Legendary Arsenal manager Herbert Chapman died on this day in 1934. Three weeks later, Arsenal appointed his widow as hostess in the club tea room on a salary of £500 per year. At the time, footballers were subject to a maximum wage of £368 per year.

The Arsenal #8 and Hull #2 from 2014 FA Cup final will face each other as managers in the Semi Final next week.

Liam Rosenior's dad played a major part (in my opinion) in Arsenal's success under George Graham. This article explains why I think this is so. thearsenalcollection.org.uk?p=35341

Today's Arsenal birthdays: 1916 - Bill Strauss (1942 guest) 1936 - Toni Allemann (1959 guest) 1955 - Noel Larkin (1976) 1963 - David Madden (1983-1984)

Football back in 1950. Queueing up before midnight to get a place in the queue, cycling 172 miles and specially designed tickets.

Today's #FanzineoftheDay is issue 13 of The Arsenal Echo Echo from 1990. They don't bother with a fancy logo or clever cover art, just smash straight into an indecipherable story mocking cuddly Ken and their pre Chelski neighbours, now plying their trade in Division 2.

Today's Arsenal birthdays: 1958 - Steve Walford (1977-1981) 2001 - Xavier Amaechi (2016-2019) 2001 - Mark McGuinness (2018-2020) 2004 - Pedro Virginia (2018-2019 unused sub)

Arsenal fans start every game with 🎶North London Forever 🎶 whereas T*tt*nh*m fans end every game with...

OTD 1958, Arsenal lost 1-3 at 3rd Division strugglers Northampton Town in the FA Cup 3rd round. Whoever wrote the editorial for the programme notes for the next home game didn't hold back. I can't think of another occasion where the club slammed the players in the programme like this.

Today sees the first time in English football history that two teams facing a combined 189 charges relating to illegal payments play each other.

Today's Arsenal birthdays: 1886 - Harry King (1914-1915) 1902 - Walter Creegan (1921-1923) 1908 - Ernie 'Tim' Coleman (1932-1934) 1934 - Jim Gooch (1953) - sorry, no photo

Ever wondered what the world was like in the 1930s in the run up to WW2? Well, wonder no more. Which country is currently playing the part of Poland? My guess is Canada.

Something just popped into my head. Gabriel's howler yesterday reminded me of the first time I saw Arsenal lose - at home to West Brom in 1976-77. Those who were there will remember it well.

Without fail, every time he speaks I think to myself: "how on earth has he managed to fool enough people to vote him into the position of the most powerful person in the world?"

Today's Arsenal birthdays: 1908 - Doctor Jimmy Marshall (1934) 1918 - Les Goldberg (1941 guest) 2003 - Daniel Oyegoke (2018-2021)

Today's Arsenal birthdays: 1925 - Norman Smith (1947-1952) 1927 - Peter Goring (1945-1960) 1958 - Kevin Stead (1977-1979) 1975 - Stuart Campbell (1991-1994)

Arsenal and Man City have played seven of the same fixtures so far this season and the Gunners have a six-point advantage to date. Points Arsenal v Man City 0 v 0 Aston Villa A 3 v 3 Fulham A 3 v 3 Leeds H 3 v 0 Newcastle A 1 v 1 Sunderland A 3 v 0 Tottenham H 3 v 3 West Ham H

A bit late in the day but, Arsenal birthdays today: 1965 - Tarquin Woollard 1968 - Davor Suker 1977 - Jermaine McSporran 1992 - Jack Wilshere I'll try my hardest to do this every day for the year.

T*tt*nh*m to sack Frank and appoint Maresca as manager. Chelsea appoint Frank as manager. You heard it here first.

OTD 1938 Arsenal beat Everton 2-1. 17 year-old Reg Lewis scored 12 minutes into his debut making him Arsenal's 3rd youngest goalscorer at the time. Reg has scored more goals for Arsenal than any other player. Full programme on The Arsenal Collection thearsenalcollection.org.uk?page_id=17080

Just checked. I'm currently 137th in the queue to be the next Chelsea manager. I reckon I'll be starting around September / October 2031.

Can't believe that Chelsea have sacked a manager during the season. I don't think this has ever happened before in their history.

OTD 1938 Arsenal reserve team goalkeeper John Ford died at the tragically young age of 19. He was hit in the stomach by the ball in the London Combination game against Portsmouth on Christmas Eve which ruptured an ulcer.

OTD 1938 a crowd of 21,000 watched West Ham's reserves beat Arsenal's reserves 3-2. They reason for the large crowd was that Arsenal had dropped Bryn Jones, the world's most expensive footballer, due to a run of poor form attributed to lack of confidence.

In January 1894, Arsenal invited league leaders Aston Villa to Plumstead to play a friendly. Villa showed the difference in class as they won fairly easily 3-1. Let's hope the scores are reversed tonight. The programme was produced by Albert Craig, the Surrey Poet.

Odds for first Arsenal goalscorer tomorrow: 2/1 Konsa 3/1 Lindelof 6/1 Saka 8/1 McGinn 8/1 Trossard 10/1 Rice

Any of this in his basket?

Went to see my mate's band playing a gig in a pub and George Ezra's dad was also there to watch them.

The death of Brigitte Bardot necessitated the update of this marvelous chart. Only three people mentioned in Billy Joel's banger "We Didn't Start The Fire" are still alive. Source: buff.ly/cWkphRB

Without a game for three weeks due to snow, Arsenal travelled to Glentoran on this day 1981 to play a friendly, which they won 2-0 thanks to two goals from Paul Davis. This would be Ray Hankin's last game in Arsenal colours.

When Jesus came on today, we had the full Gabriel Union on the pitch together - Jesus, Martinelli, Magalhaes. The last time that happened? Exactly one year ago today, against Ipswich Town.

I'm voting Own Goal as Arsenal's player of the month for December.

Another airing for this one. Couldn't even wait for the game to start.

My favourite part of Christmas is creating next year's bin collection schedule.

Arsenal have won their last 5 games played on 27 December and not lost on this date since 1966. They haven't lost a home game on this date since 1947.

Watching 1985 TOTP Christmas special. That was a pretty poor year for music, as was 1986.

Just found out Sting's son Joe made his first TV appearance before his dad. Joe appeared in an episode of Survivors in 1977 as the baby of a character played by his real life mum, Frances Tomelty, a full year before his dad appeared on TV. Feel free to use this fact to astound your friends.

OTD 1968. 62,300 packed into Highbury to see Arsenal beat European champions Manchester United 3-0. The programme included colour pictures of Peter Storey & Bob McNab. There are 88 programmes from that season on The Arsenal Collection website. thearsenalcollection.org.uk?cat=40

Had a bit of a lie in, just having breakfast and then I'm off to Tesco to get Easter eggs for the kids.

I'm not a monarchist but you have to hand it to Charlie boy for pissing off those that are. Their knickers are really in a twist. Maybe they could vote in a new king if they don't like this one.

Today marks the anniversary of my grandad scoring a hatrick in a 3-2 win for the allies against the Germans in the WW1 ceasefire match. Afterwards gifts were exchanged and carols were sang although he did have to iron out one of their generals for saying he was offside the winner..

Watching Britain's Favourite Christmas Songs with Andrew Ridgeley on Channel 5. 24: Wizard - I Wish It Could Be Christmas Every Day 23: Coldplay - Christmas Lights Complete and utter nonsense.

OTD 1925 Arsenal beat Notts County 3-0 in the first game played at Highbury on Christmas day. Before 1925 they were tenants of St John's College who refused to allow Arsenal to play games on holy days. Arsenal bought the freehold to Highbury in 1925 which removed this restriction

6 years ago we lost one of the most amazing humans....raising a glass to Dave today. Merry Xmas x ❤️🎄🫂

Merry Christmas everyone

I thought Ronan Keating and Moya Brennan's version of Fairytale of New York was the nadir of pop music but I'm now listening to Ed Sheeran and Anne-Marie's version

Own goal FC

The champions of Europe are slowly inching their way down the table to their natural position. Like last season, they are fortunate that there are three absolutely awful teams that will struggle to get out of the relegation zone.

Also abandoned on this day: 1962 after 58 minutes due to fog with the score Manchester United 0 Arsenal 1. This would be Arsenal's last competitive game for nearly 6 weeks as an enduring blanket of snow covered most of the country.