Gillespie Road station was opened by the Great Northern, Piccadilly and Brompton Railway (GNP&BR) on 15 December 1906. When the different London Underground companies were joined together, the GNP&BR became the Piccadilly line. The original station building and ticket hall were designed by Leslie Green. The buildings had red terracotta on the outside. The station is similar to Holloway Road and Caledonian Road stations, also on the Piccadilly line. The station was renamed to Arsenal in 1932.