Arsène Wenger was the longest-serving Arsenal manager and won the most trophies, including a record seven FA Cups. The British media often referred to him as Le Professeur ("The Professor") to reflect his studious demeanor. In 2003-04, his title-winning team set an English record for the longest top-flight unbeaten league run at 49 games.

New signings Nigel Winterburn, Lee Dixon and Steve Bould joined the club by 1988 to complete the "famous Back Four", led by homegrown player Tony Adams. They immediately won the 1988 Football League Centenary, and followed it with the 1988-89 Football League title, snatched with a last-minute goal in the final game of the season against fellow title challengers Liverpool.

Joe Shaw played 326 matches for Arsenal, although he never scored a goal. After his playing days were over, he became manager of the Arsenal reserve side, and when Chapman died, Shaw became caretaker manager of the first team for the rest of the season. He carried on Chapman's good work, as Arsenal won the 1933-34 League title, the third title in the club's history. After George Allison was appointed permanent first-team manager in the summer, Shaw returned to his post as reserves manager.

World War II meant The Football League was suspended for seven years, but Arsenal returned to win it in the second post-war season, 1947-48. They won a third FA Cup in 1950, and then won a record-breaking seventh championship in 1952-53, but the war had taken its toll on Arsenal. The club had had more players killed than any top flight club. Unable to attract strong enough replacements, Arsenal would not win the League or the FA Cup again for 18 years.

The majority of David O'Leary's 20-year playing career was spent as a central defender at Arsenal, where his tally of 722 appearances for the North London side stands as a club record.

John Radford was a prolific goalscorer in the youth and reserve teams, before making his first-team debut against West Ham United on 21 March 1964, his only appearance of the 1964-65 season. Radford was used slightly more the next season, playing 15 times, and became Arsenal's youngest ever hat-trick scorer, against Wolves on 2 January 1965, at the age of 17 years and 315 days.

Paul Merson was a legend for Arsenal, playing from 1986 to 1997 and scoring 99 goals in all competitions before Arsène Wenger sold the "Magic Man" to Middlesbrough.

In the 1930s, Arsenal won five League Championships and two FA Cups, and another FA Cup and two Championships after the war.

Jimmy Brain played for Arsenal between 1923-31 and scored 139 goals in 232 matches. His 100th goal came in a 6-3 win over Liverpool on 7 March 1928.

Former player Terry Neill succeeded Bertie Mee in 1976. At the age of 34, he became the youngest Arsenal manager to date.