1973–74 Arsenal F.C. season explained

Club:Arsenal
Season:1973–74
Manager:Bertie Mee
Chairman:Denis Hill-Wood
League:First Division
League Result:10th place
Cup1:FA Cup
Cup1 Result:4th round
Cup2:League Cup
Cup2 Result:Second Round
League Topscorer:Alan Ball (13)
Season Topscorer:Alan Ball (13), Ray Kennedy (13)
Prevseason:1972–73
Nextseason:1974–75
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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

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.[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. 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.

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.

Final league table

See main article: 1973–74 Football League First Division.

Results

Arsenal's score comes first[6]

Legend

WinDrawLoss

Football League First Division

DateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorers
25 August 1973 Manchester UnitedH3–051,501
28 August 1973 Leeds UnitedH1–247,529
1 September 1973 Newcastle UnitedA1–130,665
4 September 1973 Sheffield UnitedA0–527,839
8 September 1973 Leicester CityH0–228,558
11 September 1973 Sheffield UnitedH1–029,434
15 September 1973 Norwich CityA4–029,378
22 September 1973 Stoke CityH2–130,968
29 September 1973 EvertonA0–131,359
6 October 1973 Birmingham CityH1–023,915
13 October 1973 Tottenham HotspurA0–241,855
20 October 1973 Ipswich TownH1–128,344
27 October 1973 Queen's Park RangersA0–229,115
3 November 1973 LiverpoolH0–239,857
10 November 1973 Manchester CityA2–131,041
17 November 1973 ChelseaH0–038,977
24 November 1973 West Ham UnitedA3–128,287
1 December 1973 Coventry CityH2–222,380
4 December 1973 Wolverhampton WanderersH2–213,751
8 December 1973 Derby CountyA1–125,161
15 December 1973 BurnleyA1–213,200
22 December 1973 EvertonH1–019,886
26 December 1973 SouthamptonA1–124,133
29 December 1973 Leicester CityA0–225,860
1 January 1974 Newcastle UnitedH0–129,558
12 January 1974 Norwich CityH2–022,084
19 January 1974 Manchester UnitedA1–138,869
2 February 1974 BurnleyH1–120,789
5 February 1974 Leeds UnitedA1–326,778
16 February 1974 Tottenham HotspurH0–138,892
23 February 1974 Birmingham CityA1–329,822
2 March 1974 SouthamptonH1–019,210
16 March 1974 Ipswich TownA2–222,297
23 March 1974 Manchester CityH2–025,319
30 March 1974 Stoke CityA0–018,532
6 April 1974 West Ham UnitedH0–037,868
13 April 1974 ChelseaA3–129,152
15 April 1974 Wolverhampton WanderersA1–325,881
20 April 1974 Derby CountyH2–026,017
24 April 1974 LiverpoolA1-047,997
27 April 1974 Coventry CityA3–319,945
30 April 1974 Queen's Park RangersH1–140,396

FA Cup

See main article: 1973-74 FA Cup.

!Round!!Date!!Opponent!!Venue!!Result!!Attendance!!Goalscorers
R35 January 1974 Norwich CityA1–021,500
R426 January 1974 Aston VillaH1–141,682
R4 R30 January 1974 Aston VillaA0–247,821

League Cup

See main article: 1973–74 Football League Cup.

!Round!!Date!!Opponent!!Venue!!Result!!Attendance!!Goalscorers
R22 October 1973 Tranmere RoversH0–120,337

Squad

http://www.11v11.com/teams/arsenal/tab/players/season/1973

Top scorers

Football League[7]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Kelly . Andy . 17 November 2014 . Arsenal’s captains from day one . https://web.archive.org/web/20230810232605/http://www.thearsenalhistory.com/?p=8955 . 10 August 2023 . 8 November 2023 . The Arsenal History.
  2. Book: Soar, Phil . Arsenal: Official History . Tyler . Martin . Hamlyn . 1995 . 0600588262 . London . 182 . en.
  3. Web site: 17 February 2022 . Rest in peace, Steve . https://web.archive.org/web/20230113014905/https://www.arsenal.com/news/rest-peace-steve . 13 January 2023 . 8 November 2023 . Arsenal.
  4. Web site: Exley . Robert . 7 July 2017 . #FlashbackFriday – Season 1973/74 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231108183736/https://www.onlinegooner.com/articles/view/4363 . 8 November 2023 . 8 November 2023 . The Online Gooner.
  5. Web site: 31 May 2017 . Greatest 50 Players - 8. Liam Brady . https://web.archive.org/web/20230205044106/https://www.arsenal.com/history/gunners-greatest-players-no-8-liam-brady . 5 February 2023 . 8 November 2023 . Arsenal.
  6. Web site: Arsenal results for the 1976-1977 season – Statto.com . 24 August 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150906041824/http://www.statto.com/football/teams/arsenal/1976-1977/results . 6 September 2015 . dead .
  7. Book: Arsenal Official Handbook 1974-75 . Arsenal . London . 37 . en.