On 7 February 2019, goalkeeper James Hillson from Reading was brought into Arsenal on loan for the rest of the season from Reading as cover in goal for their Under-18 team after losing Karl Hein to injury.
This came after Arsenal had to use 15-year-old Hubert Graczyk as a substitute for the FA Youth Cup clash against Tottenham.
His loan spell from Reading finished at the end of May 2019 but then on 2 July he was transferred permanently from Reading to Arsenal.
7 February 1872: Stanley Briggs, a centre half, was born in Stamford Hill, on this date and was signed by Arsenal on 23 October 1893 as an amateur from Tottenham, to whom he later returned.
7 February 1903: The biggest crowd yet at the Manor Ground (24000) turned out to see Arsenal 1 Sheffield U 3. It was the first time £1000+ had been taken in gate receipts.
7 February 1914: After three successive wins Arsenal drew 1-1 away with Bury making it just one defeat in nine.
7 February 1920: Arsenal beat Oldham at Highbury 3-2. This was the first game for Joe North who scored. He had been with the tank corps in the war, and was awarded the Military Medal, and had registered with, but not played for, Sheffield United.
7 February 1931: Following a 9-1 win over Grimsby Arsenal had drawn 1-1 with Birmingham. Then Arsenal had a 7-2 away win over Leicester but in the next match again could only draw 1-1, on this day, away to Sheffield Utd. Hulme made it three goals in four.
7 February 1951: Eddie Kelly born. He became an Arsenal apprentice in July 1966 where he found a growing group of Scottish players including Ian Ure, Frank McLintock and George Graham. He became a Double winner and our youngest captain until Tony Adams. See also “An evening with Eddie”
7 February 1953: Arsenal 4 Tottenham 0. The first goal was the 100th goal in league and cup games between the clubs, the 4th was 100th league goal between them. Holton (2), Lishman and Logie got the goals.
7 February 1970: Frank Moss died. He moved from being a second division goalkeeper to being one of the top keepers in Arsenal’s history. After his playing days he became manager of Heart of Midlothian taking the club to second in the league in 1938-9.
7 February 1976: Sitting perilously close to relegation Arsenal went to Norwich who were just two points above Arsenal, and lost 3-1 with 23,038 in the crowd.
7 February 1978: Liverpool 2 Arsenal 1. League cup semi final first leg. Macdonald scored to give hope that Arsenal could build on their away goal in the second leg to make it to the final.
7 February 1988. Arsenal beat Everton 1-0 away in the semi-final first leg to move closer to a League Cup final. Groves scored but only 25,476 bothered to turn up at Goodison. Arsenal also won the second leg but lost to Luton in the final
7 February 1993: Crystal Palace 0 Arsenal 3. League cup semi-final 1st leg. Smith (2) and a penalty from Ian Wright. Cup match 10 of the Cup Double season.
7 February 2004: Wolverhampton 1 Arsenal 3. The 24th league game of the unbeaten season. The game beat the club unbeaten record set by George Graham’s team of 1990–91. Rick Broadbent in the Times said, “The truth is it is a privilege to watch new Arsenal. They are Prozac for those used to the prosaic.”
7 February 2013: Benik Afobe loaned to Millwall but got injured. After a number of loan spells, including a very successful run at MK Dons in 2014 he signed for Wolverhampton in 2015.
7 February 2013: Samuel Galindo loaned to Wilstermann. He never made it with Arsenal and eventually returned to South America to play for Brazilian side Portuguesa.
7 February 2015: Tottenham 2 Arsenal 1. Ozil scored and five Arsenal players were booked. However Arsenal won the following eight league games to secure third place in the league.
7 February 2019: Goalkeeper James Hillson from Reading was brought into Arsenal on loan for the rest of the season.
