1987–88 Arsenal F.C. season

Arsenal
1987–88 season
Chairman Peter Hill-Wood
Manager George Graham
Stadium Highbury
First Division 6th
FA Cup Quarter-finals
League Cup Runners-up
Top goalscorer League:
Alan Smith (11)
All:
Alan Smith (16)
Highest home attendance 54,703 vs. Liverpool
(15 August 1987)
Lowest home attendance 18,321 vs. Doncaster Rovers
(6 October 1987)
Average home league attendance 30,111

The 1987–88 season was Arsenal's 68th season in the top flight of English football. After finishing fourth in the league and winning the Football League Cup a year earlier, they slipped to finish sixth this season. They did reach the League Cup final again, and took a 2-1 lead against Luton Town at Wembley before missing a penalty which would have given them a 3-1 lead, and ended up losing the game 3-2. Arsenal were quarter-finalists in the FA Cup.

A new signing at the start of the season was Nigel Winterburn, who arrived from Wimbledon to fill the right-back position left vacant by the sale of Viv Anderson to Manchester United. Arsenal had agreed an £850,000 deal for Leicester City striker Alan Smith two months before the end of the previous season, although he had remained on loan back at the East Midlands club until the end of the campaign. Smith finished as Arsenal's top scorer in his first season at the club, finding the net 16 times in all competitions.

New signings at the club late in the season were defenders Lee Dixon and Steve Bould, as well as winger Brian Marwood. Young midfielders Michael Thomas and Paul Merson became regular members of the first team during this season, while at the end of the campaign defender Tony Adams, still only 21, succeeded Kenny Sansom as captain.

Squad

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

No. Position Player
England GK John Lukic
England DF Michael Thomas
England DF Kenny Sansom (captain)
England MF Steve Williams
Republic of Ireland DF David O'Leary
England DF Tony Adams
England MF David Rocastle
England MF Paul Davis
England FW Alan Smith
England FW Perry Groves
England MF Kevin Richardson
No. Position Player
England FW Martin Hayes
England DF Gus Caesar
England DF Nigel Winterburn
England FW Paul Merson
England MF Graham Rix
Republic of Ireland FW Niall Quinn
England DF Lee Dixon
England MF Brian Marwood
Scotland FW Charlie Nicholas
England FW Kevin Campbell
Wales GK Rhys Wilmot

Results

First Division

Football League Cup

FA Cup

Arsenal entered the FA Cup in the third round proper, in which they were drawn to face Millwall.


See also

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