The club began in 1886 as a team of workers from the Royal Arsenal armaments factory. For its first match in December 1886 it was provisionally called Dial Square after a workshop on the factory site; this was not yet a permanently adopted club name.
Historical club names of Arsenal FC
- 1886Dial Square
- 1886–1890Royal Arsenal
After the first match, the founders chose the name Royal Arsenal at the Royal Oak pub on Christmas Day 1886. It combined the pub's name with the players' workplace and remained in use until Woolwich Arsenal was adopted in 1891.
- 1891–1913Woolwich Arsenal
The club adopted the name Woolwich Arsenal in 1891, referring to its home district at the time. In 1893 its assets passed to the Woolwich Arsenal Football and Athletic Company Limited, and the club entered the Football League that same year.
- since 1914Arsenal FC
After the move to Highbury in north London, “Woolwich” was officially dropped from the club name on April 3, 1914. The club has been known as Arsenal FC ever since.