1970–71 Arsenal F.C. season

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 their in all competitions-2-0 to Crystal Palace in the Football League Cup fourth round replay. [1]

Arsenal
1970–71 season
ChairmanDenis Hill-Wood
ManagerBertie Mee
First Division1st
FA CupWinners
League CupFourth Round
Inter-Cities Fairs CupQuarter-Final
Top goalscorerLeague:
Ray Kennedy (19)
All:
Ray Kennedy (26)
Highest home attendance62,087 vs Chelsea (3 April 1971)
Lowest home attendance26,379 vs Ipswich Town (28 September 1970)
Average home league attendance43,776

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. [2]

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. [3]

The setting was White Hart Lane, and the opposition was bitter local rivals Tottenham Hotspur, the last side to win the double, in the 1960-1961 season. The encounter was tense, but thankfully for Arsenal Ray Kennedy headed home a late winner. [4]

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. [5]

Final league table
Main article: 1970–71 Football League First Division
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GR Pts Qualification or relegation
1 Arsenal (C) 42 29 7 6 71 29 2.448 65 Qualified for European Cup
2 Leeds United 42 27 10 5 72 30 2.400 64 Qualified for UEFA Cup
3 Tottenham Hotspur 42 19 14 9 54 33 1.636 52 League Cup winners, qualified for UEFA Cup
4 Wolverhampton Wanderers 42 22 8 12 64 54 1.185 52 Qualified for UEFA Cup
5 Liverpool 42 17 17 8 42 24 1.750 51 FA Cup winners, qualified for Cup Winners' Cup[lower-alpha 1]
Source:
(C) League Champions.
Notes:
  1. Chelsea qualified as holders

Results

Arsenal's score comes first[6]

Legend
Win Draw Loss

Football League First Division
DateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorers
15 August 1970EvertonA2–249,684George, Graham
17 August 1970West Ham UnitedA0–039,004
22 August 1970Manchester UnitedH4–054,117Radford (3), Graham
25 August 1970Huddersfield TownH1–034,848Kennedy
29 August 1970ChelseaA1–253,722Kelly
1 September 1970Leeds UnitedH0–047,749
5 September 1970Tottenham HotspurH2–048,931Armstrong (2)
12 September 1970BurnleyA2–112,675Kennedy, Radford
19 September 1970West Bromwich AlbionH6–233,326Armstrong, Graham (2), Kennedy (2), (o.g.)
26 September 1970Stoke CityA0–518,153
3 October 1970Nottingham ForestH4–032,053Armstrong, Kennedy (3)
10 October 1970Newcastle UnitedA1–138,024Graham
17 October 1970EvertonH4–050,012Kennedy (2), Storey (pen.), Kelly
24 October 1970Coventry CityA3–130,017Graham, Kennedy, Radford
31 October 1970Derby CountyH2–043,013Radford, Kelly
7 November 1970BlackpoolA1–017,115Radford
14 November 1970Crystal PalaceH1–134,503Radford
21 November 1970Ipswich TownA1–022,856Armstrong
28 November 1970LiverpoolH2–045,097Radford, Graham
5 December 1970Manchester CityA2–033,027Armstrong, Radford
12 December 1970Wolverhampton WanderersH2–138,816Graham, Radford
19 December 1970Manchester UnitedA3–133,182Graham, Kennedy, McLintock
26 December 1970SouthamptonH0–034,169
9 January 1971West Ham UnitedH2–049,007Graham, Kennedy
16 January 1971Huddersfield TownA1–230,455Kennedy
30 January 1971LiverpoolA0–243,847
6 February 1971Manchester CityH1–046,122Radford
20 February 1971Ipswich TownH3–239,822George, McLintock, Radford
27 February 1971Derby CountyA0–235,875
2 March 1971Wolverhampton WanderersA3–033,644Armstrong, Kennedy, Radford
13 March 1971Crystal PalaceA2–035,022Graham, Sammels
20 March 1971BlackpoolH1–037,372Storey
3 April 1971ChelseaH2–062,087Kennedy (2)
6 April 1971Coventry CityH1–037,029Kennedy
10 April 1971SouthamptonA2–130,231McLintock, Radford
13 April 1971Nottingham ForestA3–040,727George, Kennedy, McLintock
17 April 1971Newcastle UnitedH1–048,106George
20 April 1971BurnleyH1–047,484George (pen.)
24 April 1971West Bromwich AlbionA2–236,858McLintock, (o.g.)
26 April 1971Leeds UnitedA0–148,350
1 May 1971Stoke CityH1–055,011Kelly
3 May 1971Tottenham HotspurA1–051,992Kennedy

FA Cup
Main article: 1970–71 FA Cup
RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceGoalscorers
R36 January 1971Yeovil TownA3–014,500Kennedy, Radford (2)
R423 January 1971PortsmouthA1–139,659Storey (pen.)
R4 R1 February 1971PortsmouthH3–247,865Storey (pen.), George, Simpson
R517 February 1971Manchester CityA2–145,105George (2)
R66 March 1971Leicester CityA0–042,000
R6 R15 March 1971Leicester CityH1–057,443George
SF27 March 1971Stoke CityN2–255,000Storey (2; 1 pen.)
SF R31 March 1971Stoke CityN2–062,500Graham, Kennedy
F8 May 1971LiverpoolN2–1 (aet)100,000Kelly, George

League Cup
Main article: 1970–71 Football League Cup
RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceGoalscorers
R28 September 1970Ipswich TownA0–021,564
R2 R28 September 1970Ipswich TownH4–026,379Kennedy (2), Radford, Roberts
R36 October 1970Luton TownA1–027,023Graham
R428 October 1970Crystal PalaceA0–040,451
R4 R9 November 1970Crystal PalaceH0–245,026

Inter-Cities Fairs Cup
Main article: 1970–71 Inter-Cities Fairs Cup
RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceGoalscorers
R1 L116 September 1970 LazioA2–260,000Radford (2)
R1 L223 September 1970 LazioH2–053,013Armstrong, Radford
R2 L121 October 1970 SK Sturm GrazA0–113,000
R2 L24 November 1970 SK Sturm GrazH2–037,667Kennedy, Storey (pen.)
R3 L12 December 1970 BeverenH4–033,444Kennedy (2), Graham, Sammels
R3 L216 December 1970 BeverenA0–016,000
QF L19 March 1971 1. FC KölnH2–140,007McLintock, Storey
QF L223 March 1971 1. FC KölnA0–150,000

Squad

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

No. Position Player
- GK Bob Wilson
- GK Geoff Barnett
- DF Pat Rice
- DF Frank McLintock
- DF Peter Simpson
- DF Bob McNab
- DF Sammy Nelson
- DF John Roberts
- MF George Armstrong
- MF George Graham
- MF Jon Sammels
No. Position Player
- MF Peter Storey
- MF Eddie Kelly
- FW Ray Kennedy
- FW John Radford
- FW Charlie George
- FW Peter Marinello

References
  1. James, Kelly & Andrews (2018). Arsenal: The Complete Record. p. 308.
  2. James, Kelly & Andrews (2018). Arsenal: The Complete Record. p. 308.
  3. James, Kelly & Andrews (2018). Arsenal: The Complete Record. p. 307.
  4. James, Kelly & Andrews (2018). Arsenal: The Complete Record. p. 306.
  5. James, Kelly & Andrews (2018). Arsenal: The Complete Record. p. 307.
  6. http://www.statto.com/football/teams/arsenal/1970-1971/results
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