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From Herbert Chapman to Mikel Arteta, we run through the most successful managers in Arsenal history before revealing their greatest of all time.
Arsenal are one of English football’s most iconic and decorated clubs, and their success can be attributed to some of the leading managers in the history of the game.
From Herbert Chapman to Mikel Arteta – whose current Arsenal side are among the favourites in the Premier League betting to win the Champions League – the Gunners have had some extremely successful managers at the helm during their 138-year history.
Here is a look at the top 10 Arsenal managers and how they rank.
Top 10 Arsenal managers
10. Phil Kelso
Success was limited in the early years of the club when they were known as Woolwich Arsenal but Scotsman Phil Kelso showed promise as the club’s head coach.
During his four-year tenure, Kelso led the club to the FA Cup semi-finals in successive seasons as well as seventh spot in the First Division.
9. Terry Neill
Northern Irishman Terry Neill picked up just one trophy during his time as Arsenal manager, leading the Gunners to the FA Cup in the 1978-79 season, but that was not his only success.
In his seven-year spell in charge, former Gunners captain Neill also oversaw Arsenal’s run to the final of the 1980 UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup and the following campaign, he led the team to third in the First Division table.
8. Mikel Arteta
There could well be more to come from Mikel Arteta but the innovative Spaniard already deserves his place among the top 10 Arsenal managers, and the best managers in the Premier League.
A disciple of Pep Guardiola, Arteta learned a lot as part of the Manchester City coaching staff before moving to Arsenal as Unai Emery’s replacement in December 2019.
He has since transformed the club back into genuine Premier League title contenders and in his first season, he led the Gunners to FA Cup glory.
7. Harry Bradshaw
Having taken the reins as boss back in 1899, Harry Bradshaw was arguably Arsenal’s first successful manager.
During his tenure, Arsenal gained promotion to the First Division for the first time and the rest, as they say, is history.
6. George Allison
George Allison left his mark on the game in more ways than one, having been the BBC’s first sports commentator as well as Arsenal’s second-longest serving manager.
Allison took charge of the Gunners following the sudden death of the legendary Herbert Chapman – more on him to come – in 1934 and he went on to win two league titles and an FA Cup with the club.
5. Tom Whittaker
Replacing Allison in 1947, Tom Whittaker was equally as successful as his predecessor, also winning two league titles and the FA Cup.
But despite a shorter tenure, Whittaker took charge of more games than Allison and only those above him on this list won more matches in charge of Arsenal.
4. Bertie Mee
It is at this stage on the list that we get to the managers who really shaped Arsenal with the iconic Bertie Mee coming in at fourth.
Mee was appointed in 1966, with the club having not won a trophy in more than a decade.
But it did not take long for him to have an impact, leading the Gunners to a league and cup double in the 1970-71 season after landing their first European trophy in the form of the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup the campaign before.
3. George Graham
Scotsman George Graham was part of Mee’s team that won the double in 1971 and he went on to be even more successful as a manager.
Under Graham, Arsenal became renowned for their solid defensive football with young captain Tony Adams at the heart of their success.
In total, the Scot won two First Division titles, the FA Cup, two League Cups and the UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup.
He goes down in history as one of the Arsenal greats, even if he did go on to manage Tottenham to League Cup success in 1999.
2. Herbert Chapman
Herbert Chapman left a lasting legacy on not only Arsenal but football as a whole.
Huddersfield Town legend Chapman was credited with making Arsenal an underground station in north London and changing the club’s jersey to a red body with white sleeves, such was his influence.
Having implemented a refreshing, attacking style of play, Chapman won two First Division titles and one FA Cup before his untimely death at the age of 55.
1. Arsene Wenger
The only man who could possibly finish above Chapman on this list, Arsene Wenger, is both the longest-serving and most successful manager in Arsenal’s history.
Although mocked with the headline ‘Arsene who?’ upon his arrival from Japanese side Nagoya Grampus Eight in 1996, Wenger went on to leave an indelible mark on the north London club.
His influence over scouting and player diets was unprecedented, while he became a master of signing relative unknowns and developing them into world-class talents
Wenger’s most notable achievement was leading Arsenal to their famous Invincibles season in 2003-04, in which they went an entire Premier League campaign unbeaten.
That was one of three league titles Wenger delivered, while he also won seven FA Cups and led the club to the 2006 Champions League final.
