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

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.

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

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

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

Arsenal's score comes first[7]

Legend

Win Draw Loss

Football League First Division

DateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorers
17 August 1974Leicester CityA1–026,448Kidd
20 August 1974Ipswich TownH0–131,027
24 August 1974Manchester CityH4–027,143Kidd (2), Radford (2)
27 August 1974Ipswich TownA0–328,036
31 August 1974EvertonA1–242,438Kidd
7 September 1974BurnleyH0–123,586
14 September 1974ChelseaA0–034,596
21 September 1974Luton TownH2–221,649Kidd (2)
28 September 1974Birmingham CityA1–325,584George
5 October 1974Leeds UnitedA0–232,784
12 October 1974Queens Park RangersH2–226,690Kidd, Radford
16 October 1974Manchester CityA1–226,658Radford
19 October 1974Tottenham HotspurA0–236,194
26 October 1974West Ham UnitedH3–041,004Brady, Kidd, Radford
2 November 1974Wolverhampton WanderersH0–027,572
9 November 1974LiverpoolA3–143,850Ball (2), Brady
16 November 1974Derby CountyH3–132,286Ball (2; 1 pen.), Kidd
23 November 1974Coventry CityA0–315,669
30 November 1974MiddlesbroughH2–025,283Ball (pen.), Brady
7 December 1974Carlisle UnitedA1–212,926Kidd
14 December 1974Leicester CityH0–020,849
21 December 1974Stoke CityA2–023,292Kidd (2)
26 December 1974ChelseaH1–233,784Ball (pen.)
28 December 1974Sheffield UnitedA1–119,967George
11 January 1975Carlisle UnitedH2–121,538Cropley, Radford
18 January 1975MiddlesbroughA0–026,996
1 February 1975LiverpoolH2–043,028Ball (2; 1 pen.)
8 February 1975Wolverhampton WanderersA0–119,807
22 February 1975Derby CountyA1–224,002Radford
1 March 1975EvertonH0–232,216
15 March 1975Birmingham CityH1–117,845Kidd
18 March 1975Newcastle UnitedH3–016,540Ball (pen.), Kidd, Rostron
22 March 1975BurnleyA3–317,539Hornsby (2), Rostron
25 March 1975Luton TownA0–222,120
29 March 1975Stoke CityH1–126,852Kelly
31 March 1975Sheffield UnitedH1–024,338Kidd
8 April 1975Coventry CityH2–017,291Kidd (2)
12 April 1975Leeds UnitedH1–236,619Kidd
19 April 1975Queens Park RangersA0–024,362
23 April 1975Newcastle UnitedA1–321,895Hornsby
26 April 1975Tottenham HotspurH1–043,762Kidd
28 April 1975West Ham UnitedA0–130,195

FA Cup

RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceGoalscorers
R34 January 1975York CityH1–127,029Kelly
R3 R7 January 1975York CityA3–115,362Kidd (3)
R425 January 1975Coventry CityA1–131,165Ball
R4 R29 January 1975Coventry CityH3–030,867Armstrong, Matthews (2)
R515 February 1975Leicester CityH0–043,841
R5 R19 February 1975Leicester CityA1–135,009Radford
R5 2R24 February 1975Leicester CityA1–0 (aet)39,025Radford
R68 March 1975West Ham UnitedH0–256,742

League Cup

RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceGoalscorers
R210 September 1974Leicester CityH1–120,788Kidd
R2R18 September 1974Leicester CityA1–217,303Brady

Squad

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

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 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. 1 2 3 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.
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