1972–73 Arsenal F.C. season

The 1972–73 season was Arsenal Football Club's 47th consecutive season in the Football League First Division. Arsenal were runners-up to Liverpool in the league. They were knocked out of the League Cup in the quarterfinals by Norwich and the FA Cup in the semifinals by Sunderland.

Arsenal
1972–73 season
ChairmanDenis Hill-Wood
ManagerBertie Mee
First Division2nd
FA CupFourth place
League CupQuarter-finals
Top goalscorerLeague: John Radford (15)
All: John Radford (18)
Highest home attendance56,194 vs Manchester United (6 January 1973)
Lowest home attendance27,199 vs West Bromwich Albion F.C. (16 December 1972)

John Radford was the top scorer in both the league and in all competitions. Frank McLintock served as captain.

1972-73 was the last season under manager Bertie Mee in which Arsenal challenged for silverware.

Season summary

edit

In the summer of 1972, double-winners Charlie George and Eddie Kelly were put on the transfer list. Though neither left the club, it represented some of the internal struggles of the club at the time, as George and Kelly felt under-rewarded compared to more senior players.[1] Dressing room tensions continued throughout the season, as Mee saw captain Frank McLintock's influence over the dressing room as a challenge to his own authority. Mee also continued to struggle with the absence of Don Howe who had left the previous season to manage West Brom.[2]

Mee made one major purchase in October 1972, buying centre-back Jeff Blockley from Coventry for £200,000.[1] Blockley, who received his first cap for England days after his move to Highbury, was considered the long-term replacement for McLintock.[3] However, this view was not shared by McLintock himself or most of the Arsenal dressing room.[1]

In league play, Mee attempted to respond to the regular criticism that "boring old" Arsenal failed to entertain. Mee attempted to make stylistic changes to play "total football," a style far from their regular long-ball game and unsuited to the English Game.[1] Alan Ball, a player comfortable with possession and who wanted more midfield involvement, was essential to such an approach.[2] However, instead of success, the style led to a 5-0 loss to Derby in the league and a 0-3 home defeat to Norwich, knocking Arsenal out of the League Cup. Returning to their standard tactics, Arsenal went 15 games without defeat. By early 1973, they were nearing Liverpool in the title race. However, they ended up finishing three points behind the league leaders.[1]

In the FA Cup, Arsenal progressed over Leicester City, Bradford City, Carlisle United, and Chelsea before being drawn against Second Division Sunderland in the semifinals.[1] Mee chose to start the dynamic George over the hardworking John Radford.[2] Sunderland scored thanks to a Blockley mistake; he was then roundly criticized for his poor performance, as he played without being fully fit.[4] He was then substituted at half for Radford. Although Arsenal hoped to recover in the second half, Sunderland doubled their lead through Billy Hughes. Arsenal's sole consolation came in the 85th minute from George.[2] Out of the FA Cup, Arsenal lost the third place match 1-3 to Wolves.

After the season's lackluster results, Mee was convinced he had to rebuild Arsenal and let several key players go at the end of the season, including McLintock and George Graham. The 1972/73 season was the beginning of the end for Mee as Arsenal began to descend into mediocrity.[2][1]

Final league table

edit
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GAv Pts Qualification or relegation
1 Liverpool (C) 42 25 10 7 72 42 1.714 60 Qualification for the European Cup first round
2 Arsenal 42 23 11 8 57 43 1.326 57
3 Leeds United 42 21 11 10 71 45 1.578 53 Qualification for the UEFA Cup first round
4 Ipswich Town 42 17 14 11 55 45 1.222 48
5 Wolverhampton Wanderers 42 18 11 13 66 54 1.222 47
Source: World Football
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal average; 3) Goals scored
(C) Champions

Results

edit

Arsenal's score comes first[5]

Legend

edit
Win Draw Loss

Football League First Division

edit
Date Opponent Venue Result Attendance Scorers
12 August 1972 Leicester City A 1–0 28,003
15 August 1972 Wolverhampton Wanderers H 5–2 38,524
19 August 1972 Stoke City H 2–0 42,146
22 August 1972 Coventry City A 1–1 24,670
26 August 1972 Manchester United A 0–0 48,108
29 August 1972 West Ham United H 1–0 43,802
2 September 1972 Chelsea H 1–1 46,675
9 September 1972 Newcastle United A 1–2 23,878
16 September 1972 Liverpool H 0–0 47,597
23 September 1972 Norwich City A 2–3 32,273
26 September 1972 Birmingham City H 2–0 30,003
30 September 1972 Southampton H 1–0 34,694
7 October 1972 Sheffield United A 0–1 24,478
14 October 1972 Ipswich Town H 1–0 34,196
21 October 1972 Crystal Palace A 3–2 35,865
28 October 1972 Manchester City H 0–0 45,536
4 November 1972 Coventry City H 0–2 33,699
11 November 1972 Wolverhampton Wanderers A 3–1 25,988
18 November 1972 Everton H 1–0 35,738
25 November 1972 Derby County A 0–5 31,034
2 December 1972 Leeds United H 2–1 39,108
9 December 1972 Tottenham Hotspur A 2–1 47,505
16 December 1972 West Bromwich Albion H 2–1 30,199
23 December 1972 Birmingham City A 1–1 32,721
26 December 1972 Norwich City H 2–0 39,038
30 December 1972 Stoke City A 0–0 24,586
6 January 1973 Manchester United H 3–1 56,194
20 January 1973 Chelsea A 1–0 36,292
27 January 1973 Newcastle United H 2–2 37,906
10 February 1973 Liverpool A 2–0 49,898
17 February 1973 Leicester City H 1–0 42,047
28 February 1973 West Bromwich Albion A 0–1 29,308
3 March 1973 Sheffield United H 3–2 33,346
10 March 1973 Ipswich Town A 2–1 34,636
24 March 1973 Manchester City A 2–1 32,031
26 March 1973 Crystal Palace H 1–0 41,879
31 March 1973 Derby County H 0–1 45,217
14 April 1973 Tottenham Hotspur H 1–1 50,863
21 April 1973 Everton A 0–0 42,888
23 April 1973 Southampton A 2–2 23,919
28 April 1973 West Ham United A 2–1 37,366
9 May 1973 Leeds United A 1–6 25,088

FA Cup

edit
Round Date Opponent Venue Result Attendance Goalscorers
R3 13 January 1973 Leicester City H 2–2 36,433
R3 R 17 January 1973 Leicester City A 2–1 32,973
R4 3 February 1973 Bradford City H 2–0 40,407
R5 24 February 1973 Carlisle United A 2–1 23,922
R6 17 March 1973 Chelsea A 2–2 37,685
R6 R 20 March 1973 Chelsea H 2–1 62,746
SF 7 April 1973 Sunderland N 1–2 55,000
3rd 18 August 1973 Wolverhampton Wanderers H 1–3 21,038

League Cup

edit
Round Date Opponent Venue Result Attendance Goalscorers
R2 5 September 1972 Everton H 1–0 35,230
R3 3 October 1972 Rotherham United H 5–0 25,241
R4 31 October 1972 Sheffield United A 2–1 20,128
QF 21 November 1972 Norwich City H 0–3 37,671

Squad

edit

[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   SCO Bob Wilson
- GK   ENG Geoff Barnett
- DF   NIR Pat Rice
- DF   SCO Frank McLintock
- DF   ENG Peter Simpson
- DF   ENG Bob McNab
- DF   NIR Sammy Nelson
- DF   WAL John Roberts
- DF   ENG Brendon Batson
- DF   ENG Jeff Blockley
No. Pos. Nation Player
- MF   ENG George Armstrong
- MF   SCO George Graham
- MF   ENG Peter Storey
- MF   ENG Alan Ball
- MF   SCO Eddie Kelly
- FW   ENG Ray Kennedy
- FW   ENG John Radford
- FW   ENG Charlie George
- FW   SCO Peter Marinello

Top scorers

edit

First Division

  • John Radford - 15
  • Alan Ball - 10
  • Ray Kennedy - 9

Football League Cup

  • John Radford - 3
  • Peter Storey - 2
  • Charlie George - 2

FA Cup

  • Alan Ball - 4
  • Bob McNab - 2

[6]

References

edit
  1. ^ a b c d e f g Soar, Phil; Tyler, Martin (1995). Arsenal: Official History. London: Hamlyn. pp. 181–82. ISBN 0600588262.
  2. ^ a b c d e Fensome, David (29 August 2019). "1973 and the Downfall of Bertie Mee". The Online Gooner. Archived from the original on 14 August 2020. Retrieved 8 November 2023.
  3. ^ "Jeff Blockley". Arsenal. Archived from the original on 3 August 2021. Retrieved 8 November 2023.
  4. ^ 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 November 2023.
  5. ^ "Arsenal results for the 1972-1973 season – Statto.com". Archived from the original on 23 March 2016. Retrieved 31 August 2017.
  6. ^ Arsenal Official Handbook 1973-74. London: Arsenal. 1973. p. 37.