The 1890–91 season was the fifth in the history of Royal Arsenal, the club that was to become Arsenal F.C. This was the club's first season as a professional side, with overwhelming support to do so from the players.

Their achievements in the previous season (winning the Kent Senior Cup and the London Charity Cup, whilst also finishing runners up in the London Senior Cup) saw them granted direct admission to the first round proper of the FA Cup, marking their first full appearance in the competition.

This season also saw them move grounds from Manor Field to the Invicta Ground, also in Plumstead. During the season, the team played in three cup competitions: the FA Cup, the London Senior Cup and the London Charity Cup. After finishing as runners-up the previous season, they won the London Senior Cup for the first time.

Turning professional meant that they rescinded their membership of both London and Kent FAs, though support for the club continued to soar, with average attendances of 6,600, higher than half the teams in The Football League.

Matches Royal Arsenal played 35 matches during the 1890–91 season, of which 27 were friendlies, 8 were competitive fixtures, with one of these being a first-class FA Cup fixture.

DateOpponentGroundComp.ScoreAttendance6 September 189093rd HighlandersH1–1 7,00013 September 1890CasualsH5–4 7,00020 September 1890IlfordH6–0 6,00027 September 1890London CaledoniansH3–1 9,0004 October 1890Chiswick ParkA4–0 20011 October 189093rd HighlandersH4–1 10,00018 October 1890Old St. MarksA4–0 1,00025 October 1890St. Bartholomews HospitalH1–0 3,0001 November 1890South ShoreH2–2 8,0008 November 1890IlfordA3–0 2,00015 November 1890ClaptonA1–2 5,00022 November 1890Gainsborough TrinityH2–1 7,0001 December 1890Cambridge UniversityH5–1 6,0006 December 1890CasualsH0–0 5,50013 December 1890Old WestminstersALSC 4–1 5,50017 January 1891Derby CountyHFAC1–2 8,00024 January 1891Millwall AthleticA1–026 January 1891EvertonH0–5 7,00031 January 1891Old WestminstersALSC Ordered to be replayed, Old Westminster scratched however, Arsenal then proceeded to the next round.4–5 5,0007 February 1891St. Bartholomews HospitalH5–4 5,00014 February 1891CrusadersHLCC1–0 7,00021 February 1891CasualsHLSC3–2 9,00028 February 1891ClaptonNPlayed at Kennington OvalLSC3–2 6,0007 March 1891St. Bartholomews HospitalNLSC (Final)6–0 6,00014 March 1891Old HarroviansH5–1 6,00021 March 1891Sheffield UnitedH1–1 5,00027 March 189171st Highland InfantryH3–1 6,00028 March 1891Old HarroviansH5–0 4,00030 March 1891Heart of MidlothianH1–5 10,00031 March 1891Nottingham ForestH0–5 7,0004 April 1891Old CarthusiansNPlayed at LeytonLCC1–1 6,0008 April 1891Old CarthusiansNLCCReplay of match on 4 April was played on 8 April. This match also ended in a draw, thus a third match was scheduled for 11 April, in which Royal Arsenal were knocked out.2–2 3,00011 April 1891Old CarthusiansNLCC1–2 6,00018 April 1891ClaptonH3–1 6,00025 April 1891SunderlandH1–3 7,00030 April 1891London CaledoniansH1–1 2,5002 May 18911st Highland Light InfantryH5–1 3,000

Players Below is a list of all players who made at least one appearance for Arsenal over the season. Interestingly, this was also the first season in which an official substitution was recorded, with HT. Offer coming on and some point during the 25 April 1891 game against Sunderland. Players making their debut for Arsenal are shown in Bold, Goalkeepers are marked in Italics.

FA CupOther cupsFriendliesTotalPlayerAppGoalsAppGoalsAppGoalsAppGoalsH. W. Barbour109718142821J. M. Bates00006060E. Bee1090260360T. H. Bennett00002020J. Campbell00107080W. C. Campbell00111491510A. E. Casselton00001010A. F. Christmas107319112714Collins00002020C. Collins00001010E. Collins00002020P. Connolly1094242346Croxen00204060A. Croxen00001010D. Croxen00001010G. Croxen00001212W. Croxen00001010W. Everett00001010J. Fleming00001010Fletcher00001010W. E. Fry007341104W. J. George00001010D. Gloak10831972810J. L. Houghton00001010D. Howat1070204280Hutchings00001010Jenkins00001111Johnson00001010Johnstone00001010Jones00001010J. W. Julian1090262362E. Linton00004343J. D. McBean1090230330McHardy0010230240McKenzie00001010J. W. Meggs10002030R. Mills002082102H. T. Offer11741782513Parkinson00001010J. Pell00002020Ross00001010R. Russell00001111J. Sheppard00002020W. S. Stewart1080201291E. Taylor00001010W. J. Wood00202343

References