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1979–80 Arsenal F.C. season

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Arsenal F.C.
1979–80 season
ChairmanDenis Hill-Wood
ManagerTerry Neill
First Division4th
FA CupFinalists
League CupFourth round
European Cup Winners' CupFinalists
Charity ShieldRunners-up
Top goalscorerLeague:
Alan Sunderland/Frank Stapleton (14)

All:
Alan Sunderland (29)

The 1979–80 season was Arsenal Football Club's 54th consecutive season in the Football League First Division. The club finished the season in fourth after struggling with scoring goals and a congested schedule at the end of the season.

Arsenal reached the finals in the 1979-80 FA Cup and the 1979-80 European Cup Winner's Cup but failed to win either. After winning the FA Cup the previous season, Arsenal would not reach another cup final until 1987.[1]

Alan Sunderland was the top scorer, with 14 goals in the league. Arsenal scored 52 goals in 42 league matches.

Liam Brady left the team at the end of the season for Juventus.

Season summary

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Prior to the season beginning, Liam Brady announced he would leave Highbury when his contract ran out at the end of the season. Despite an offer of increased wages and security from Arsenal, Brady wanted to experience European competition.[2] Arsenal made few changes from the previous season in their squad, only bringing in midfielder John Hollins.[3][4] Alan Hudson left for Seattle Sounders.[5]

The season started with a 3-1 defeat to Liverpool at Wembley in the Charity Shield in August 1979. Arsenal finished the league season in fourth place in the First Division.[2]

Arsenal reached the finals in two major cup competitions: the 1979-80 FA Cup and the 1979-80 European Cup Winner's Cup. Arsenal lost to Swindon in the quarterfinals of the League Cup, preventing them from progressing further. In the FA Cup, Arsenal faced Cardiff, Brighton, Bolton, and Watford (playing five replays in five rounds) before playing Liverpool in the semifinal.[4] The semi-final fixtures against Juventus and Liverpool sandwiched each other around league games, making for a difficult schedule. Arsenal vs Liverpool went to a fourth match, the series concluding just nine games before the FA Cup final. Arsenal won the fourth game thanks to Brian Talbot's sole goal.[1] Arsenal then faced West Ham in the final, in which Paul Allen became the youngest player to appear in a FA Cup final. Fatigue hit Arsenal hard with Talbot collapsing on the bus on the way home.[2]

In the Cup Winners Cup, Arsenal began their campaign with a win over Fenerbahce before being paired with Magdeburg. They then beat IFK Göteborg 5-0 in the semi-finals before facing Juventus in the semifinal. In the second leg of the semifinal, Arsenal beat Juventus thanks to a header by 18-year old Paul Vaessen, making Arsenal the first British team to beat Juventus on their home soil.[4] Arsenal played in the final against Valencia just four days after their loss in the FA Cup final. The game was decided by penalty shootout. Valencia won 5-4, as Valencia's goalkeeper blocked both Liam Brady's and Graham Rix's shots.[1] Arsenal had played fifteen matches in 45 days prior.[2]

In league performance, Arsenal struggled with consistency. At home, Arsenal won only eight of their games, drawing ten. Playing in a counter-attacking style, Arsenal did win ten of their away games.[2] Cup competition late into the season caused fixture congestion and fatigue among Arsenal players. Due to such congestion, Arsenal even asked to rearrange the schedule for the North London Derby. Tottenham refused, but Arsenal won away at White Hart Lane - fielding six reserves![4] Although Arsenal had failed to qualify for European competition through their cup fixtures, they could qualify based on league position if they won their last two games. However, after winning their first game against Wolves, Arsenal lost 5-0 to Middlesbrough in their 50th game in the season, losing their position in European competition.[2][1]

With fifth placed Nottingham Forest qualifying for the following year's European Cup as holders after winning it again at the end of May and sixth placed Wolverhampton Wanderers having qualified for the UEFA Cup as winners of the League Cup, Arsenal were the only team in the top six not to qualify for Europe. It's a record that still stands. No team has played a 70-match season before or since in England. Arsenal played 70 games throughout the course of the 1979/80, including 27 Cup games, of which two were Cup Finals against West Ham and Valencia; the two happening within the space of five days.[2]

Despite finishing in fourth place in the league, they only scored 52 goals in 42 matches. Arsenal drew sixteen games throughout the league season, ten of them at home. In cup competitions, they drew a total of ten matches. Alan Sunderland finished the season as top goalscorer with 29, but only 14 of these came in the league.[1][2][6]

Squad

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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 Northern Ireland NIR Pat Jennings
- DF Northern Ireland NIR Pat Rice
- DF Northern Ireland NIR Sammy Nelson
- MF England ENG Brian Talbot
- DF Republic of Ireland IRL David O'Leary
- DF Scotland SCO Willie Young
- MF Republic of Ireland IRL Liam Brady
- FW England ENG Alan Sunderland
- FW Republic of Ireland IRL Frank Stapleton
- MF England ENG John Hollins
- MF England ENG Graham Rix
No. Pos. Nation Player
- MF England ENG David Price
- DF Republic of Ireland IRL John Devine
- DF England ENG Steve Walford
- DF England ENG Steve Gatting
- FW England ENG Paul Vaessen
- GK England ENG Paul Barron
- MF England ENG Paul Davis
- MF England ENG Brian McDermott

[7]

Results

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FA Charity Shield

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As FA Cup winners, Arsenal contested the 1979 FA Charity Shield against League champions Liverpool. Liverpool won the match on 11 August 1979 by 3–1.

11 August 1979 FA Charity Shield Liverpool 3–1 Arsenal London
McDermott 38', 65'
Dalglish 63'
Sunderland 88' Stadium: Wembley Stadium
Attendance: 92,800

First Division

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Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification or relegation
2 Manchester United 42 24 10 8 65 35 +30 58 Qualification for the UEFA Cup first round
3 Ipswich Town 42 22 9 11 68 39 +29 53
4 Arsenal 42 18 16 8 52 36 +16 52
5 Nottingham Forest 42 20 8 14 63 43 +20 48 Qualification for the European Cup first round[a]
6 Wolverhampton Wanderers 42 19 9 14 58 47 +11 47 Qualification for the UEFA Cup first round[b]
Source: World Football
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Goals scored
Notes:
  1. ^ Nottingham Forest qualified for the European Cup first round as the 1979–80 European Cup winners.
  2. ^ Wolverhampton Wanderers qualified for the UEFA Cup as the 1979–80 Football League Cup winners.
18 August 1979 1 Brighton & Hove Albion 0–4 Arsenal Brighton
Brady (Pen), Stapleton, Sunderland (2) Stadium: Goldstone Ground
21 August 1979 2 Arsenal 0–2 Ipswich Town London
Stadium: Highbury
1 September 1979 4 Leeds United 1–1 Arsenal Leeds
Stapleton Stadium: Elland Road
8 September 1979 5 Derby County 3–2 Arsenal Derby
Stapleton, Sunderland Stadium: Baseball Ground
15 September 1979 6 Arsenal 2–0 Middlesbrough London
Stapleton, Sunderland Stadium: Highbury
22 September 1979 7 Aston Villa 0–0 Arsenal Birmingham
Stadium: Villa Park
29 September 1979 8 Arsenal 2–3 Wolverhampton Wanderers London
Hollins, Stapleton Stadium: Highbury
6 October 1979 9 Arsenal 0–0 Manchester City London
Stadium: Highbury
9 October 1979 10 Ipswich Town 1–2 Arsenal Ipswich
Rix, Sunderland Stadium: Portman Road
20 October 1979 12 Arsenal 0–0 Stoke City London
Stadium: Highbury
27 October 1979 13 Bristol City 0–1 Arsenal Bristol
Sunderland Stadium: Ashton Gate
3 November 1979 14 Arsenal 3–0 Brighton & Hove Albion London
Brady(Pen), Rix, Sunderland Stadium: Highbury
10 November 1979 15 Crystal Palace 1–0 Arsenal London
Stadium: Selhurst Park
17 November 1979 16 Arsenal 2–0 Everton London
Stapleton(2) Stadium: Highbury
24 November 1979 17 Arsenal 0–0 Liverpool London
Stadium: Highbury
1 December 1979 18 Nottingham Forest 1–1 Arsenal Nottingham
Stapleton Stadium: City Ground
8 December 1979 19 Arsenal 3–1 Coventry City London
O'Leary, Stapleton, Sunderland Stadium: Highbury
15 December 1979 20 West Bromwich Albion 2–2 Arsenal West Bromwich
Nelson, Stapleton Stadium: The Hawthorns
21 December 1979 21 Arsenal 1–1 Norwich City London
Stapleton Stadium: Highbury
26 December 1979 22 Arsenal 1–0 Tottenham Hotspur London
Sunderland Stadium: Highbury
1 January 1980 24 Southampton 0–1 Arsenal Southampton
Young Stadium: The Dell
12 January 1980 25 Arsenal 0–1 Leeds United London
Stadium: Highbury
19 January 1980 26 Arsenal 2–0 Derby County London
Brady (Pen), Young Stadium: Highbury
9 February 1980 27 Arsenal 3–1 Aston Villa London
Rix, Sunderland (2) Stadium: Highbury
23 February 1980 28 Arsenal 2–0 Bolton Wanderers London
Stapleton, Young Stadium: Highbury
1 March 1980 29 Stoke City 2–3 Arsenal Stoke on Trent
Brady, Price, Sunderland Stadium: Victoria Ground
11 March 1980 30 Arsenal 0–0 Bristol City London
Stadium: Highbury
15 March 1980 31 Manchester City 0–3 Arsenal Manchester
Brady (Pen), Brady, Stapleton Stadium: Maine Road
22 March 1980 32 Arsenal 1–1 Crystal Palace London
Brady Stadium: Highbury
28 March 1980 33 Everton 0–1 Arsenal Liverpool
Gatting Stadium: Goodison Park
2 April 1980 34 Norwich City 2–1 Arsenal Norwich
Rix Stadium: Carrow Road
5 April 1980 35 Arsenal 1–1 Southampton London
Sunderland Stadium: Highbury
7 April 1980 36 Tottenham Hotspur 1–2 Arsenal London
Vaessen, Sunderland Stadium: White Hart Lane
19 April 1980 37 Liverpool 1–1 Arsenal Liverpool
Talbot Stadium: Anfield
26 April 1980 38 Arsenal 1–1 West Bromwich Albion London
Stapleton Stadium: Highbury
3 May 1980 39 Coventry City 0–1 Arsenal Coventry
Vaessen Stadium: Highfield Road
16 May 1980 41 Wolverhampton Wanderers 1–2 Arsenal Wolverhampton
Stapleton, Walford Stadium: Molineux

Football League Cup

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29 August 1979 Second round
(1st Leg)
Leeds United 1–1 Arsenal Leeds
Stadium: Elland Road
4 September 1979 Second round
(2nd Leg)
Arsenal 7–0
(8–1 agg.)
Leeds United London
Stadium: Highbury
25 September 1979 Third round Arsenal 1–0 Southampton London
Stadium: Highbury
13 November 1979 Fourth round
replay
Arsenal 4–0 Brighton & Hove Albion London
Stadium: Highbury
4 December 1979 Fifth round Arsenal 1–1 Swindon Town London
Stadium: Highbury
11 December 1979 Fifth round
replay
Swindon Town 4–3 (aet) Arsenal Swindon
Stadium: County Ground

FA Cup

[edit]

Arsenal entered the FA Cup in the third round proper, in which they were drawn to face Cardiff City.

5 January 1980 Third round Cardiff City 0–0 Arsenal Cardiff
Stadium: Ninian Park
8 January 1980 Third round replay Arsenal 2–1 Cardiff City London
Stadium: Highbury
26 January 1980 Fourth round Arsenal 2–0 Brighton & Hove Albion London
Stadium: Highbury
16 February 1980 Fifth round Bolton Wanderers 1–1 Arsenal Bolton
Stadium: Burnden Park
19 February 1980 Fifth round replay Arsenal 3–0 Bolton Wanderers London
Stadium: Highbury
8 March 1980 Sixth round Watford 1–2 Arsenal London
Stadium: Vicarage Road
12 April 1980 Semi-Final Arsenal 0–0 (aet) Liverpool Sheffield
Stadium: Hillsborough Stadium
16 April 1980 Semi-Final replay Arsenal 1–1 (aet) Liverpool Birmingham
Stadium: Villa Park
28 April 1980 Semi-Final 2nd replay Arsenal 1–1 (aet) Liverpool Sheffield
Stadium: Hillsborough Stadium
1 May 1980 Semi-Final 3rd replay Arsenal 1–0 Liverpool Coventry
Stadium: Highfield Road

European Cup Winners' Cup

[edit]
19 September 1979 First round
(1st Leg)
Arsenal England 2–0 Turkey Fenerbahçe S.K. London
Stadium: Highbury
3 October 1979 First round
(2nd Leg)
Fenerbahçe S.K. Turkey 0–0
(0–2 agg.)
England Arsenal Istanbul
Stadium: Şükrü Saracoğlu Stadium
24 October 1979 Second round
(1st Leg)
Arsenal England 2–1 East Germany Magdeburg London
Stadium: Highbury
7 November 1979 Second round
(2nd Leg)
Magdeburg East Germany 2–2
(3–4 agg.)
England Arsenal Magdeburg
Stadium: Ernst Grube Stadium
5 March 1980 Quarter-Final
(1st Leg)
Arsenal England 5–1 Sweden IFK Göteborg London
Stadium: Highbury
19 March 1980 Quarter-Final
(2nd Leg)
IFK Göteborg Sweden 0–0
(1–5 agg.)
England Arsenal Gothenburg
Stadium: Ullevi
9 April 1980 Semi-Final
(1st Leg)
Arsenal England 1–1 Italy Juventus London
Stadium: Highbury
23 April 1980 Semi-Final
(2nd Leg)
Juventus Italy 0–1
(1–2 agg.)
England Arsenal Turin
Stadium: Stadio Comunale
14 May 1980 Final Arsenal England 0–0 (aet)
(4 – 5 pen.)
Spain Valencia CF Brussels
Stadium: Heysel Stadium

Top scorers

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First Division

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[8]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e "As Bad As Things Got: Arsenal, 14th May 1980". Two Hundred Percent. 6 June 2020. Archived from the original on 9 August 2022.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h Soar, Phil; Tyler, Martin (1989). Arsenal: Official History. London: Hamlyn. pp. 195–201. ISBN 0600588262.
  3. ^ "John Hollins | 1946-2023". Arsenal. 14 June 2023. Archived from the original on 15 June 2023. Retrieved 3 November 2023.
  4. ^ a b c d Pye, Steven (31 March 2020). "The season Arsenal played 70 games, reached two finals ... and won nothing". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 8 October 2023. Retrieved 3 November 2023.
  5. ^ "Alan Hudson". Arsenal. Archived from the original on 21 June 2023. Retrieved 3 November 2023.
  6. ^ Spurling, Jon (2001). All Guns Blazing. Aureus Publishing Ltd.
  7. ^ "All Arsenal players: 1980". 11v11. Archived from the original on 5 October 2023.
  8. ^ Arsenal Official Handbook 1980
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