1970–71 Arsenal F.C. season

During the 1970–71 English football season, Arsenal F.C. played in the Football League First Division. They became only the fourth club ever to achieve the league and FA Cup double. For the first time in their history, Arsenal went unbeaten at home throughout the entire league campaign, losing just once there in all competitions—a 0–2 defeat to Crystal Palace in a Football League Cup fourth round replay.

Arsenal’s summer transfer activity was minimal, with the only notable move being Bobby Gould’s £50,000 transfer to Wolves; David Court was also sold to Luton Town. A productive preseason saw wins over Watford, Gothenburg Alliance, Kungsbacka, and Crystal Palace, plus a draw with the Copenhagen Football Alliance.

The season opened away at Everton, the reigning league champions. Injuries sidelined Peter Simpson (cartilage operation) and Jon Sammels (broken leg), so John Roberts deputised in defence and Pat Rice played right back. Everton dominated and took the lead, but Arsenal equalised on the break when John Radford set up Charlie George, who collided with the goalkeeper as he scored, cracking two bones in his ankle. Everton then scored a controversial goal—Alan Ball used both his head and hand to gain an advantage—but Arsenal levelled again through George Graham, finishing 2–2.

Against West Ham, Peter Marinello and Ray Kennedy were included, with Marinello making his penultimate appearance of the season; Arsenal took another point. At home for the first time, they thrashed Manchester United 4–0, with Radford scoring a hat-trick. The partnership between Kennedy and Radford became crucial for Arsenal’s goalscoring. A tough match at Huddersfield Town was won by a Kennedy header in the last fifteen minutes, putting Arsenal top of the table level on points with Liverpool.

Arsenal lost their first game away at Chelsea. After John Hollins put Chelsea ahead, Eddie Kelly equalised with a header, but Paddy Mulligan scored his first league goal to seal a Chelsea win. Back at Highbury, they faced league leaders Leeds United, who had a perfect record. The match ended 0–0 despite Arsenal being reduced to ten men after Kelly was sent off for kicking Billy Bremner. Arsenal then hosted the North London Derby and beat Tottenham 2–0, with both goals from George Armstrong. Captain Frank McLintock, increasingly important each season, picked up an injury but continued playing. Away at bottom-of-the-table Burnley, Kennedy put Arsenal ahead in the fourth minute, Burnley equalised from a corner, but Radford scored late to secure the win.

Arsenal’s main aim was the league title, but they also had the Inter Cities Fairs Cup to defend. Their campaign began against Lazio, featuring Giorgio Chinaglia and a hostile away crowd. Arsenal drew after taking a 2–0 lead through two Radford goals. The post-match reception at a restaurant turned sour when Kennedy was attacked by a Lazio player, sparking a brawl between the teams. Arsenal won the home leg 2–0 with goals from Armstrong and Radford.

After a 6–2 thrashing of West Brom—their biggest win of the season—sandwiched between Fairs Cup matches, Arsenal’s form dipped with a 5–0 loss to Stoke. They responded by scoring three goals in thirty-five minutes to beat Ipswich 4–0 in the League Cup, with a brace from Kennedy. The 19-year-old Kennedy then scored a hat-trick in a 4–0 league win over Nottingham Forest. In the League Cup third round, Arsenal edged Luton 1–0 thanks to a Graham header. Back in the league, they fell behind to Newcastle before Graham equalised. A 4–0 win at Everton followed, with Kennedy scoring another brace and earning a call-up to England’s U-23 squad. Goals were coming from all over the pitch.

In the Fairs Cup, Arsenal faced Sturm Graz. Due to a threat of snow in Austria, the order of legs was swapped so the Austrians played at home first. Sturm Graz won 1–0, but Arsenal won the return leg 2–0 at Highbury, with goals from Kennedy and a Peter Storey penalty after a Graham volley was handled on the line. Arsenal then lost to Crystal Palace at home in the League Cup, their first home defeat in ten months.

Arsenal kept performing in the league. Kennedy scored his twelfth goal of the season against Coventry City, while Graham and Radford each added another—Radford breaking a bone in his wrist in the process. Goals from Kelly and Radford secured a win over Derby County, and Radford scored again against Blackpool, who had won only twice all season. A draw with Crystal Palace preceded a run of five wins, though the next match against Ipswich was not memorable. Manager Bertie Mee made several changes, bringing in Jon Sammels and Peter Simpson for their first appearances of the season. Up to that point, Arsenal had used only 14 players (with just one match for George and three for Marinello). Both Sammels and Simpson would contribute to the league and cup campaigns, while Roberts played his final match for Arsenal. Ipswich dominated but Arsenal took all three points.

Arsenal’s next game was at home against...