Arsenal Football Club is set to mark a remarkable milestone as they prepare for their 100th consecutive season of top-flight football beginning with the 2025-26 campaign. This historic achievement was solidified after their recent goalless draw against Nottingham Forest on February 26, 2025, ensuring their place in England’s Premier League for yet another season.
While avoiding relegation might not typically trigger a grand celebration for a club of Arsenal's caliber, this accomplishment serves as more than just securing their league status; it highlights their unparalleled consistency within the annals of English football.
Arsenal boasts the longest unbroken run since their election to the top division following World War I, when the league expanded from 20 to 22 teams. The circumstances surrounding their election are shrouded in controversy. After previously enjoying nine seasons of top-flight football from 1904 until 1913, the club faced relegation coinciding with their move from Woolwich to Highbury, north London. For two seasons, they competed in Division Two until the resumption of the Football League in 1919.
At the time, clubs were typically re-elected based on their standings, but the election process soon became contentious. Notably, during the voting for the expanded league, Arsenal, which finished sixth (later corrected to fifth), was controversially elected alongside Chelsea, who was 19th, leaving teams like Tottenham Hotspur—who had finished at the bottom of Division One—feeling cheated and igniting one of football's fiercest rivalries.
The inaugural season of the Football League started back in 1888-89 with iconic teams such as Aston Villa and Blackburn Rovers who remained steady fixtures until their relegation during the 1935-36 season. Sunderland then stepped up the stakes with their own record of 57 consecutive seasons before encountering relegation, which stood until Arsenal eclipsed it with their 58th consecutive campaign during the 1983-84 season.
Today, Arsenal’s current tenure is part of top-flight history itself, with clubs like Chelsea and Liverpool closely following and eager to forge their legacy within the top tier. Arsenal might have the longest unbroken run at the moment, but they currently sit behind Everton, Aston Villa, and Liverpool on the all-time list of top-flight appearances. Everton leads with 122 seasons, demonstrating consistency even amid declining performances over the last several decades.
Despite challenging times, including recent fluctuations in form and league positioning, Arsenal has shown resilience. They stand to mark their 100th consecutive season with aspirations of exceeding all expectations and continuing their legacy as one of the foremost institutions of English football.
While Arsenal's upcoming centennial might evoke mixed sentiments on the field, it undoubtedly serves as hallmark recognition of their embedded status within football culture. Each season they endure adds not just to their storied history but to the collective narrative of English football itself. The anticipation surrounding this milestone is palpable, as fans and players alike look to celebrate this extraordinary achievement for generations to come.