The 2009–10 season was Arsenal Football Club's 18th season in the Premier League and their 84th consecutive season in the top flight of English football. It began on 1 July 2009 and concluded on 30 June 2010, with competitive matches played between August and May. The club ended the Premier League campaign in third position, 11 points behind champions Chelsea. In the domestic cup competitions, Arsenal were knocked out in the fourth round of the FA Cup to Stoke City and the fifth round of the League Cup against Manchester City. They failed to progress past the quarter-finals of the UEFA Champions League, losing to reigning champions Barcelona in a two-legged tie.
Arsenal did little business in the transfer market; their only outfield signing of the summer was defender Thomas Vermaelen from Ajax. Several players however left the club before the campaign got under way, including Emmanuel Adebayor and Kolo Touré in separate deals to Manchester City. To reinvigorate the side and benefit from Cesc Fàbregas's creativity, manager Arsène Wenger instituted a fluid 4–3–3 formation. The team made an impressive start; by November they had scored 36 goals in 11 league games and qualified for the Champions League knockout stage with a game to spare. Arsenal's defensive fragility was a recurring theme throughout the season and meant the team struggled to sustain a title challenge; they suffered back-to-back Premier League losses on four occasions.
41 different players represented Arsenal in four competitions and there were 14 different goalscorers. Arsenal's top goalscorer was Fàbregas, who scored 19 goals in 36 appearances.
Players
Squad information
* - Sol Campbell made 197 appearances and scored 11 goals during his time at Arsenal between 2001 and 2006.
Transfers
Arsenal made one outfield signing during the summer, defender Thomas Vermaelen from Ajax in a deal estimated at £10 million. Several players were let go, including Amaury Bischoff who joined in 2008 and played the majority of his football in the reserves and Rui Fonte. Striker Emmanuel Adebayor was sold to Manchester City for a fee of £25 million and Kolo Touré soon joined him, ending a seven-year association with Arsenal. His former teammate Sol Campbell rejoined the club during the winter transfer window, having been a free agent. Wenger, who signed him to bolster the squad's defensive options, said: "He has a fantastic attitude and good fitness. Of course he is not the youngest but he is in a very good shape. He can still play in the Premier League. He is important in the dressing room as well. He's positive with the young players."
A number of players were loaned out during the season for game time and career development. Goalkeeper Wojciech Szczęsny joined Brentford in November 2009 and stayed their for the remainder of the season, while in the January window Jack Wilshere and Philippe Senderos moved to Bolton Wanderers and Everton respectively.
In
Out
Loan out
Club
Coaching staff
Kit
Supplier: Nike / Sponsor: Fly Emirates
Kit information
Nike released two new kit for Arsenal this season.
Home: The home kit from last season was unchanged. Away: The away kit including a pinstripe in the kit and a polo collar inspired by the shirts worn by the all-conquering side of the 1930s. Along with the midnight blue shirt, the kit features midnight blue shorts with a photo blue stripe and midnight blue socks with a photo blue stripe on the top band. Third: The third kit include a panel of horizontal stripes at the back of the shirt, to mirror the craftsmanship of a fine English shirt. The third shorts are anthracite grey with a redcurrant stripe along the side. The socks are white with vertical redcurrant pinstripes and an anthracite stripe on the top band. Keeper: The home goalkeeper kit are jade blue. The sleeves are a darker shade of jade blue than the body. The shirt will be worn with jade blue shorts and socks. The away goalkeeper kit are yellow. The sleeves are a darker shade of yellow than the body. The shirt will be worn with black shorts and yellow socks and The third goalkeeper kit are grey. The sleeves are a darker shade of grey than the body. The shirt will be worn with grey shorts and socks