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,The Times, 30 August 1946; "Association Football: The New Season" 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.. Arsenal found solutions in players like the amateur Albert Guðmundsson, later Iceland's Minister of Finance. Dr. Kevin O'Flanagan made 14 First Division appearances and scored three goals. He made his first-class league debutAppearances 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. 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.Corbett, James (2003); p104 Everton:School of Science publ by MacMillan His transfer fee was set at £9,000 (2015: £) and he remained in Liverpool to live and train.
Arsenal were unsuccessful in their attempts to land Archie Macaulay, who signed with Brentford F.C. in October 1946.The Times, Saturday, 16 November 1946; Association Football Some Championship Anxieties
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.
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.
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.The Times, 23 September 1946; Association Football Four Unbeaten Clubs
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.The Times, 3 October 1946; Association Football Sparta Draw With Arsenal
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.The Times, 9 November 1946; Association Football Wolverhampton at Charlton However, the poor form continued and Arsenal lost 2–0.The Times, 11 November 1946; Association Football Bad Day For Home Teams
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.The Times, 12 November 1946; Association Football Changes in Welsh Team In mid November they beat Oxford University 6–0 with goals by Doug Farquhar, Morgan (2) and Whalley (3).The Times, 15 November 1946; Association Football
Results Arsenal's score comes first
https://www.11v11.com/teams/arsenal/tab/matches/season/1947/
Legend WinDrawLoss
Football League First Division
DateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorers 31 August 1946 Wolverhampton WanderersA1–650,845Lewis 4 September 1946 Blackburn RoversH1–328,700Lewis 7 September 1946 SunderlandH2–253,377Lewis (2) 11 September 1946 EvertonA2–340,000Lewis (2) 14 September 1946 Aston VillaA2–053,778Lewis, O'Flanagan 17 September 1946 Blackburn RoversA2–124,563Lewis (2) 21 September 1946 Derby CountyH0–160,643 28 September 1946 Manchester UnitedA2–562,718Lewis, McPherson 5 October 1946 BlackpoolA1–224,039Logie 12 October 1946 BrentfordH2–245,000Lewis, Logie 19 October 1946 Stoke CityH1–060,266O'Flanagan 26 October 1946 ChelseaA1–256,568Lewis 2 November 1946 Sheffield UnitedH2–341,173Lewis, Logie 9 November 1946 Preston North EndA0–229,971 16 November 1946 Leeds UnitedH4–236,377Lewis (2, including 1 penalty), Logie, McPherson 23 November 1946 LiverpoolA2–451,435Lewis, Logie 30 November 1946 Bolton WanderersH2–242,522Lewis (penalty), O'Flanagan 7 December 1946 MiddlesbroughA0–230,357 14 December 1946 Charlton AthleticH1–038,606Rooke 21 December 1946 Grimsby TownA0–013,308 25 December 1946 PortsmouthH2–132,108Rooke, Logie 26 December 1946 PortsmouthA2–038,000Rooke (2) 28 December 1946 Wolverhampton WanderersH1–158,075Rooke 4 January 1947 SunderlandA4–136,812Rooke (2), Lewis (2) 18 January 1947 Aston VillaH0–257,524 1 February 1947 Manchester UnitedH6–229,145Rooke (3), Rudkin, Logie, McPherson 8 February 1947 BlackpoolH1–131,111Rooke 22 February 1947 Stoke CityA1–330,000Rooke 1 March 1947 ChelseaH1–252,606Rudkin 15 March 1947 Preston North EndH4–145,775Lewis (3), Rooke 22 March 1947 Leeds UnitedA1–132,000Lewis 4 April 1947 Huddersfield TownH1–246,105Jones 5 April 1947 Bolton WanderersA3–134,398Rooke (2), Lewis 7 April 1947 Huddersfield TownA0–033,381 12 April 1947 MiddlesbroughH4–044,230Rooke (4, including 1 penalty) 19 April 1947 Charlton AthleticA2–257.983McPherson, Logie 26 April 1947 Grimsby TownH5–342,100Lewis 4, Compton 10 May 1947 Derby CountyA1–019,153Rooke 24 May 1947 LiverpoolH1–244,265McPherson 26 May 1947 BrentfordA1–017,599Sloan 31 May 1947 EvertonH]2–123,785Lewis, Rooke 7 June 1947 Sheffield UnitedH1–214,939McPherson
Final League table
DateOpponentVenueResultScoreF–AScorer(s)Attendance 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
SeasonLeagueTop scorerGoals in all competitions are counted.DivisionPWDLFAPtsPos1946–47Div 1421691772704113thReg Lewis29
Results by round
FA Cup
+RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceGoalscorersR311 January 1947 ChelseaA1–170,195McPhersonR3 R15 January 1947 ChelseaH1–1 (aet)53,350RookeR3 2R20 January 1947 ChelseaN0–259,590
Player statistics Players with name struck through and marked left the club during the playing season. Pos. Nat. Name First Division FA Cup Total Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals DF Walley Barnes 26 0 3 0 29 0 FW Cliff Bastin 6 0 — — 6 0 FW Alf Calverley 11 0 — — 11 0 MF Ernie Collett 6 0 — — 6 0 DF Leslie Compton 36 0 3 0 39 0 FW Denis Compton 1 1 — — 1 1 FW George Curtis 11 0 1 — 12 0 FW George Drury 4 0 — — 4 0 DF Alf Fields 8 0 — — 8 0 FW Cyril Grant 2 0 — — 2 0 FW Albert Guðmundsson 2 0 — — 2 0 FW Cyril Hodges 2 0 — — 2 0 FW Bryn Jones 26 1 2 0 28 1 DF Bernard Joy 13 0 — — 13 0 FW Reg Lewis 28 29 3 0 31 29 FW Jimmy Logie 35 8 3 0 38 8 DF George Male 15 0 2 0 17 0 MF Ian McPherson 37 6 3 1 40 7 DF Joe Mercer 25 0 3 0 28 0 FW Stan Morgan 2 0 — — 2 0 MF David Nelson 10 0 — — 10 0 FW Kevin O'Flanagan 14 3 — — 14 3 GK Ted Platt 4 0 — — 4 0 FW Ronnie Rooke 24 21 3 1 27 22 FW Tommy Rudkin 5 2 — — 5 2 DF Laurie Scott 28 0 1 0 29 0 DF Paddy Sloan 30 1 3 0 33 1 FW Alan Smith 3 0 — — 3 0 GK George Swindin 38 0 3 0 41 0 DF Joe Wade 2 0 — — 2 0 DF Harry Waller 8 0 — — 8 0
References
External links Arsenal season-by-season line-ups