Arsenal Fútbol Club: "El Arse" of Argentina, the other Arsenal.

Words: Groundspotters

Images: Groundspotters

We move beyond the Riachuelo river, the southern limit of Buenos Aires city, to the Avellaneda district, more specifically in the city of Sarandí. Territory of Arsenal Fútbol Club, “El Arse”.

In a bar and among friends, where some of the best things in life happen, on January 11, 1957 the club was founded.

Arsenal of London were chosen as inspirations for the kit, their red and blue colours reminiscent of Independiente and Racing and the Gunners’ style of play popular.

In March 1961, Arsenal became part of the Argentine Football Association (AFA) and two months later, on May 13, would play their first official match against Club Atlético Piraña. The 1-1 draw, came in the `Aficionados´ (Amateur) division (which would later become `Primera D´, the fifth division of Argentine football that was played until 2023).

In 2002, after 10 seasons in the second division, they achieved the long awaited promotion to the first division and In 2007 would win their first international title: the Sudamericana Cup, beating teams such as San Lorenzo and River Plate from Argentina and Chivas de Guadalajara and América from Mexico, the latter in the final round.

©Groundspotters/ Terrace Edition. Arsenal Fútbol Club. Argentina.

On July 30, 2008, in Japan, they participated in the first edition of Suruga Bank Cup, between the champions of the Sudamericana Cup and the J League Cup holders, winning the trophy after beating Gamba Osaka 1-0.

Then, in June 2012 they would take their first league title, being crowned after beating Belgrano de Córdoba 1-0 at home.

That same year, the first edition of the Argentine Super Cup would be played, in a single match, at Bicentenario stadium of Catamarca city, on November 7, they defeated Boca Juniors on penalties, after a draw over the 90 minutes.

The first Arsenal ground began construction in October 1962, on land of approximately 50,000 m2 that belonged to the Ports´ General Directorate. Originally, it had a 70-meter cement stand, which had 15 steps and had been purchased from Club Atlético Banfield.

Although the official inauguration was in a friendly game against Banfield on October 12, 1964, the first match to be played there was on August 22, 1964.

In October 2023, with five games left to play, Arsenal’s relegation to Primera Nacional for 2024 became inevitable. Once again in the second division, after having started the season with a victory, a loss and two draws, Arsenal played San Miguel.

Club Atlético San Miguel is a team from the northwest of Buenos Aires province, that in 2022, after 16 years, managed to lift the club bankruptcy, hold elections and appoint their own new directors to stop being under the intervention of a judge. In 2023, they managed to return to the second division of Argentine football.

Arsenal, with a young coach (Tobias Kohan, 27 years old) and a low budget for the category, are managing to find their feet.

With a goal from Abel Amaya, `El Arse´ secured three points at home, moving towards the top of the table and handed San Miguel their first defeat of the season.

It’s not only in London that “one-nil to the Arsenal” is a thing.

AFC are gunning for the first division, while their namesakes go for the Premier League title in England.