History

7. Highbury's first game under floodlights

Arsenal v Hapoel Tel Aviv - 1951

Arsenal's first game under floodlights 19 September 1951

This is the real Highbury high light. On September 19, 1951, the ground hosted its first major fixture under floodlights.

Herbert Chapman had been considering using this new innovation since the 1930s and had installed them at the training ground after seeing them used on the trip to Belgium.

Arsenal beat Hapoel Tel Aviv 6-1 as Highbury was illuminated for the first time.

Later the Club programme stated: “It was interesting to hear a remark from the terraces that a considerably better view was enjoyed than on a number of poor Saturdays when strained eyes were peering into the falling gloom just before the final whistle.”