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Arsenal
1946–47 season
ChairmanSamuel Hill-Wood
ManagerGeorge Allison
(until 31 May 1947)
Tom Whittaker
(from 2 June 1947)
Division One13th
FA CupThird round
Top goalscorerLeague:
Reg Lewis (29)
All:
Reg Lewis (29)
Highest home attendance60,643 v Derby County
(21 September 1946)
Lowest home attendance23,785 v Everton
(31 May 1947)

The 1946–47 season was Arsenal Football Club's 21st consecutive season in the top flight of English football.

In 1946 the Football League in the United Kingdom fully resumed on a national basis following the disruption caused by World War II. In the club's first post-war First Division match, on 31 August 1946; Arsenal lost 6–1 to Wolves, their biggest League defeat in nearly twenty years. Although the Gunners had been the dominant force in English football in the 1930s, they struggled in their first season after the war, escaping relegation and finishing 13th. They were knocked out of the FA Cup by Chelsea in the third round after two replays.

It was George Allison's last season as manager for Arsenal. Tom Whittaker, his assistant, succeeded him as manager.

Players

Players returning after the break included Cliff Bastin, Bryn Jones, Reg Lewis,[1] Jimmy Logie, George Male, David Nelson and Laurie Scott. George Swindin established himself as Arsenal's undisputed No. 1, a position he would hold for the next six seasons. The squad included brothers Leslie Compton and Denis Compton both of whom also played Cricket for Middlesex. Ian McPherson made his Arsenal debut in the opening match against Wolves. He played 40 times that season on the right wing.

Due to Arsenal's wartime move to White Hart Lane and the War itself, there was little young talent available to the club on short-notice..[2] Arsenal found solutions in players like the amateur Albert Guðmundsson, later Iceland's Minister of Finance.[3] Dr. Kevin O'Flanagan made 14 First Division appearances and scored three goals. He made his first-class league debut[4] against Blackburn Rovers on 4 September and his last appearance for the senior team came on 28 December 1946 against Wolves. Bernard Joy played the first half of the 1946–47 season before deciding that his age (35) was counting against him; he retired from top-flight football in December 1946. George Curtis played 12 times in the 1946–47 season, but was sold to Southampton in part-exchange for Don Roper in summer 1947.

Joe Mercer, near retirement from football to concentrate on his grocery business, made his Arsenal debut against Bolton Wanderers on 30 November 1946 and soon after became club captain. Everton boss Theo Kelly had brought Mercer's boots to the transfer negotiations to prevent Mercer having a reason to go back to say goodbye to the other players at Everton.[5] His transfer fee was set at £9,000 (2015: £337,000) and he remained in Liverpool to live and train.[2]

Arsenal were unsuccessful in their attempts to land Archie Macaulay, who signed with Brentford F.C. in October 1946.[6]

Despite being nearly 35 and having never played in the top flight, Ronnie Rooke was signed by Arsenal (Cyril Grant going in the other direction). The move was surprising, but Rooke immediately made an impact, scoring the winner on his debut against Charlton Athletic on 14 December. He scored 21 goals in just 24 League matches that season.[2]

The season marked the last for Cliff Bastin, who played just six league matches of the season and required a major ear operation in April, and for manager George Allison who had been involved with the club for four decades who announced his retirement in May.[2]

Matches

Arsenal began the season with a 6-1 loss to Wolves, their biggest defeat in nearly 20 years.Their home season began on 4 September against Blackburn Rovers. On 21 September 63,000 attended Highbury to see Arsenal beaten by Derby County.[7]

Czech Champions, AC Sparta opened their tour of Britain with a 2–2 draw against Arsenal on 2 October with Albert Guðmundsson, later Iceland's Minister of Finance, playing inside forward for The Gunners.[3]

Despite leading at half time, Arsenal lost to Sheffield United in early November. Six changes were made for the match against Preston North End the following week: Walley Barnes replaced Joy at left back. With Jones still injured, Lewis was moved to inside forward and Cyril Grant made his Arsenal debut as centre forward.[8] However, the poor form continued and Arsenal lost 2–0.[9]

Each November between 1930 and 1962, Racing Club de Paris hosted a prestige game with Arsenal. In 1946 The London club were beaten 2–1 at Colombes Stadium.[10] In mid November they beat Oxford University 6–0 with goals by Doug Farquhar, Morgan (2) and Whalley (3).[11]

Results

Arsenal's score comes first[12]

https://www.11v11.com/teams/arsenal/tab/matches/season/1947/

Legend

Win Draw Loss

Football League First Division

Main article: 1946–47 Football League
Date Opponent Venue Result Attendance Scorers
31 August 1946 Wolverhampton Wanderers A 1–6 50,845 Lewis
4 September 1946 Blackburn Rovers H 1–3 28,700 Lewis
7 September 1946 Sunderland H 2–2 53,377 Lewis (2)
11 September 1946 Everton A 2–3 40,000 Lewis (2)
14 September 1946 Aston Villa A 2–0 53,778 Lewis, O'Flanagan
17 September 1946 Blackburn Rovers A 2–1 24,563 Lewis (2)
21 September 1946 Derby County H 0–1 60,643
28 September 1946 Manchester United A 2–5 62,718 Lewis, McPherson
5 October 1946 Blackpool A 1–2 24,039 Logie
12 October 1946 Brentford H 2–2 45,000 Lewis, Logie
19 October 1946 Stoke City H 1–0 60,266 O'Flanagan
26 October 1946 Chelsea A 1–2 56,568 Lewis
2 November 1946 Sheffield United H 2–3 41,173 Lewis, Logie
9 November 1946 Preston North End A 0–2 29,971
16 November 1946 Leeds United H 4–2 36,377 Lewis (2 including 1 penalty), Logie, McPherson
23 November 1946 Liverpool A 2–4 51,435 Lewis, Logie
30 November 1946 Bolton Wanderers H 2–2 42,522 Lewis (penalty), O'Flanagan
7 December 1946 Middlesbrough A 0–2 30,357
14 December 1946 Charlton Athletic H 1–0 38,606 Rooke
21 December 1946 Grimsby Town A 0–0 13,308
25 December 1946 Portsmouth H 2–1 32,108 Rooke, Logie
26 December 1946 Portsmouth A 2–0 38,000 Rooke (2)
28 December 1946 Wolverhampton Wanderers H 1–1 58,075 Rooke
4 January 1947 Sunderland A 4–1 36,812 Rooke (2), Lewis (2)
18 January 1947 Aston Villa H 0–2 57,524
1 February 1947 Manchester United H 6–2 29,145 Rooke (3), Rudkin, Logie, McPherson
8 February 1947 Blackpool H 1–1 31,111 Rooke
22 February 1947 Stoke City A 1–3 30,000 Rooke
1 March 1947 Chelsea H 1–2 52,606 Rudkin
15 March 1947 Preston North End H 4–1 45,775 Lewis (3), Rooke
22 March 1947 Leeds United A 1–1 32,000 Lewis
4 April 1947 Huddersfield Town H 1–2 46,105 Jones
5 April 1947 Bolton Wanderers A 3–1 34,398 Rooke (2), Lewis
7 April 1947 Huddersfield Town A 0–0 33,381
12 April 1947 Middlesbrough H 4–0 44,230 Rooke (4 including 1 penalty)
19 April 1947 Charlton Athletic A 2–2 57.983 McPherson, Logie
26 April 1947 Grimsby Town H 5–3 42,100 Lewis 4, Compton
10 May 1947 Derby County A 1–0 19,153 Rooke
24 May 1947 Liverpool H 1–2 44,265 McPherson
26 May 1947 Brentford A 1–0 17,599 Sloan
31 May 1947 Everton H] 2–1 23,785 Lewis, Rooke
7 June 1947 Sheffield United H 1–2 14,939 McPherson

Final League table

Main article: 1946–47 Football League § First Division

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GAv Pts
11 Middlesbrough 42 17 8 17 73 68 1.074 42
12 Portsmouth 42 16 9 17 66 60 1.100 41
13 Arsenal 42 16 9 17 72 70 1.029 41
14 Derby County 42 18 5 19 73 79 0.924 41
15 Chelsea 42 16 7 19 69 84 0.821 39
Source: World Football
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal average; 3) Goals scored
Date Opponent Venue Result Score
F–A		 Scorer(s) Attendance[13]
12 April 1947 Middlesbrough H W 4–0 Rooke (4) (1 pen.) 44,230
19 April 1947 Charlton Athletic A D 2–2 McPherson, Logie 57,983
26 April 1947 Grimsby Town H W 5–3 Lewis (4), D. Compton 42,100
10 May 1947 Derby County A W 1–0 Rooke 19,153
24 May 1947 Liverpool H L 1–2 McPherson 44,265
26 May 1947 Brentford A W 1–0 Sloan 17,599
31 May 1947 Everton H W 2–1 Rooke, Lewis 23,785
7 June 1947 Sheffield United A L 1–2 McPherson 14,939
Season League Top scorer[14]
Division P W D L F A Pts Pos
1946–47 Div 1 42 16 9 17 72 70 41 13th Reg Lewis 29

Results by round

Round123456789101112131415161718192021222324252627282930313233343536373839404142
GroundAHHAAAHAAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHHAHHAHAAHAHAHAHA
ResultLLDLWWLLLDWLLLWLDLWDWWDWLWDLLWDLWDWDWWLWWL
Position192021221716171821201819202119212121201717161613151516171817171818181516151516131313
Source: Statto
A = Away; H = Home; W = Win; D = Draw; L = Loss

FA Cup

Main article: 1946–47 FA Cup
Round Date Opponent Venue Result Attendance Goalscorers
R3 11 January 1947 Chelsea A 1–1 70,195 McPherson
R3 R 15 January 1947 Chelsea H 1–1 (aet) 53,350 Rooke
R3 2R 20 January 1947 Chelsea N 0–2 59,590

Player statistics

Players with name struck through and marked † left the club during the playing season.
Pos. Nat. Name First Division FA Cup Total[13][15]
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
DF  WAL Walley Barnes 26 0 3 0 29 0
FW  ENG Cliff Bastin † 6 0 — — 6 0
FW  ENG Alf Calverley 11 0 — — 11 0
MF  ENG Ernie Collett 6 0 — — 6 0
DF  ENG Leslie Compton 36 0 3 0 39 0
FW  ENG Denis Compton 1 1 — — 1 1
FW  ENG George Curtis 11 0 1 — 12 0
FW  ENG George Drury † 4 0 — — 4 0
DF  ENG Alf Fields 8 0 — — 8 0
FW  ENG Cyril Grant † 2 0 — — 2 0
FW  ISL Albert Guðmundsson † 2 0 — — 2 0
FW  ENG Cyril Hodges † 2 0 — — 2 0
FW  WAL Bryn Jones 26 1 2 0 28 1
DF  ENG Bernard Joy † 13 0 — — 13 0
FW  ENG Reg Lewis 28 29 3 0 31 29
FW  SCO Jimmy Logie 35 8 3 0 38 8
DF  ENG George Male 15 0 2 0 17 0
MF  SCO Ian McPherson 37 6 3 1 40 7
DF  ENG Joe Mercer 25 0 3 0 28 0
FW  WAL Stan Morgan 2 0 — — 2 0
MF  ENG David Nelson † 10 0 — — 10 0
FW  IRE
 IRE 		Kevin O'Flanagan 14 3 — — 14 3
GK  ENG Ted Platt 4 0 — — 4 0
FW  ENG Ronnie Rooke 24 21 3 1 27 22
FW  ENG Tommy Rudkin 5 2 — — 5 2
DF  ENG Laurie Scott 28 0 1 0 29 0
DF  IRE
 IRE 		Paddy Sloan 30 1 3 0 33 1
FW  ENG Alan Smith † 3 0 — — 3 0
GK  ENG George Swindin 38 0 3 0 41 0
DF  ENG Joe Wade 2 0 — — 2 0
DF  ENG Harry Waller 8 0 — — 8 0

References

  1. ^ The Times, 30 August 1946; "Association Football: The New Season"
  2. ^ a b c d Soar, Phil; Tyler, Martin (1995). Arsenal: Official History. London: Hamlyn. pp. 99–100. ISBN 0600588262.
  3. ^ a b The Times, 3 October 1946; Association Football Sparta Draw With Arsenal
  4. ^ Appearances in wartime leagues such as the Football League South are not counted as official first-class matches by statisticians, hence this is considered O'Flanagan's first-class league debut.
  5. ^ Corbett, James (2003); p104 Everton:School of Science publ by MacMillan ISBN 0-330-42006-2
  6. ^ The Times, Saturday, 16 November 1946; Association Football Some Championship Anxieties
  7. ^ The Times, 23 September 1946; Association Football Four Unbeaten Clubs
  8. ^ The Times, 9 November 1946; Association Football Wolverhampton at Charlton
  9. ^ The Times, 11 November 1946; Association Football Bad Day For Home Teams
  10. ^ The Times, 12 November 1946; Association Football Changes in Welsh Team
  11. ^ The Times, 15 November 1946; Association Football
  12. ^ "Arsenal results for the 1947-1948 season – Statto.com". Archived from the original on 19 September 2015. Retrieved 28 January 2018.
  13. ^ a b Ollier, Fred (1995). Arsenal: A Complete Record (4th ed.). Breedon Books. p. 156. ISBN 1-85983-011-0.
  14. ^ Goals in all competitions are counted.
  15. ^ Kelly, Andy. "Arsenal First Team Line-Ups" (Select 1946–1947). Andy's Arsenal Resource Website.
source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1946%E2%80%9347_Arsenal_F.C._season