The 1972–73 season was Arsenal Football Club's 47th consecutive season in the Football League First Division. Arsenal were runners-up to Liverpool in the league. They were knocked out of the League Cup in the quarterfinals by Norwich and the FA Cup in the semifinals by Sunderland.

John Radford was the top scorer in both the league and in all competitions. Frank McLintock served as captain.

1972-73 was the last season under manager Bertie Mee in which Arsenal challenged for silverware.

Season summary In the summer of 1972, double-winners Charlie George and Eddie Kelly were put on the transfer list. Though neither left the club, it represented some of the internal struggles of the club at the time, as George and Kelly felt under-rewarded compared to more senior players. Dressing room tensions continued throughout the season, as Mee saw captain Frank McLintock's influence over the dressing room as a challenge to his own authority. Mee also continued to struggle with the absence of Don Howe who had left the previous season to manage West Brom.

Mee made one major purchase in October 1972, buying centre-back Jeff Blockley from Coventry for £200,000. Blockley, who received his first cap for England days after his move to Highbury, was considered the long-term replacement for McLintock. However, this view was not shared by McLintock himself or most of the Arsenal dressing room.

In league play, Mee attempted to respond to the regular criticism that "boring old" Arsenal failed to entertain. Mee attempted to make stylistic changes to play "total football," a style far from their regular long-ball game and unsuited to the English Game. Alan Ball, a player comfortable with possession and who wanted more midfield involvement, was essential to such an approach. However, instead of success, the style led to a 5-0 loss to Derby in the league and a 0-3 home defeat to Norwich, knocking Arsenal out of the League Cup. Returning to their standard tactics, Arsenal went 15 games without defeat. By early 1973, they were nearing Liverpool in the title race. However, they ended up finishing three points behind the league leaders.

In the FA Cup, Arsenal progressed over Leicester City, Bradford City, Carlisle United, and Chelsea before being drawn against Second Division Sunderland in the semifinals. Mee chose to start the dynamic George over the hardworking John Radford. Sunderland scored thanks to a Blockley mistake; he was then roundly criticized for his poor performance, as he played without being fully fit. He was then substituted at half for Radford. Although Arsenal hoped to recover in the second half, Sunderland doubled their lead through Billy Hughes. Arsenal's sole consolation came in the 85th minute from George. Out of the FA Cup, Arsenal lost the third place match 1-3 to Wolves.

After the season's lackluster results, Mee was convinced he had to rebuild Arsenal and let several key players go at the end of the season, including McLintock and George Graham. The 1972/73 season was the beginning of the end for Mee as Arsenal began to descend into mediocrity.

Final league table

Results Arsenal's score comes first

Legend WinDrawLoss

Football League First Division DateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorers 12 August 1972 Leicester CityA1–028,003 15 August 1972 Wolverhampton WanderersH5–238,524 19 August 1972 Stoke CityH2–042,146 22 August 1972 Coventry CityA1–124,670 26 August 1972 Manchester UnitedA0–048,108 29 August 1972 West Ham UnitedH1–043,802 2 September 1972 ChelseaH1–146,675 9 September 1972 Newcastle UnitedA1–223,878 16 September 1972 LiverpoolH0–047,597 23 September 1972 Norwich CityA2–332,273 26 September 1972 Birmingham CityH2–030,003 30 September 1972 SouthamptonH1–034,694 7 October 1972 Sheffield UnitedA0–124,478 14 October 1972 Ipswich TownH1–034,196 21 October 1972 Crystal PalaceA3–235,865 28 October 1972 Manchester CityH0–045,536 4 November 1972 Coventry CityH0–233,699 11 November 1972 Wolverhampton WanderersA3–125,988 18 November 1972 EvertonH1–035,738 25 November 1972 Derby CountyA0–531,034 2 December 1972 Leeds UnitedH2–139,108 9 December 1972 Tottenham HotspurA2–147,505 16 December 1972 West Bromwich AlbionH2–130,199 23 December 1972 Birmingham CityA1–132,721 26 December 1972 Norwich CityH2–039,038 30 December 1972 Stoke CityA0–024,586 6 January 1973 Manchester UnitedH3–156,194 20 January 1973 ChelseaA1–036,292 27 January 1973 Newcastle UnitedH2–237,906 10 February 1973 LiverpoolA2–049,898 17 February 1973 Leicester CityH1–042,047 28 February 1973 West Bromwich AlbionA0–129,308 3 March 1973 Sheffield UnitedH3–233,346 10 March 1973 Ipswich TownA2–134,636 24 March 1973 Manchester CityA2–132,031 26 March 1973 Crystal PalaceH1–041,879 31 March 1973 Derby CountyH0–145,217 14 April 1973 Tottenham HotspurH1–150,863 21 April 1973 EvertonA0–042,888 23 April 1973 SouthamptonA2–223,919 28 April 1973 West Ham UnitedA2–137,366 9 May 1973 Leeds UnitedA1–625,088

FA Cup

+RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceGoalscorersR313 January 1973 Leicester CityH2–236,433R3 R17 January 1973 Leicester CityA2–132,973R43 February 1973 Bradford CityH2–040,407R524 February 1973 Carlisle UnitedA2–123,922R617 March 1973 ChelseaA2–237,685R6 R20 March 1973 ChelseaH2–162,746SF7 April 1973 SunderlandN1–255,0003rd18 August 1973 Wolverhampton WanderersH1–321,038

League Cup

+RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceGoalscorersR25 September 1972 EvertonH1–035,230R33 October 1972 Rotherham UnitedH5–025,241R431 October 1972 Sheffield UnitedA2–120,128QF21 November 1972 Norwich CityH0–337,671

Squad

Top scorers First Division

John Radford - 15 Alan Ball - 10 Ray Kennedy - 9

Football League Cup

John Radford - 3 Peter Storey - 2 Charlie George - 2

FA Cup

Alan Ball - 4 Bob McNab - 2

References