Arsenal Club Profile

In the late 1990s and early 2000s, Arsenal seemed the be the only team who could break Manchester United’s stranglehold on the Premier League. Under Arsene Wenger, who transformed the club from a stodgy, boring defensive-minded one with his continental brand of free-flowing, creative soccer, the Gunners returned to their place as a fixture in the top three of the league. But since the 2003-2004 season, when they were unbeaten in the Premier League, Arsenal have slipped. They are still playing attractive soccer and firmly in the top four — though many view them as likely candidates to drop below that — but are often frustrating to watch when they flounder against much weaker opposition.