The 1974–75 season was Arsenal Football Club's 49th consecutive season in the Football League First Division. Arsenal finished sixteenth in the league, their poorest position since Herbert Chapman became manager in 1925. They reached the quarterfinals of the FA Cup but lost to West Ham.

Ray Kennedy departed the club for Liverpool. Arsenal used the money to buy Brian Kidd who went on to be their top scorer for the season. Alan Ball served as captain.

Season summary In the summer, Mee oversaw the departure of midfielder Ray Kennedy after his sub-par second half to the previous season. Kennedy was sold to Liverpool for £200,000. Arsenal then bought Brian Kidd for £100,000 from Manchester United who went on to be top scorer but failed partner successfully with John Radford in the midfield.

Alan Ball was appointed captain for the season as he recovered from his broken leg. He fractured his ankle the first match of the pre-season and was absent for the beginning of the season.

Arsenal's league campaign started fairlyale poorly. After winning the first match thanks to Kidd's goal against Leicester, Arsenal went ten games without a win. Kidd repeated his goal against Leicester to tie in the League Cup, but Arsenal lost the replay, knocking them out of the competition. In the midst of Arsenal's struggles, Jeff Blockley and Charlie George were put on the transfer list. Blockley left for Leicester in January. Desperate, Mee brought in Terry Mancini for £20,000. He also bought Alex Cropley from Hibs for £150,000. Unfortunately, Cropley broke his leg seven games into his Arsenal career and never fully recovered.

Arsenal's league form, despite the additions, was inconsistent. The FA Cup brought some respite, as Arsenal made it past Second Division York with a hat-trick from Kidd in the replay. After beating Coventry City, Arsenal were forced into a second replay with Leicester, winning thanks to a goal from Radford. However, prior to their quarterfinal appearance against West Ham, both Ball and Bob McNab were sent off for dissent in a league game against Derby. The club refused to back their appeals for their bookings, meaning both players would be unavailable for the cup tie. Arsenal were knocked out of the FA Cup.

At the end of the season, Arsenal had to fight for their position in the league to escape relegation. Increasingly disillusioned and unhappy, the team managed to beat the drop, finishing 16th.

League standings

Results Arsenal's score comes first

Legend WinDrawLoss

Football League First Division DateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorers 17 August 1974 Leicester CityA1–026,448Kidd 20 August 1974 Ipswich TownH0–131,027 24 August 1974 Manchester CityH4–027,143Kidd (2), Radford (2) 27 August 1974 Ipswich TownA0–328,036 31 August 1974 EvertonA1–242,438Kidd 7 September 1974 BurnleyH0–123,586 14 September 1974 ChelseaA0–034,596 21 September 1974 Luton TownH2–221,649Kidd (2) 28 September 1974 Birmingham CityA1–325,584George 5 October 1974 Leeds UnitedA0–232,784 12 October 1974 Queens Park RangersH2–226,690Kidd, Radford 16 October 1974 Manchester CityA1–226,658Radford 19 October 1974 Tottenham HotspurA0–236,194 26 October 1974 West Ham UnitedH3–041,004Brady, Kidd, Radford 2 November 1974 Wolverhampton WanderersH0–027,572 9 November 1974 LiverpoolA3–143,850Ball (2), Brady 16 November 1974 Derby CountyH3–132,286Ball (2; 1 pen.), Kidd 23 November 1974 Coventry CityA0–315,669 30 November 1974 MiddlesbroughH2–025,283 Ball (pen.), Brady 7 December 1974 Carlisle UnitedA1–212,926Kidd 14 December 1974 Leicester CityH0–020,849 21 December 1974 Stoke CityA2–023,292Kidd (2) 26 December 1974 ChelseaH1–233,784Ball (pen.) 28 December 1974 Sheffield UnitedA1–119,967George 11 January 1975 Carlisle UnitedH2–121,538Cropley, Radford 18 January 1975 MiddlesbroughA0–026,996 1 February 1975 LiverpoolH2–043,028Ball (2; 1 pen.) 8 February 1975 Wolverhampton WanderersA0–119,807 22 February 1975 Derby CountyA1–224,002Radford 1 March 1975 EvertonH0–232,216 15 March 1975 Birmingham CityH1–117,845Kidd 18 March 1975 Newcastle UnitedH3–016,540Ball (pen.), Kidd, Rostron 22 March 1975 BurnleyA3–317,539Hornsby (2), Rostron 25 March 1975 Luton TownA0–222,120 29 March 1975 Stoke CityH1–126,852Kelly 31 March 1975 Sheffield UnitedH1–024,338Kidd 8 April 1975 Coventry CityH2–017,291Kidd (2) 12 April 1975 Leeds UnitedH1–236,619Kidd 19 April 1975 Queens Park RangersA0–024,362 23 April 1975 Newcastle UnitedA1–321,895Hornsby 26 April 1975 Tottenham HotspurH1–043,762Kidd 28 April 1975 West Ham UnitedA0–130,195

FA Cup

+RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceGoalscorersR34 January 1975 York CityH1–127,029KellyR3 R7 January 1975 York CityA3–115,362Kidd (3)R425 January 1975 Coventry CityA1–131,165BallR4 R29 January 1975 Coventry CityH3–030,867Armstrong, Matthews (2)R515 February 1975 Leicester CityH0–043,841R5 R19 February 1975 Leicester CityA1–135,009RadfordR5 2R24 February 1975 Leicester CityA1–0 (aet)39,025RadfordR68 March 1975 West Ham UnitedH0–256,742

League Cup

+RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceGoalscorersR210 September 1974 Leicester CityH1–120,788KiddR2R18 September 1974 Leicester CityA1–217,303Brady

Squad

References