Favourite Team

Favorite Teams

My favorite club team is Arsenal of the English Premier League. I liked them from a young age because they are also my dad's favorite team. Arsenal was founded in 1886 by David Danskin and some friends and they played their first game under the name of Dial Square. After the game they decided upon the name Royal Arsenal. When the club turned professional in 1891, they changed their name to Woolwich Arsenal. Arsenal moved from Woolwich to Highbury in 1913, and dropped the Woolwich from their name, to this day they have been known only as Arsenal. They started in the second division, but in 1919, after World War I the Arsenal chairman "influenced" the league chairman to promote Arsenal to the top league in place of Tottenham, a team who was already arch rivals with Arsenal. This fueled the already intense rivalry these teams had for one another because of the geographical placement of the teams. Since the war Arsenal is the only team to stay in the First Division, and the only club to be promoted because of reasons other then playing merit. In 1930, Arsenal won their first major trophy, capturing the F.A. Cup, and then followed that up by winning their first league championship in the 1930-31 season.

Club Records:

Most goals overall- 226 (Thierry Henry)
Most goals in a season- 44 (Ted Drake 1934-35)
Biggest win- 12-0 vs. Ashford United (1893)
Consecutive wins- 14 (from 12 Sept. 1987, and again from 10 Feb. 2002)
Consecutive Premiership matches unbeaten- 49 (from 7 May 2003- 1 Feb. 2005). This is an overall league record.

Club Championships:

Arsenal have been league champions 13 times: 2004, 2002, 1998, 1991, 1989, 1971, 1953, 1948, 1938, 1935, 1934, 1933, and 1931
Have won the F.A. Cup 10 times: 2005, 2003, 2002, 1998, 1993, 1979, 1971, 1950, 1936, and 1930.
And have won the Community Shield 11 times: 2004, 2002, 1999, 1998, 1953, 1948, 1938, 1934, 1933, 1931, and 1930.

Arsenal's First Team:

Goalkeeper	M Almunia	L. Fabianksi	V. Mannone	W.Szczesny
Defender	T. Vermaelen	L. Koscielny	J. Djourou	S. Squillaci	B. Sagna	K. Gibbs	G. Clichy	A. Traore
Midfield	C. Fabregas(C)	A. Arshavin	T. Rosicky	Denilson	A. Song	A. Diaby	S. Nasri	A. Ramsey	E. Eboue
Forward	R. Van Persie	M. Chamakh	T. Walcott	N. Bendtner	C. Vela

Arsenal is currently in 1st place in the English Premier League Standings

Spain

Being part Spanish, I cheer for "La Furia Roja". Although they have put together great teams for a long time, until recently they have been known to never live up to their hype. In World Cup play, other then a fourth place finish in 1950, the team hadn't made it past a quarterfinal until winning it all in South Africa in 2010. They have had slightly more success in European Championships, but have still not lived up to full potential, winning once and finishing runner-up once from 1960-2004, until winning again in 2008. The Spaniards were ranked first overall in the world for the first time in 2008, and were the first team to reach that position without previously winning the World Cup.

Club Records:

Most Goals Overall- David Villa (45)
Most Goals in a Season- David Villa (13 in 2008-09)
Biggest win- 13-0 vs. Bulgaria (21 May 1933)
Consecutive Wins- 15 from 2008-2009 (World Record)
Unbeaten Streak- 35 from 2007-2009 (Shares World Record with Brazil, 1993-1996)

Spain's First Team:

Goalkeeper	I. Casillas(C)	V. Valdes	P. Reina
Defenseman	C. Marchena	A. Arbeleo	G. Pique	R. Albiol	C. Puyol	J. Capdevila	S. Ramos
Midfielders	C. Fabregas	A. Iniesta	S. Busquets	J. Martinez	Xavi	Xabi Alonso	D. Silva	S. Cazorla
Forwards	D. Villa	F. Torres	P. Rodriguez	F. Llorente