The 1973–74 season was Arsenal Football Club's 48th consecutive season in the Football League First Division. After a second-place finish the previous season, Arsenal slid to tenth and found no success in either the FA Cup or League Cup.

Captain Frank McLintock, after struggling with manager Bertie Mee, left the club and Bob McNab assumed the captaincy. George Graham also left the club.

The season did see Liam Brady break into the first team, partnering with Alan Ball. Ball was Arsenal's top scorer in the league.

Season summary After the previous season, Mee believed that a rebuild was necessary and let go of several key players. Captain Frank McLintock, age 34, moved to Queens Park Rangers with whom he finished a close second in the league in 1975-76. George Graham also departed, becoming Tommy Docherty's first purchase as Manchester United manager. Steve Burtenshaw, Mee's assistant, resigned just a few weeks into the season after losing the trust of the players and joined Queens Park Rangers. Brian Chambers from Sunderland was the only incoming transfer.

Arsenal began the season with 3-0 victory over Manchester United, but followed it up with two home losses and a 0-5 away loss to Sheffield United. Although Arsenal had a few decent performance including a 4-0 win over Norwich City (who had done the double over them the previous season), Arsenal continued to struggle in the league. Their cup prospects did not fare much better, as they lost to Tranmere Rovers in a second round League Cup tie and knocked out of the FA Cup in a fourth-round replay against Aston Villa.

The season had few silver linings. Liam Brady broke into the first team and benefited from playing with Alan Ball in the midfield. However, in the last match of the season which also brought Brady's first goal, Ball broke his leg in a tackle.

Final league table

Results Arsenal's score comes first

Legend WinDrawLoss

Football League First Division DateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorers 25 August 1973 Manchester UnitedH3–051,501 28 August 1973 Leeds UnitedH1–247,529 1 September 1973 Newcastle UnitedA1–130,665 4 September 1973 Sheffield UnitedA0–527,839 8 September 1973 Leicester CityH0–228,558 11 September 1973 Sheffield UnitedH1–029,434 15 September 1973 Norwich CityA4–029,378 22 September 1973 Stoke CityH2–130,968 29 September 1973 EvertonA0–131,359 6 October 1973 Birmingham CityH1–023,915 13 October 1973 Tottenham HotspurA0–241,855 20 October 1973 Ipswich TownH1–128,344 27 October 1973 Queen's Park RangersA0–229,115 3 November 1973 LiverpoolH0–239,857 10 November 1973 Manchester CityA2–131,041 17 November 1973 ChelseaH0–038,977 24 November 1973 West Ham UnitedA3–128,287 1 December 1973 Coventry CityH2–222,380 4 December 1973 Wolverhampton WanderersH2–213,751 8 December 1973 Derby CountyA1–125,161 15 December 1973 BurnleyA1–213,200 22 December 1973 EvertonH1–019,886 26 December 1973 SouthamptonA1–124,133 29 December 1973 Leicester CityA0–225,860 1 January 1974 Newcastle UnitedH0–129,558 12 January 1974 Norwich CityH2–022,084 19 January 1974 Manchester UnitedA1–138,869 2 February 1974 BurnleyH1–120,789 5 February 1974 Leeds UnitedA1–326,778 16 February 1974 Tottenham HotspurH0–138,892 23 February 1974 Birmingham CityA1–329,822 2 March 1974 SouthamptonH1–019,210 16 March 1974 Ipswich TownA2–222,297 23 March 1974 Manchester CityH2–025,319 30 March 1974 Stoke CityA0–018,532 6 April 1974 West Ham UnitedH0–037,868 13 April 1974 ChelseaA3–129,152 15 April 1974 Wolverhampton WanderersA1–325,881 20 April 1974 Derby CountyH2–026,017 24 April 1974 LiverpoolA1-047,997 27 April 1974 Coventry CityA3–319,945 30 April 1974 Queen's Park RangersH1–140,396

FA Cup

+RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceGoalscorersR35 January 1974 Norwich CityA1–021,500R426 January 1974 Aston VillaH1–141,682R4 R30 January 1974 Aston VillaA0–247,821

League Cup

+RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceGoalscorersR22 October 1973 Tranmere RoversH0–120,337

Squad

Top scorers Football League

Alan Ball - 13 Ray Kennedy - 12 John Radford - 7

References