On this day the man who saved Arsenal from extinction was laid to rest

Today’s headline relates to 1934

2 August 1914, Henry Norris with family and friends continued their touring holiday by entering Belgium, while experiencing what one of the party later described as “a little difficulty”, (referring to the German invasion). 

2 August 1917: Squadron Commander E. H. Dunning became the first pilot to land his aircraft on a ship although he died five days later undertaking the task again. 

2 August 1934: Lt Col Sir Henry Norris, the man who rescued the club from bankruptcy, paid for Highbury, brought in Herbert Chapman and created the modern Arsenal was laid to rest in the cemetery at East Sheen.

2 August 1951: Arsenal beat Northern Polytechnic at cricket.  George Swindin, the goalkeeper who was later to become manager, took nine wickets.

2 August 1956 Tony Biggs signed as a professional with Arsenal..  He played his first of four games for the club in April 1958, but was transferred to Leyton Orient in December of that year.

2 August 1975, Arsenal, on a low key Scottish tour, lost 2-1 to Dundee with 6950 in the crowd. Cropley, scored the Arsenal goal.  But matters were redeemed two days later with the score Aberdeen 0 Arsenal 1, with 10,500 in the ground.

2 August 1994: Arsenal beat Stromsgodset 5-1 in Norway in a pre-season friendly.

2 August 1999: Davor Šuker arrived from Real Madrid for £3.5m; Nic Anelka sold to Real Madrid for around £25m.  Davor Šuker scored two in his first game, but it took eight games for another summer arrival (Henry) to score.

2 August 2003: Arsenal drew with Celtic 1-1 away.  The BBC report of the game said, “Arsenal also had an unfamiliar face in goal, new signing Jens Lehmann”.

2 August 2006: Kevin Campbell moved from WBA to Cardiff City.  It was the final move of the player who made 166 league appearances for Arsenal.  He later ran a security firm, was involved in the music industry, and commentated on football.

2 August 2011: Jamie Edge sold to WBA.  Although spoken of as being supremely talented he never once played for Arsenal or WBA and during 2013/14 was registered with five separate non-league clubs.  By 2018 he was playing for Swindon Supermarine. Interestingly, the Aylesbury United web site says, “To avoid confusion, this player is not currently registered, and has never played for, Aylesbury United FC.”

2 August 2013: Chuks Aneke signed for Crewe on loan for the second successive season.  He played 70 league games and scored 20 goals over the two seasons.

2 August 2014: Arsenal played Benfica in the Emirates Cup including Sanogo in the team (who scored his first four Arsenal goals) along with Héctor Bellerín and Joel Campbell.  16 months later Sanogo’s Arsenal career seemed stalled while Bellerin and Campbell were first team regulars.

2 August 2015: Arsenal won the Charity/Community Shield for the 14th time by beating Chelsea 1-0, with a goal from Alex Oxlade Chamberlain. 

2 August 2022: Bernd Leno, who had made 125 appearances for the club in all competitions, joined  Fulham on a permanent transfer.

Elsewhere

Henry Norris at the Arsenal:  There is a full index to the series here correcting 100 years of rumour and false allegations.

Arsenal in the 1930s: The most comprehensive series on the decade ever

Arsenal in the 1970s: Every match and every intrigue reviewed in detail.