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1973–74 Arsenal F.C. season

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Arsenal
1973–74 season
ChairmanDenis Hill-Wood
ManagerBertie Mee
First Division10th place
FA Cup4th round
League CupSecond Round
Top goalscorerLeague: Alan Ball (13)
All: Alan Ball (13), Ray Kennedy (13)

The 1973–74 season was Arsenal Football Club's 48th consecutive season in the Football League First Division. After a second-place finish the previous season, Arsenal slid to tenth and found no success in either the FA Cup or League Cup.

Captain Frank McLintock, after struggling with manager Bertie Mee, left the club and Bob McNab assumed the captaincy.[1] George Graham also left the club.

The season did see Liam Brady break into the first team, partnering with Alan Ball. Ball was Arsenal's top scorer in the league.

Season summary

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After the previous season, Mee believed that a rebuild was necessary and let go of several key players. Captain Frank McLintock, age 34, moved to Queens Park Rangers with whom he finished a close second in the league in 1975-76.[2] George Graham also departed, becoming Tommy Docherty's first purchase as Manchester United manager. Steve Burtenshaw, Mee's assistant, resigned just a few weeks into the season after losing the trust of the players and joined Queens Park Rangers.[2][3] Brian Chambers from Sunderland was the only incoming transfer.[4]

Arsenal began the season with 3-0 victory over Manchester United, but followed it up with two home losses and a 0-5 away loss to Sheffield United. Although Arsenal had a few decent performance including a 4-0 win over Norwich City (who had done the double over them the previous season), Arsenal continued to struggle in the league.[4] Their cup prospects didn't fare much better, as they lost to Tranmere Rovers in a second round League Cup tie and knocked out of the FA Cup in a fourth-round replay against Aston Villa.[2]

The season had few silver linings. Liam Brady broke into the first team and benefited from playing with Alan Ball in the midfield.[5] However, in the last match of the season which also brought Brady's first goal, Ball broke his leg in a tackle.[2]

Final league table

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Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GAv Pts Qualification or relegation
8 Queens Park Rangers 42 13 17 12 56 52 1.077 43
9 Leicester City 42 13 16 13 51 41 1.244 42
10 Arsenal 42 14 14 14 49 51 0.961 42
11 Tottenham Hotspur 42 14 14 14 45 50 0.900 42
12 Wolverhampton Wanderers 42 13 15 14 49 49 1.000 41 Qualification for the UEFA Cup first round[a]
Source: World Football
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal average; 3) Goals scored
Notes:
  1. ^ Wolverhampton Wanderers qualified for the UEFA Cup as the 1973-74 Football League Cup winners.

Results

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Arsenal's score comes first[6]

Legend

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Win Draw Loss

Football League First Division

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Date Opponent Venue Result Attendance Scorers
25 August 1973 Manchester United H 3–0 51,501
28 August 1973 Leeds United H 1–2 47,529
1 September 1973 Newcastle United A 1–1 30,665
4 September 1973 Sheffield United A 0–5 27,839
8 September 1973 Leicester City H 0–2 28,558
11 September 1973 Sheffield United H 1–0 29,434
15 September 1973 Norwich City A 4–0 29,378
22 September 1973 Stoke City H 2–1 30,968
29 September 1973 Everton A 0–1 31,359
6 October 1973 Birmingham City H 1–0 23,915
13 October 1973 Tottenham Hotspur A 0–2 41,855
20 October 1973 Ipswich Town H 1–1 28,344
27 October 1973 Queen's Park Rangers A 0–2 29,115
3 November 1973 Liverpool H 0–2 39,857
10 November 1973 Manchester City A 2–1 31,041
17 November 1973 Chelsea H 0–0 38,977
24 November 1973 West Ham United A 3–1 28,287
1 December 1973 Coventry City H 2–2 22,380
4 December 1973 Wolverhampton Wanderers H 2–2 13,751
8 December 1973 Derby County A 1–1 25,161
15 December 1973 Burnley A 1–2 13,200
22 December 1973 Everton H 1–0 19,886
26 December 1973 Southampton A 1–1 24,133
29 December 1973 Leicester City A 0–2 25,860
1 January 1974 Newcastle United H 0–1 29,558
12 January 1974 Norwich City H 2–0 22,084
19 January 1974 Manchester United A 1–1 38,869
2 February 1974 Burnley H 1–1 20,789
5 February 1974 Leeds United A 1–3 26,778
16 February 1974 Tottenham Hotspur H 0–1 38,892
23 February 1974 Birmingham City A 1–3 29,822
2 March 1974 Southampton H 1–0 19,210
16 March 1974 Ipswich Town A 2–2 22,297
23 March 1974 Manchester City H 2–0 25,319
30 March 1974 Stoke City A 0–0 18,532
6 April 1974 West Ham United H 0–0 37,868
13 April 1974 Chelsea A 3–1 29,152
15 April 1974 Wolverhampton Wanderers A 1–3 25,881
20 April 1974 Derby County H 2–0 26,017
24 April 1974 Liverpool A 1-0 47,997
27 April 1974 Coventry City A 3–3 19,945
30 April 1974 Queen's Park Rangers H 1–1 40,396

FA Cup

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Round Date Opponent Venue Result Attendance Goalscorers
R3 5 January 1974 Norwich City A 1–0 21,500
R4 26 January 1974 Aston Villa H 1–1 41,682
R4 R 30 January 1974 Aston Villa A 0–2 47,821

League Cup

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Round Date Opponent Venue Result Attendance Goalscorers
R2 2 October 1973 Tranmere Rovers H 0–1 20,337

Squad

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[1] Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
- GK Scotland SCO Bob Wilson
- DF Northern Ireland NIR Pat Rice
- DF England ENG Bob McNab
- DF England ENG Peter Simpson
- MF England ENG Peter Storey
- MF Scotland SCO Eddie Kelly
- MF England ENG George Armstrong
- MF England ENG Alan Ball
- FW England ENG John Radford
- FW England ENG Ray Kennedy
- FW England ENG Charlie George
No. Pos. Nation Player
- DF England ENG Jeff Blockley
- DF Northern Ireland NIR Sammy Nelson
- MF Republic of Ireland IRL Liam Brady
- MF England ENG Brian Hornsby
- MF England ENG David Price
- DF England ENG Richie Powling
- DF England ENG Brendon Batson
- GK England ENG Jimmy Rimmer

Top scorers

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Football League[7]

References

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  1. ^ Kelly, Andy (17 November 2014). "Arsenal's captains from day one". The Arsenal History. Archived from the original on 10 August 2023. Retrieved 8 November 2023.
  2. ^ a b c d Soar, Phil; Tyler, Martin (1995). Arsenal: Official History. London: Hamlyn. p. 182. ISBN 0600588262.
  3. ^ "Rest in peace, Steve". Arsenal. 17 February 2022. Archived from the original on 13 January 2023. Retrieved 8 November 2023.
  4. ^ a b Exley, Robert (7 July 2017). "#FlashbackFriday – Season 1973/74". The Online Gooner. Archived from the original on 8 November 2023. Retrieved 8 November 2023.
  5. ^ "Greatest 50 Players - 8. Liam Brady". Arsenal. 31 May 2017. Archived from the original on 5 February 2023. Retrieved 8 November 2023.
  6. ^ "Arsenal results for the 1976-1977 season – Statto.com". Archived from the original on 6 September 2015. Retrieved 24 August 2017.
  7. ^ Arsenal Official Handbook 1974-75. London: Arsenal. p. 37.