1967–68 Arsenal F.C. season explained

Club:Arsenal
Season:1967–68
Manager:Bertie Mee
Chairman:Denis Hill-Wood
League:First Division
League Result:9th
Cup1:FA Cup
Cup1 Result:Fifth round
Cup2:League Cup
Cup2 Result:Finalists
League Topscorer:
George Graham (16)
Season Topscorer:
George Graham (21)
Highest Attendance:62,836 vs Tottenham Hotspur (16 September 1967)
Lowest Attendance:11,252 vs Sheffield Wednesday (30 April 1968)
Prevseason:1966–67
Nextseason:1968–69
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During the 1967–68 English football season, Arsenal Football Club competed in the Football League First Division. The team finished ninth in the league. Arsenal reached the final of the League Cup, losing 1-0 to Leeds United. It was the first of five major cup finals under manager Bertie Mee. Arsenal went out in the fifth round of the FA Cup to Birmingham City.

The only major transfer was the purchase of Bobby Gould in February. George Graham was again the top scorer in both the league and all competitions.[1] Frank McLintock served as captain.[2]

Season summary

The 1967-68 season was the second of Bertie Mee's tenure as manager. From the beginning, Mee was looking to purchase a striker, as Arsenal had relied heavily on goals from midfielders. However, he did not make a purchase until midway through the season. In February 1968, Arsenal bought the hardworking goalscorer Bobby Gould for £90,000 from Coventry.[3] Dave Sexton also departed from Arsenal's staff to manage Chelsea and Don Howe was promoted from reserve coach to chief coach.[4]

Arsenal found their best form of the season in the League Cup. They easily reached the quarterfinals against Burnley. Interestingly, they faced the same team in the league just three days later, and as the League Cup tie required a replay, it meant Arsenal played Burnley three times in six days. After going 2-0 down in the first match, Arsenal responded admirably with goals from two George Graham and one from Frank McLintock, going ahead 3-2 by half. Arsenal went down to ten men when Bob McNab was sent off twelve minutes into the second half and Burnley equalized, leading to a replay. Tensions continued to boil in their league matchup and Arsenal finished the 0-1 loss with nine men. In the League Cup replay, McNab was replaced with Pat Rice. After squeaking past Huddersfield Town 3-2 in the home semifinal match, Arsenal beat them 3-1 away. They were headed to Wembley for the first time in sixteen years.[5]

Arsenal faced Leeds United in the League Cup final. Leeds had won both their semifinal matchups and were twice recent-runners up of the First Division. They had also lost to Liverpool in the 1965 FA Cup Final. Arsenal, however, were to come in second on this occasion thanks to a Terry Cooper volley following a corner.[6] Arsenal players protested as two of Leeds tallest players restricted Arsenal goalkeeper Jim Furnell by engaging in what Mee called "basketball." Arsenal were unable to respond to the Leeds goal due to their strong defense and lost 1-0 in the first major Cup final of the Mee era.

Following the League Cup final, Arsenal faced Birmingham City in the fifth round of the FA Cup. Arsenal lost the replay due to poor performance from goalkeeper Bob Wilson, letting in a last-minute goal.

Arsenal's form in the league was intermittent. However, they did end the season with five consecutive victories, securing a ninth place finish.

Final league table

See main article: 1967–68 Football League First Division.

Results

Arsenal's score comes first[7]

Legend

WinDrawLoss

Football League First Division

DateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorers
19 August 1967 Stoke CityH2–027,144
22 August 1967LiverpoolA0–252,033
26 August 1967 Nottingham ForestA0–233,977
28 August 1967 LiverpoolH2–033,380
2 September 1967 Coventry CityH1–130,404
6 September 1967 West Bromwich AlbionA3–126,153
9 September 1967 Sheffield UnitedA4–214,939
16 September 1967 Tottenham HotspurH4–062,936
23 September 1967 Manchester CityH1–041,567
30 September 1967 Newcastle UnitedA1–233,377
7 October 1967 Manchester UnitedA0–160,201
14 October 1967 SunderlandH2–130,864
23 October 1967 Wolverhampton WanderersA2–336,664
28 October 1967 FulhamH5–329,867
4 November 1967 Leeds UnitedA1–331,492
11 November 1967 EvertonH2–236,371
18 November 1967 Leicester CityA2–228,150
25 November 1967 West Ham UnitedH0–042,029
2 December 1967 BurnleyA0–115,381
16 December 1967 Stoke CityA1–016,119
23 December 1967 Nottingham ForestH3–032,512
26 December 1967 ChelseaA2–151,672
30 December 1967 ChelseaH1–147,157
6 January 1968 Coventry CityA1–132,839
13 January 1968 Sheffield UnitedH1–127,447
20 January 1968 Tottenham HotspurA0–157,886
3 February 1968 Manchester CityA1–142,392
10 February 1968 Newcastle UnitedH0–036,996
24 February 1968 Manchester UnitedH0–246,417
16 March 1968 Wolverhampton WanderersH0–225,983
23 March 1968 FulhamA3–120,612
29 March 1968 West Ham UnitedA1–134,077
6 April 1968 EvertonA0–240,029
10 April 1968 SouthamptonA0–223,207
13 April 1968 Leicester CityH2–119,108
15 April 1968 SouthamptonH0–323,165
20 April 1968 SunderlandA0–231,255
27 April 1968 BurnleyH2-015,278
30 April 1968 Sheffield WednesdayH3–211,262
4 May 1968 Sheffield WednesdayA2–124,500
7 May 1968 Leeds UnitedH4–324,053
11 May 1968 West Bromwich AlbionH2–125,896

FA Cup

See main article: 1967–68 FA Cup.

RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorers
R327 January 1968 Shrewsbury TownA1–118,280
R3 R30 January 1968 Shrewsbury TownH2–041,958
R417 February 1968 Swansea CityA1–031,919
R59 March 1968 Birmingham CityH1–145,515
R5 R12 March 1968 Birmingham CityA1–251,586

League Cup

See main article: 1967–68 Football League Cup.

RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorers
R212 September 1967 Coventry CityA2–122,605
R311 October 1967 ReadingH1–027,866
R41 November 1967 Blackburn RoversH2–120,044
R529 November 1967 BurnleyA3–316,033
R5 R5 December 1967 BurnleyH2–136,570
SF L117 January 1968 Huddersfield TownH3–239,986
SF L26 February 1968 Huddersfield TownA3–127,312
F2 March 1968 Leeds UnitedN0–197,877

Squad

http://www.11v11.com/teams/arsenal/tab/players/season/1967}

Notes and References

  1. Book: Arsenal Official Handbook 1968-69. . Arsenal . 1968 . London . 38 . en.
  2. Web site: Kelly . Andy . 17 November 2014 . Arsenal’s captains from day one . https://web.archive.org/web/20230810232605/http://www.thearsenalhistory.com/?p=8955 . 10 August 2023 . 14 November 2023 . The Arsenal History.
  3. Web site: Attwood . Tony . 3 June 2013 . Bobby Gould at Arsenal (and elsewhere) . https://web.archive.org/web/20220704053625/http://blog.woolwicharsenal.co.uk/archives/6686 . 4 July 2022 . 14 November 2023 . The History of Arsenal.
  4. Book: Soar, Phil . Arsenal: Official History . Tyler . Martin . Hamlyn . 1995 . 0600588262 . London . 130-131 . en.
  5. Web site: Atwood . Tony . 2 March 2014 . 1967/68 League Cup Campaign: when the rebirth of Arsenal began . https://web.archive.org/web/20220522083936/https://blog.woolwicharsenal.co.uk/archives/9715 . 22 May 2022 . 14 November 2023 . The History of Arsenal.
  6. Web site: Tomlinson . Dave . 2 March 1968 - Arsenal 0 Leeds United 1 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230407143410/http://www.mightyleeds.co.uk/matches/19680302.htm . 7 April 2023 . 14 November 2023 . The Definitive History of Leeds United.
  7. Web site: Arsenal 1970-1971 Results – statto.com . 27 September 2017 . 24 May 2011 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110524133524/http://www.statto.com/football/teams/arsenal/1970-1971/results . dead .