Arsenal vs Aston VillaW3-0Premier League
27 Jan 2010Aston Villa vs ArsenalD0-0Premier League
27 Novs 2010Aston Villa vs ArsenalW2-4Premier League
15 May 2011Arsenal vs Aston VillaL1-2Premier League
21 Dec 2011Aston Villa vs ArsenalW1-2Premier League
29 Jan 2012Arsenal vs Aston VillaW3-2FA Cup
24 Mar 2012Arsenal vs Aston VillaW3-0Premier League
24 Novs 2012Aston Villa vs ArsenalD0-0Premier League
23 Feb 2013Arsenal vs Aston VillaW2-1Premier League
17 Aug 2013Arsenal vs Aston VillaL1-3Premier League
13 Jan 2014Aston Villa vs ArsenalW1-2Premier League
20 Sep 2014Aston Villa vs ArsenalW0-3Premier League
01 Feb 2015Arsenal vs Aston VillaW5-0Premier League
30 May 2015Arsenal vs Aston VillaW4-0FA Cup
13 Dec 2015Aston Villa vs ArsenalW0-2Premier League
15 May 2016Arsenal vs Aston VillaW4-0Premier League
22 Sep 2019Arsenal vs Aston VillaW3-2Premier League
21 Jul 2020Aston Villa vs ArsenalL1-0Premier League
08 Novs 2020Arsenal vs Aston VillaL0-3Premier League
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