1974–75 Arsenal F.C. season

The 1974–75 season was Arsenal Football Club's 49th consecutive season in the Football League First Division. Arsenal finished sixteenth in the league, their poorest position since Herbert Chapman became manager in 1925.[1] They reached the quarterfinals of the FA Cup but lost to West Ham.

Arsenal
1974–75 season
ChairmanDenis Hill-Wood
ManagerBertie Mee
First Division16th
FA CupSixth round
League CupSecond round
Top goalscorerLeague:
Brian Kidd (19)

All:
Brian Kidd (23)
Highest home attendance56,742 West Ham United (8 March 1975)
Lowest home attendance16,540 Newcastle United (18 March 1975)
Average home league attendance28,315

Ray Kennedy departed the club for Liverpool. Arsenal used the money to buy Brian Kidd who went on to be their top scorer for the season. Alan Ball served as captain.

Season summary

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In the summer, Mee oversaw the departure of midfielder Ray Kennedy after his sub-par second half to the previous season. Kennedy was sold to Liverpool for £200,000.[2] Arsenal then bought Brian Kidd for £100,000 from Manchester United who went on to be top scorer but failed partner successfully with John Radford in the midfield.[1][3]

Alan Ball was appointed captain for the season as he recovered from his broken leg. He fractured his ankle the first match of the pre-season and was absent for the beginning of the season.[1]

Arsenal's league campaign started fairlyale poorly. After winning the first match thanks to Kidd's goal against Leicester, Arsenal went ten games without a win.[1] Kidd repeated his goal against Leicester to tie in the League Cup, but Arsenal lost the replay, knocking them out of the competition.[4] In the midst of Arsenal's struggles, Jeff Blockley and Charlie George were put on the transfer list. Blockley left for Leicester in January.[5] Desperate, Mee brought in Terry Mancini for £20,000. He also bought Alex Cropley from Hibs for £150,000. Unfortunately, Cropley broke his leg seven games into his Arsenal career and never fully recovered.[1][6]

Arsenal's league form, despite the additions, was inconsistent. The FA Cup brought some respite, as Arsenal made it past Second Division York with a hat-trick from Kidd in the replay.[4] After beating Coventry City, Arsenal were forced into a second replay with Leicester, winning thanks to a goal from Radford. However, prior to their quarterfinal appearance against West Ham, both Ball and Bob McNab were sent off for dissent in a league game against Derby.[4] The club refused to back their appeals for their bookings, meaning both players would be unavailable for the cup tie. Arsenal were knocked out of the FA Cup.[1]

At the end of the season, Arsenal had to fight for their position in the league to escape relegation. Increasingly disillusioned and unhappy, the team managed to beat the drop, finishing 16th.[1]

League standings

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Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GAv Pts
14 Coventry City 42 12 15 15 51 62 0.823 39
15 Newcastle United 42 15 9 18 59 72 0.819 39
16 Arsenal 42 13 11 18 47 49 0.959 37
17 Birmingham City 42 14 9 19 53 61 0.869 37
18 Leicester City 42 12 12 18 46 60 0.767 36
Source: World Football
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal average; 3) Goals scored

Results

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Arsenal's score comes first[7]

Legend

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Win Draw Loss

Football League First Division

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Date Opponent Venue Result Attendance Scorers
17 August 1974 Leicester City A 1–0 26,448 Kidd
20 August 1974 Ipswich Town H 0–1 31,027
24 August 1974 Manchester City H 4–0 27,143 Kidd (2), Radford (2)
27 August 1974 Ipswich Town A 0–3 28,036
31 August 1974 Everton A 1–2 42,438 Kidd
7 September 1974 Burnley H 0–1 23,586
14 September 1974 Chelsea A 0–0 34,596
21 September 1974 Luton Town H 2–2 21,649 Kidd (2)
28 September 1974 Birmingham City A 1–3 25,584 George
5 October 1974 Leeds United A 0–2 32,784
12 October 1974 Queens Park Rangers H 2–2 26,690 Kidd, Radford
16 October 1974 Manchester City A 1–2 26,658 Radford
19 October 1974 Tottenham Hotspur A 0–2 36,194
26 October 1974 West Ham United H 3–0 41,004 Brady, Kidd, Radford
2 November 1974 Wolverhampton Wanderers H 0–0 27,572
9 November 1974 Liverpool A 3–1 43,850 Ball (2), Brady
16 November 1974 Derby County H 3–1 32,286 Ball (2; 1 pen.), Kidd
23 November 1974 Coventry City A 0–3 15,669
30 November 1974 Middlesbrough H 2–0 25,283 Ball (pen.), Brady
7 December 1974 Carlisle United A 1–2 12,926 Kidd
14 December 1974 Leicester City H 0–0 20,849
21 December 1974 Stoke City A 2–0 23,292 Kidd (2)
26 December 1974 Chelsea H 1–2 33,784 Ball (pen.)
28 December 1974 Sheffield United A 1–1 19,967 George
11 January 1975 Carlisle United H 2–1 21,538 Cropley, Radford
18 January 1975 Middlesbrough A 0–0 26,996
1 February 1975 Liverpool H 2–0 43,028 Ball (2; 1 pen.)
8 February 1975 Wolverhampton Wanderers A 0–1 19,807
22 February 1975 Derby County A 1–2 24,002 Radford
1 March 1975 Everton H 0–2 32,216
15 March 1975 Birmingham City H 1–1 17,845 Kidd
18 March 1975 Newcastle United H 3–0 16,540 Ball (pen.), Kidd, Rostron
22 March 1975 Burnley A 3–3 17,539 Hornsby (2), Rostron
25 March 1975 Luton Town A 0–2 22,120
29 March 1975 Stoke City H 1–1 26,852 Kelly
31 March 1975 Sheffield United H 1–0 24,338 Kidd
8 April 1975 Coventry City H 2–0 17,291 Kidd (2)
12 April 1975 Leeds United H 1–2 36,619 Kidd
19 April 1975 Queens Park Rangers A 0–0 24,362
23 April 1975 Newcastle United A 1–3 21,895 Hornsby
26 April 1975 Tottenham Hotspur H 1–0 43,762 Kidd
28 April 1975 West Ham United A 0–1 30,195

FA Cup

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Round Date Opponent Venue Result Attendance Goalscorers
R3 4 January 1975 York City H 1–1 27,029 Kelly
R3 R 7 January 1975 York City A 3–1 15,362 Kidd (3)
R4 25 January 1975 Coventry City A 1–1 31,165 Ball
R4 R 29 January 1975 Coventry City H 3–0 30,867 Armstrong, Matthews (2)
R5 15 February 1975 Leicester City H 0–0 43,841
R5 R 19 February 1975 Leicester City A 1–1 35,009 Radford
R5 2R 24 February 1975 Leicester City A 1–0 (aet) 39,025 Radford
R6 8 March 1975 West Ham United H 0–2 56,742

League Cup

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Round Date Opponent Venue Result Attendance Goalscorers
R2 10 September 1974 Leicester City H 1–1 20,788 Kidd
R2R 18 September 1974 Leicester City A 1–2 17,303 Brady

Squad

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[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   ENG Jimmy Rimmer
- DF   NIR Pat Rice
- DF   ENG Bob McNab
- MF   SCO Eddie Kelly
- DF   IRL Terry Mancini
- DF   ENG Peter Simpson
- MF   ENG Peter Storey
- MF   ENG Alan Ball
- MF   IRL Liam Brady
- FW   ENG Brian Kidd
- FW   ENG John Radford
No. Pos. Nation Player
- MF   ENG George Armstrong
- MF   ENG John Matthews
- DF   NIR Sammy Nelson
- MF   ENG Brian Hornsby
- FW   ENG Charlie George
- MF   SCO Alex Cropley
- DF   ENG Jeff Blockley
- DF   ENG Wilf Rostron
- DF   ENG Richie Powling
- GK   ENG Geoff Barnett
- MF   ENG Trevor Ross
- FW   IRL Frank Stapleton
- MF   ENG David Price

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g Soar, Phil; Tyler, Martin (1995). Arsenal: Official History. London: Hamlyn. pp. 183–186. ISBN 0600588262.
  2. ^ "Rest in peace, Ray: a true legend of the game". Arsenal. 30 November 2021. Archived from the original on 27 January 2023. Retrieved 8 November 2023.
  3. ^ "Brian Kidd". Arsenal. Archived from the original on 8 November 2023. Retrieved 8 November 2023.
  4. ^ a b c Fensome, David (25 December 2019). "Arsenal v Leicester City 70's cup ties – Part Two". The Online Gooner. Archived from the original on 14 August 2020. Retrieved 8 November 2023.
  5. ^ Attwood, Tony (5 October 2013). "Jeff Blockley, derided by fans, but the manager should take more blame". The History of Arsenal. Archived from the original on 6 July 2022. Retrieved 8 October 2023.
  6. ^ "Alex Cropley". Arsenal. Archived from the original on 8 November 2023. Retrieved 8 November 2023.
  7. ^ "Arsenal results for the 1974-1975 season – Statto.com". Archived from the original on 9 March 2016. Retrieved 7 September 2017.