What do all these Arsenal managers have in common? Well, they all managed Arsenal for starters. But furthermore, they are some of the best Arsenal managers ever. So here we will find out exactly who the best Arsenal managers ever are- based on stats.

Best Arsenal Managers Ever Based On Stats

Arsenal have had 27 managers in their history. The Gunners have collected 2,662 wins, 1,352 draws and 1,566 losses. So, which former Arsenal manager do you think was the best for the North London outfit? Well, we are going to find out. Here are the best Arsenal managers.

List Of Arsenal Managers

Name	Nationality	From	To	M	W	D	L	Win %
Thomas Mitchell	Scotland	30-03-1897	10-03-1898	45	23	8	14	51.11
Unknown		11-03-1898	10-04-1898	9	6	2	1	66.67
William Elcoat	England	11-04-1898	16-02-1899	44	21	6	17	47.73
Arthur Kennedy	England	21-02-1899	29-04-1899	15	8	3	4	53.33
Harry Bradshaw	England	30-06-1899	30-04-1904	235	118	44	73	50.21
Phil Kelso	Scotland	01-05-1904	09-02-1908	152	63	31	58	41.45
George Morrell	Scotland	10-02-1908	13-04-1915	309	113	74	122	36.57
James McEwen	England	19-04-1915	24-05-1919	2	1	0	1	50
Leslie Knighton	England	25-05-1919	16-05-1925	286	105	63	118	36.71
Herbert Chapman	England	11-06-1925	06-01-1934	411	204	97	110	49.64
Joe Shaw	England	06-01-1934	28-05-1934	23	14	3	6	60.87
George Allison	England	28-05-1934	31-05-1947	279	129	74	76	46.24
Tom Whittaker	England	02-06-1947	24-10-1956	430	203	106	121	47.21
Jack Crayston	England	24-10-1956	19-05-1958	81	34	17	30	41.98
George Swindin	England	21-06-1958	01-05-1962	186	76	43	67	40.86
Billy Wright	England	01-05-1962	13-06-1966	182	70	43	69	38.46
Bertie Mee	England	20-06-1966	04-05-1976	539	241	148	150	44.71
Terry Neill	Northern Ireland	09-07-1976	16-12-1983	416	187	117	112	44.95
Don Howe	England	16-12-1983	22-03-1986	117	54	32	31	46.15
Steve Burtenshaw	England	23-03-1986	14-05-1986	11	3	2	6	27.27
George Graham	Scotland	14-05-1986	21-02-1995	460	225	133	102	48.91
Stewart Houston	Scotland	21-02-1995	15-06-1995	19	7	3	9	36.84
Bruce Rioch	Scotland	15-06-1995	12-08-1996	47	22	15	10	46.81
Stewart Houston	Scotland	12-08-1996	13-09-1996	6	2	2	2	33.33
Pat Rice	Northern Ireland	13-09-1996	30-09-1996	4	3	0	1	75
Arsène Wenger	France	01-10-1996	13-05-2018	1,235	707	280	248	57.25
Unai Emery	Spain	23-05-2018	29-11-2019	78	43	16	19	55.13
Mikel Arteta	Spain	22-12-2019	present	169	101	24	44	59.76

Best Arsenal Managers Ever

Best Arsenal manager ever? To clarify, this table only includes managers who have been in charge for at least 20 games and all Arsenal Managers with a higher win-percentage than 50%.

Name	From	To	M	W	D	L	Win %
Joe Shaw	06-01-1934	28-05-1934	23	14	3	6	60.87
Arsène Wenger	01-10-1996	13-05-2018	1,235	707	280	248	57.25
Unai Emery	23-05-2018	29-11-2019	78	43	16	19	55.13
Mikel Arteta	22-12-2019	present	128	70	22	36	54.69
Thomas Mitchell	30-03-1897	10-03-1898	45	23	8	14	51.11
Harry Bradshaw	30-06-1899	30-04-1904	235	118	44	73	50.21
Herbert Chapman	11-06-1925	06-01-1934	411	204	97	110	49.64
George Graham	14-05-1986	21-02-1995	460	225	133	102	48.91
William Elcoat	11-04-1898	16-02-1899	44	21	6	17	47.73
Tom Whittaker	02-06-1947	24-10-1956	430	203	106	121	47.21
Bruce Rioch	15-06-1995	12-08-1996	47	22	15	10	46.81

Top 5 Best Arsenal Managers Ever

Here are the top five best Arsenal managers ever based on win-percentages. But take note that win percentage might not be the sole parametre to judge a manager’s success by.

Since Unai Emery is currently in his first season with Arsenal, we are not considering his stat line.

Harry Bradshaw – Win Percentage Of 50.21%

One of the more prominent success stories in football, Harry Bradshaw was one of the early leaders for Arsenal.

The man never really had much of playing career but he found a lot of success as a manager. He was appointed into the head coaching position of Woolwich Arsenal in 1899.

Bradshaw had proved his worth with Burnley, leading them to the third spot of the England top-flight the previous season. He made his way over to the Highbury and signed plenty of quality footballers like Archie Cross, Percy Sands, Jimmy Jackson and Jimmy Ashcroft for Arsenal.

His brand of management was efficient and commanded a fluid form of play on the pitch. After several seasons of near-misses, Arsenal won promotion up to the first division in 1904 for the first time in the club’s history.

Bradshaw gave the North London club an identity of their own by signing eighteen of the twenty players in the squad. Unfortunately, the Scotsman could never lead the club to win the league title and eventually moved on to Fulham after his fifth season.

Thomas Mitchell – Win Percentage Of 51.11%

Thomas Mitchell is known as the first professional manager to have ever taken charge of Arsenal. He coached the club for only one season – 1897/98.

He reached the fifth spot of the second division and was dismissed by the end of the campaign.

Arsene Wenger – Win Percentage Of 57.25%

If there is one manager who has been the most successful in the history of Arsenal, it would be Arsene Wenger but we are looking at the list through win percentage only.

There might not be a need to introduce this man to most people since everyone has come to associate the man with this club. Wenger is notably the longest-serving manager in Gunners history with a track record of 57.25% winning run.

He won the Premier League title three times with Arsenal and the FA Cup a record seven times. More than just winning a fair share of trophies in the English top-flight, he had a major influence on the game of professional football.

He implemented a lot of changes to scouting, players’ training and diet regimens. Wenger got the nickname “Le Professeur” from fans and the British media due to his studious demeanour.

Famous Arsenal Managers Who Won 

All ex-Arsenal managers with honours list. All the Arsenal managers that have won titles list. This includes Arsenal managers since 2000.

Name	From	To	M	W	D	L	Honours Won
Herbert Chapman	11-Jun-25	06-Jan-34	411	204	97	110	First Division champions: 1930–31, 1932–33
							FA Cup winners: 1929–30
							Charity Shield winners: 1930, 1931, 1933
Joe Shaw	06-Jan-34	28-May-34	23	14	3	6	First Division champions: 1933–34
George Allison	28-May-34	31-May-47	279	129	74	76	First Division champions: 1934–35, 1937–38
							FA Cup winners: 1935–36
							Charity Shield winners: 1934, 1938
Tom Whittaker	02-Jun-47	24-Oct-56	430	203	106	121	First Division champions: 1947–48, 1952–53
							FA Cup winners: 1949–50
							Charity Shield winners: 1948, 1953
Bertie Mee	20-Jun-66	04-May-76	539	241	148	150	First Division champions: 1970–71
							FA Cup winners: 1970–71
							Inter-Cities Fairs Cup winners: 1969–70
Terry Neill	09-Jul-76	16-Dec-83	416	187	117	112	FA Cup winners: 1978–79
George Graham	14-May-86	21-Feb-95	460	225	133	102	First Division champions: 1988–89, 1990–91
							FA Cup winners: 1992–93
							Football League Cup winners: 1986–87, 1992–93
							Charity Shield winners: 1991 (shared)
							UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup winners: 1993–94
Arsène Wenger	01-Oct-96	13-May-18	1,235	707	280	248	Premier League champions: 1997–98, 2001–02, 2003–04
							FA Cup winners: 1997–98, 2001–02, 2002–03, 2004–05, 2013–14, 2014–15, 2016–17
							Charity/Community Shield winners: 1998, 1999, 2002, 2004, 2014, 2015, 2017
Mikel Arteta	22-Dec 2019	Present	169	101	24	44	FA Cup winners: 2019–20 Community Shield winners: 2020

See Also… 

• Best Arsenal Defenders Ever (Best Left, Center & Right-Backs)
• Arsenal Players With Over 100 Appearances: More Than 100 Appearances!
• Arsenal Highest Transfer Fees Paid And Received Ever