1946–47 Arsenal F.C. season

In 1946 the Football League in the United Kingdom fully resumed on a national basis following the disruption caused by World War II. In the club's first post-war First Division match, on 31 August 1946; Arsenal lost 6–1 to Wolves, their biggest League defeat in nearly twenty years. Although the Gunners had been the dominant force in English football in the 1930s, they struggled in their first season after the war, only finishing 13th.

Arsenal
1946–47 season
ChairmanSamuel Hill-Wood
ManagerGeorge Allison
(until 31 May 1947)
Tom Whittaker
(from 2 June 1947)
Division One13th
FA CupThird round
Top goalscorerLeague:
Reg Lewis (29)
All:
Reg Lewis (29)
Highest home attendance60,643 v Derby County
(21 September 1946)
Lowest home attendance23,785 v Everton
(31 May 1947)

Players

Players returning after the break included Cliff Bastin, Bryn Jones, Reg Lewis,[1] Jimmy Logie, George Male, David Nelson and Laurie Scott. George Swindin established himself as Arsenal's undisputed No. 1, a position he would hold for the next six seasons. The squad included brothers Leslie Compton and Denis Compton both of whom also played Cricket for Middlesex. Ian McPherson made his Arsenal debut in the opening match against Wolves. He played 40 times that season on the right wing.

Dr. Kevin O'Flanagan made 14 First Division appearances and scored three goals. He made his first-class league debut[2] against Blackburn Rovers on 4 September and his last appearance for the senior team came on 28 December 1946 against Wolves. Bernard Joy played the first half of the 1946–47 season before deciding that his age (35) was counting against him; he retired from top-flight football in December 1946. George Curtis played 12 times in the 1946–47 season, but was sold to Southampton in part-exchange for Don Roper in summer 1947.

Joe Mercer made his Arsenal debut against Bolton Wanderers on 30 November 1946 and soon after became club captain. Everton boss Theo Kelly had brought Mercer's boots to the transfer negotiations to prevent Mercer having a reason to go back to say goodbye to the other players at Everton.[3] His transfer fee was set at £9,000 (2015: £337,000).

Arsenal were unsuccessful in their attempts to land Archie Macaulay, who signed with Brentford F.C. in October 1946.[4]

Despite being nearly 35 and having never played in the top flight, Ronnie Rooke was signed by Arsenal (Cyril Grant going in the other direction). The move was surprising, but Rooke immediately made an impact, scoring the winner on his debut against Charlton Athletic on 14 December. He scored 21 goals in just 24 League matches that season.

Matches

On 21 September 63,000 attended Highbury to see Arsenal beaten by Derby County.[5] Czech Champions, AC Sparta opened their tour of Britain with a 2–2 draw against Arsenal on 2 October with Albert Guðmundsson, later Iceland's Minister of Finance, playing inside forward for The Gunners.[6]

Despite leading at half time, Arsenal lost to Sheffield United in early November. Six changes were made for the match against Preston North End the following week: Walley Barnes replaced Joy at left back. With Jones still injured, Lewis was moved to inside forward and Cyril Grant made his Arsenal debut as centre forward.[7] However, the poor form continued and Arsenal lost 2–0.[8]

Each November between 1930 and 1962, Racing Club de Paris hosted a prestige game with Arsenal. In 1946 The London club were beaten 2–1 at Colombes Stadium.[9] In mid November they beat Oxford University 6–0 with goals by Doug Farquhar, Morgan (2) and Whalley (3).[10]

Results

Arsenal's score comes first[11]

https://www.11v11.com/teams/arsenal/tab/matches/season/1947/

Legend
Win Draw Loss

Football League First Division
Main article: 1946–47 Football League
DateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorers
31 August 1946Wolverhampton WanderersA1–650,845Lewis
4 September 1946Blackburn RoversH1–328,700Lewis
7 September 1946SunderlandH2–253,377Lewis (2)
11 September 1946EvertonA2–340,000Lewis (2)
14 September 1946Aston VillaA2–053,778Lewis, O'Flanagan
17 September 1946Blackburn RoversA2–124,563Lewis (2)
21 September 1946Derby CountyH0–160,643
28 September 1946Manchester UnitedA2–562,718Lewis, McPherson
5 October 1946BlackpoolA1–224,039Logie
12 October 1946BrentfordH2–245,000Lewis, Logie
19 October 1946Stoke CityH1–060,266O'Flanagan
26 October 1946ChelseaA1–256,568Lewis
2 November 1946Sheffield UnitedH2–341,173Lewis, Logie
9 November 1946Preston North EndA0–229,971
16 November 1946Leeds UnitedH4–236,377Lewis (2 including 1 penalty), Logie, McPherson
23 November 1946LiverpoolA2–451,435Lewis, Logie
30 November 1946Bolton WanderersH2–242,522Lewis (penalty), O'Flanagan
7 December 1946MiddlesbroughA0–230,357
14 December 1946Charlton AthleticH1–038,606Rooke
21 December 1946Grimsby TownA0–013,308
25 December 1946PortsmouthH2–132,108Rooke, Logie
26 December 1946PortsmouthA2–038,000Rooke (2)
28 December 1946Wolverhampton WanderersH1–158,075Rooke
4 January 1947SunderlandA4–136,812Rooke (2), Lewis (2)
18 January 1947Aston VillaH0–257,524
1 February 1947Manchester UnitedH]6–229,145Rooke (3), Rudkin, Logie, McPherson
8 February 1947BlackpoolH1–131,111Rooke
22 February 1947Stoke CityA1–330,000Rooke
1 March 1947ChelseaH1–252,606Rudkin
15 March 1947Preston North EndH4–145,775Lewis (3), Rooke
22 March 1947Leeds UnitedA1–132,000Lewis
4 April 1947Huddersfield TownH1–246,105Jones
5 April 1947Bolton WanderersA3–134,398Rooke (2), Lewis
7 April 1947Huddersfield TownA0–033,381
12 April 1947MiddlesbroughH]4–0
19 April 1947Charlton AthleticA2–2
26 April 1947Grimsby TownH5–3
10 May 1947Derby CountyA1–0
24 May 1947LiverpoolH1–2
26 May 1947BrentfordA1–0
31 May 1947EvertonH]2–1
7 June 1947Sheffield UnitedH1–2

Final League table
Main article: 1946–47 Football League § First Division
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GR Pts
11 Middlesbrough 42 17 8 17 73 68 1.074 42
12 Portsmouth 42 16 9 17 66 60 1.100 41
13 Arsenal 42 16 9 17 72 70 1.029 41
14 Derby County 42 18 5 19 73 79 0.924 41
15 Chelsea 42 16 7 19 69 84 0.821 39
Source:
DateOpponentVenue ResultScore
F–A		Scorer(s) Attendance[12]
12 April 1947 Middlesbrough H W 4–0 Rooke (4) (1 pen.) 44,230
19 April 1947 Charlton Athletic A D 2–2 McPherson, Logie 57,983
26 April 1947 Grimsby Town H W 5–3 Lewis (4), D. Compton 42,100
10 May 1947 Derby County A W 1–0 Rooke 19,153
24 May 1947 Liverpool H L 1–2 McPherson 44,265
26 May 1947 Brentford A W 1–0 Sloan 17,599
31 May 1947 Everton H W 2–1 Rooke, Lewis 23,785
7 June 1947 Sheffield United A L 1–2 McPherson 14,939
Season League Top scorer[13]
Division P W D L F A Pts Pos
1946-47 Div 1 42 16 9 17 72 70 41 13th Reg Lewis 29

Results by round
Round123456789101112131415161718192021222324252627282930313233343536373839404142
GroundAHHAAAHAAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHHAHHAHAAHAHAHAHA
ResultLLDLWWLLLDWLLLWLDLWDWWDWLWDLLWDLWDWDWWLWWL
Position192021221716171821201819202119212121201717161613151516171817171818181516151516131313
Source: Statto
A = Away; H = Home; W = Win; D = Draw; L = Loss

FA Cup
Main article: 1946–47 FA Cup
RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceGoalscorers
R311 January 1947ChelseaA1–170,195McPherson
R3 R15 January 1947ChelseaH1–1 (aet)53,350Rooke
R3 2R20 January 1947ChelseaN0–259,590

Player statistics
Players with name struck through and marked left the club during the playing season.
Pos. Nat. Name First Division FA Cup Total[12][14]
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
DF  WAL Walley Barnes 26030290
FW  ENG Cliff Bastin 60——60
FW  ENG Alf Calverley 110——110
MF  ENG Ernie Collett 60——60
DF  ENG Leslie Compton 36030390
FW  ENG Denis Compton 11——11
FW  ENG George Curtis 1101—120
FW  ENG George Drury 40——40
DF  ENG Alf Fields 80——80
FW  ENG Cyril Grant 20——20
FW  ISL Albert Guðmundsson 20——20
FW  ENG Cyril Hodges 20——20
FW  WAL Bryn Jones 26120281
DF  ENG Bernard Joy 130——130
FW  ENG Reg Lewis 2829303129
FW  SCO Jimmy Logie 35830388
DF  ENG George Male 15020170
MF  SCO Ian McPherson 37631407
DF  ENG Joe Mercer 25030280
FW  WAL Stan Morgan 20——20
MF  ENG David Nelson 100——100
FW  IRE
 IRE		 Kevin O'Flanagan 143——143
GK  ENG Ted Platt 40——40
FW  ENG Ronnie Rooke 2421312722
FW  ENG Tommy Rudkin 52——52
DF  ENG Laurie Scott 28010290
DF  IRE
 IRE		 Paddy Sloan 30130331
FW  ENG Alan Smith 30——30
GK  ENG George Swindin 38030410
DF  ENG Joe Wade 20——20
DF  ENG Harry Waller 80——80

References
  1. The Times, 30 August 1946; "Association Football: The New Season"
  2. Appearances in wartime leagues such as the Football League South are not counted as official first-class matches by statisticians, hence this is considered O'Flanagan's first-class league debut.
  3. Corbett, James (2003); p104 Everton:School of Science publ by MacMillan ISBN 0-330-42006-2
  4. The Times, Saturday, 16 November 1946; Association Football Some Championship Anxieties
  5. The Times, 23 September 1946; Association Football Four Unbeaten Clubs
  6. The Times, 3 October 1946; Association Football Sparta Draw With Arsenal
  7. The Times, 9 November 1946; Association Football Wolverhampton At Charlton
  8. The Times, 11 November 1946; Association Football Bad Day For Home Teams
  9. The Times, 12 November 1946; Association Football Changes In Welsh Team
  10. The Times, 15 November 1946; Association Football
  11. http://www.statto.com/football/teams/arsenal/1947-1948/results
  12. Ollier, Fred (1995). Arsenal: A Complete Record (4th ed.). Breedon Books. p. 156. ISBN 1-85983-011-0.
  13. Goals in all competitions are counted.
  14. Kelly, Andy. "Arsenal First Team Line-Ups" (Select 1946–1947). Andy's Arsenal Resource Website.
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