Arsenal: A history of results after bad starts to the season

6. Arsenal prove they are resilient and consistent

2005/06 was the Gunners’ last season at Highbury after 93 years of calling the stadium ‘home’. It still is.

Arsenal’s home kit paid tribute to the opening of Highbury in 1913 with the team wearing their redcurrant shirt.

The season began with a loss as Arsenal was defeated in the Community Shield 2-1 to Chelsea.

This was followed by a rather unimpressive start to the campaign. A 2-0 win at home to Newcastle was followed by a 1-0 loss at Stamford Bridge. That pattern repeated as the Gunners defeated Fulham 4-1 before losing 2-1 at Middlesbrough. After a 2-0 home win versus Everton, Wenger’s side drew 0-0 at West Ham.

The team finished September with ten points from seven matches and sat eighth in the table.

The highlight of the season was Arsenal’s march to the Champions League final in Paris for a meeting with Barcelona.

The Gunners finished top of their group and went on to defeat Real Madrid, Juventus, and Villarreal in the knockout rounds.

As if facing Barcelona wasn’t daunting enough, the task became even more difficult when Jens Lehmann unceremoniously received a red card in the 18th minute for a challenge on Samuel Eto’o. Forced to play the rest of the match with ten men, Arsenal held their own with Sol Campbell giving his side the lead in the 37th minute. Victory was within reach until the Catalans scored two goals in the last 15 minutes to secure the win.

Not that it made anyone feel better, but game referee Terje Hauge admitted afterward that he acted too quickly in sending off the keeper. (Yes, we know).

As was often the case under Wenger, Arsenal ended up finishing the season in fourth place. Victory over Wigan on the final day included Henry’s famous kissing of the Highbury turf.