1970–71 Arsenal F.C. season

Arsenal
1970–71 season
Chairman	Denis Hill-Wood
Manager	Bertie Mee
First Division	1st
FA Cup	Winners
League Cup	Fourth Round
Inter-Cities Fairs Cup	Quarter–finals
Top goalscorer	League: ; Ray Kennedy (19); All: ; Ray Kennedy (26)
Highest home attendance	62,087 vs Chelsea (3 April 1971)
Lowest home attendance	26,379 vs Ipswich Town (28 September 1970)
Average home league attendance	43,776
Home colours	Away colours
	← 1969–70 1971–72 →

During the 1970–71 English football season, Arsenal F.C. competed in the Football League First Division. In a truly historic campaign, they became just the fourth side in history to win the coveted league and FA Cup double. Having ended their 17-year trophy drought with victory over Anderlecht in the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup Final the previous year, Arsenal started the campaign well, crushing Manchester United 4–0 in the first home game. It was a sign of things to come. For the first time in their history, Arsenal remained unbeaten at home for the entirety of the league campaign, losing just once there in all competitions – 0–2 to Crystal Palace in the Football League Cup fourth round replay.^[1]

The defence of the Fairs Cup ended with a quarter-final defeat to West Germans FC Koln on away goals, but the domestic campaign continued to inspire, with Stoke City seen off after a replay in the FA Cup semi-final in April, before the league season hit its summit on the final day of the season. ^[1]

Nearest challengers Leeds United had already finished their season, standing one point clear of the Gunners. Thus, a win would clinch Arsenal the title, as would a 0–0 draw, as the goal average system(the division of goals scored by goals conceded) was still being used.^[2]

The setting was White Hart Lane, and the opposition was bitter local rivals Tottenham Hotspur, the last side to win the double, in the 1960–61 season. The encounter was tense, but thankfully for Arsenal Ray Kennedy headed home a late winner.^[3]

And so the Gunners travelled to Wembley to face Liverpool in an attempt to clinch the double. A goalless ninety minutes at Wembley meant extra-time was needed, and two minutes in Steve Heighway gave Liverpool the lead. However, Arsenal were quick to respond, Eddie Kelly equalising nine minutes later before Charlie George rocketed in a late winner to clinch the double.^[4]

Final league table

Pos	Team v t e	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GAv	Pts	Qualification or relegation
1	Arsenal (C)	42	29	7	6	71	29	2.448	65	Qualification for the European Cup first round
2	Leeds United	42	27	10	5	72	30	2.400	64	Qualification for the UEFA Cup first round
3	Tottenham Hotspur	42	19	14	9	54	33	1.636	52
4	Wolverhampton Wanderers	42	22	8	12	64	54	1.185	52
5	Liverpool	42	17	17	8	42	24	1.750	51	Qualification for the European Cup Winners' Cup first round^[a]

Source: World Football
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal average; 3) Goals scored
(C) Champions
Notes:

^ Liverpool qualified for the European Cup Winners' Cup as FA Cup runners-up, as winners, Arsenal, qualified for the European Cup.

Results

Arsenal's score comes first^[5]

Legend

Win	Draw	Loss

Football League First Division

Date	Opponent	Venue	Result	Attendance	Scorers
15 August 1970	Everton	A	2–2	49,684	George, Graham
17 August 1970	West Ham United	A	0–0	39,004
22 August 1970	Manchester United	H	4–0	54,117	Radford (3), Graham
25 August 1970	Huddersfield Town	H	1–0	34,848	Kennedy
29 August 1970	Chelsea	A	1–2	53,722	Kelly
1 September 1970	Leeds United	H	0–0	47,749
5 September 1970	Tottenham Hotspur	H	2–0	48,931	Armstrong (2)
12 September 1970	Burnley	A	2–1	12,675	Kennedy, Radford
19 September 1970	West Bromwich Albion	H	6–2	33,326	Armstrong, Graham (2), Kennedy (2), (o.g.)
26 September 1970	Stoke City	A	0–5	18,153
3 October 1970	Nottingham Forest	H	4–0	32,053	Armstrong, Kennedy (3)
10 October 1970	Newcastle United	A	1–1	38,024	Graham
17 October 1970	Everton	H	4–0	50,012	Kennedy (2), Storey (pen.), Kelly
24 October 1970	Coventry City	A	3–1	30,017	Graham, Kennedy, Radford
31 October 1970	Derby County	H	2–0	43,013	Radford, Kelly
7 November 1970	Blackpool	A	1–0	17,115	Radford
14 November 1970	Crystal Palace	H	1–1	34,503	Radford
21 November 1970	Ipswich Town	A	1–0	22,856	Armstrong
28 November 1970	Liverpool	H	2–0	45,097	Radford, Graham
5 December 1970	Manchester City	A	2–0	33,027	Armstrong, Radford
12 December 1970	Wolverhampton Wanderers	H	2–1	38,816	Graham, Radford
19 December 1970	Manchester United	A	3–1	33,182	Graham, Kennedy, McLintock
26 December 1970	Southampton	H	0–0	34,169
9 January 1971	West Ham United	H	2–0	49,007	Graham, Kennedy
16 January 1971	Huddersfield Town	A	1–2	30,455	Kennedy
30 January 1971	Liverpool	A	0–2	43,847
6 February 1971	Manchester City	H	1–0	46,122	Radford
20 February 1971	Ipswich Town	H	3–2	39,822	George, McLintock, Radford
27 February 1971	Derby County	A	0–2	35,875
2 March 1971	Wolverhampton Wanderers	A	3–0	33,644	Armstrong, Kennedy, Radford
13 March 1971	Crystal Palace	A	2–0	35,022	Graham, Sammels
20 March 1971	Blackpool	H	1–0	37,372	Storey
3 April 1971	Chelsea	H	2–0	62,087	Kennedy (2)
6 April 1971	Coventry City	H	1–0	37,029	Kennedy
10 April 1971	Southampton	A	2–1	30,231	McLintock, Radford
13 April 1971	Nottingham Forest	A	3–0	40,727	George, Kennedy, McLintock
17 April 1971	Newcastle United	H	1–0	48,106	George
20 April 1971	Burnley	H	1–0	47,484	George (pen.)
24 April 1971	West Bromwich Albion	A	2–2	36,858	McLintock, (o.g.)
26 April 1971	Leeds United	A	0–1	48,350
1 May 1971	Stoke City	H	1–0	55,011	Kelly
3 May 1971	Tottenham Hotspur	A	1–0	51,992	Kennedy

FA Cup


Round	Date	Opponent	Venue	Result	Attendance	Goalscorers
R3	6 January 1971	Yeovil Town	A	3–0	14,500	Kennedy, Radford (2)
R4	23 January 1971	Portsmouth	A	1–1	39,659	Storey (pen.)
R4 R	1 February 1971	Portsmouth	H	3–2	47,865	Storey (pen.), George, Simpson
R5	17 February 1971	Manchester City	A	2–1	45,105	George (2)
R6	6 March 1971	Leicester City	A	0–0	42,000
R6 R	15 March 1971	Leicester City	H	1–0	57,443	George
SF	27 March 1971	Stoke City	N	2–2	55,000	Storey (2; 1 pen.)
SF R	31 March 1971	Stoke City	N	2–0	62,500	Graham, Kennedy
F	8 May 1971	Liverpool	N	2–1 (aet)	100,000	Kelly, George

League Cup


Round	Date	Opponent	Venue	Result	Attendance	Goalscorers
R2	8 September 1970	Ipswich Town	A	0–0	21,564
R2 R	28 September 1970	Ipswich Town	H	4–0	26,379	Kennedy (2), Radford, Roberts
R3	6 October 1970	Luton Town	A	1–0	27,023	Graham
R4	28 October 1970	Crystal Palace	A	0–0	40,451
R4 R	9 November 1970	Crystal Palace	H	0–2	45,026

Inter-Cities Fairs Cup


Round	Date	Opponent	Venue	Result	Attendance	Goalscorers
R1 L1	16 September 1970	Lazio	A	2–2	60,000	Radford (2)
R1 L2	23 September 1970	Lazio	H	2–0	53,013	Armstrong, Radford
R2 L1	21 October 1970	SK Sturm Graz	A	0–1	13,000
R2 L2	4 November 1970	SK Sturm Graz	H	2–0	37,667	Kennedy, Storey (pen.)
R3 L1	2 December 1970	Beveren	H	4–0	33,444	Kennedy (2), Graham, Sammels
R3 L2	16 December 1970	Beveren	A	0–0	16,000
QF L1	9 March 1971	1. FC Köln	H	2–1	40,007	McLintock, Storey
QF L2	23 March 1971	1. FC Köln	A	0–1	50,000

Squad

[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	SCO	Bob Wilson
-	GK	ENG	Geoff Barnett
-	DF	NIR	Pat Rice
-	DF	SCO	Frank McLintock
-	DF	ENG	Peter Simpson
-	DF	ENG	Bob McNab
-	DF	NIR	Sammy Nelson
-	DF	WAL	John Roberts
-	MF	ENG	George Armstrong
-	MF	SCO	George Graham
-	MF	ENG	Jon Sammels


No.	Pos.	Nation	Player
-	MF	ENG	Peter Storey
-	MF	SCO	Eddie Kelly
-	FW	ENG	Ray Kennedy
-	FW	ENG	John Radford
-	FW	ENG	Charlie George
-	FW	SCO	Peter Marinello

References

^ ^a ^b James, Kelly & Andrews (2018). Arsenal: The Complete Record. p. 308.
^ James, Kelly & Andrews (2018). Arsenal: The Complete Record. p. 307.
^ James, Kelly & Andrews (2018). Arsenal: The Complete Record. p. 306.
^ James, Kelly & Andrews (2018). Arsenal: The Complete Record. p. 307.
^ http://www.statto.com/football/teams/arsenal/1970-1971/results

[table_note_res_CWC1R0.86031905648313-5] Liverpool qualified for the European Cup Winners' Cup as FA Cup runners-up, as winners, Arsenal, qualified for the European Cup.

[Arsenal:_The_Complete_Record-1] James, Kelly & Andrews (2018). Arsenal: The Complete Record. p. 308.

[2] James, Kelly & Andrews (2018). Arsenal: The Complete Record. p. 307.

[3] James, Kelly & Andrews (2018). Arsenal: The Complete Record. p. 306.

[4] James, Kelly & Andrews (2018). Arsenal: The Complete Record. p. 307.

[6] ttp://www.statto.com/football/teams/arsenal/1970-1971/results

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v t e Arsenal F.C. seasons
Royal Arsenal F.C.	1886–87 1887–88 1888–89 1889–90 1890–91 1891–92 1892–93
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