# 1974–75 Arsenal F.C. season

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

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GAv | Pts |
| 14 | Coventry City | 42 | 12 | 15 | 15 | 51 | 62 | 0.823 | 39 |
| 15 | Newcastle United | 42 | 15 | 9 | 18 | 59 | 72 | 0.819 | 39 |
| 16 | Arsenal | 42 | 13 | 11 | 18 | 47 | 49 | 0.959 | 37 |
| 17 | Birmingham City | 42 | 14 | 9 | 19 | 53 | 61 | 0.869 | 37 |
| 18 | Leicester City | 42 | 12 | 12 | 18 | 46 | 60 | 0.767 | 36 |

## Results

Arsenal's score comes first

### Legend

| Win | Draw | Loss |

### Football League First Division

| Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Attendance | Scorers |
| 17 August 1974 | Leicester City | A | 1–0 | 26,448 | Kidd |
| 20 August 1974 | Ipswich Town | H | 0–1 | 31,027 | |
| 24 August 1974 | Manchester City | H | 4–0 | 27,143 | Kidd (2), Radford (2) |
| 27 August 1974 | Ipswich Town | A | 0–3 | 28,036 | |
| 31 August 1974 | Everton | A | 1–2 | 42,438 | Kidd |
| 7 September 1974 | Burnley | H | 0–1 | 23,586 | |
| 14 September 1974 | Chelsea | A | 0–0 | 34,596 | |
| 21 September 1974 | Luton Town | H | 2–2 | 21,649 | Kidd (2) |
| 28 September 1974 | Birmingham City | A | 1–3 | 25,584 | George |
| 5 October 1974 | Leeds United | A | 0–2 | 32,784 | |
| 12 October 1974 | Queens Park Rangers | H | 2–2 | 26,690 | Kidd, Radford |
| 16 October 1974 | Manchester City | A | 1–2 | 26,658 | Radford |
| 19 October 1974 | Tottenham Hotspur | A | 0–2 | 36,194 | |
| 26 October 1974 | West Ham United | H | 3–0 | 41,004 | Brady, Kidd, Radford |
| 2 November 1974 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | H | 0–0 | 27,572 | |
| 9 November 1974 | Liverpool | A | 3–1 | 43,850 | Ball (2), Brady |
| 16 November 1974 | Derby County | H | 3–1 | 32,286 | Ball (2; 1 pen.), Kidd |
| 23 November 1974 | Coventry City | A | 0–3 | 15,669 | |
| 30 November 1974 | Middlesbrough | H | 2–0 | 25,283 | Ball (pen.), Brady |
| 7 December 1974 | Carlisle United | A | 1–2 | 12,926 | Kidd |
| 14 December 1974 | Leicester City | H | 0–0 | 20,849 | |
| 21 December 1974 | Stoke City | A | 2–0 | 23,292 | Kidd (2) |
| 26 December 1974 | Chelsea | H | 1–2 | 33,784 | Ball (pen.) |
| 28 December 1974 | Sheffield United | A | 1–1 | 19,967 | George |
| 11 January 1975 | Carlisle United | H | 2–1 | 21,538 | Cropley, Radford |
| 18 January 1975 | Middlesbrough | A | 0–0 | 26,996 | |
| 1 February 1975 | Liverpool | H | 2–0 | 43,028 | Ball (2; 1 pen.) |
| 8 February 1975 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | A | 0–1 | 19,807 | |
| 22 February 1975 | Derby County | A | 1–2 | 24,002 | Radford |
| 1 March 1975 | Everton | H | 0–2 | 32,216 | |
| 15 March 1975 | Birmingham City | H | 1–1 | 17,845 | Kidd |
| 18 March 1975 | Newcastle United | H | 3–0 | 16,540 | Ball (pen.), Kidd, Rostron |
| 22 March 1975 | Burnley | A | 3–3 | 17,539 | Hornsby (2), Rostron |
| 25 March 1975 | Luton Town | A | 0–2 | 22,120 | |
| 29 March 1975 | Stoke City | H | 1–1 | 26,852 | Kelly |
| 31 March 1975 | Sheffield United | H | 1–0 | 24,338 | Kidd |
| 8 April 1975 | Coventry City | H | 2–0 | 17,291 | Kidd (2) |
| 12 April 1975 | Leeds United | H | 1–2 | 36,619 | Kidd |
| 19 April 1975 | Queens Park Rangers | A | 0–0 | 24,362 | |
| 23 April 1975 | Newcastle United | A | 1–3 | 21,895 | Hornsby |
| 26 April 1975 | Tottenham Hotspur | H | 1–0 | 43,762 | Kidd |
| 28 April 1975 | West Ham United | A | 0–1 | 30,195 | |

### FA Cup

| Round | Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Attendance | Goalscorers |
| R3 | 4 January 1975 | York City | H | 1–1 | 27,029 | Kelly |
| R3 R | 7 January 1975 | York City | A | 3–1 | 15,362 | Kidd (3) |
| R4 | 25 January 1975 | Coventry City | A | 1–1 | 31,165 | Ball |
| R4 R | 29 January 1975 | Coventry City | H | 3–0 | 30,867 | Armstrong, Matthews (2) |
| R5 | 15 February 1975 | Leicester City | H | 0–0 | 43,841 | |
| R5 R | 19 February 1975 | Leicester City | A | 1–1 | 35,009 | Radford |
| R5 2R | 24 February 1975 | Leicester City | A | 1–0 (aet) | 39,025 | Radford |
| R6 | 8 March 1975 | West Ham United | H | 0–2 | 56,742 | |

### League Cup

| Round | Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Attendance | Goalscorers |
| R2 | 10 September 1974 | Leicester City | H | 1–1 | 20,788 | Kidd |
| R2R | 18 September 1974 | Leicester City | A | 1–2 | 17,303 | Brady |

## Squad

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 | ENG | Jimmy Rimmer |
| - | DF | NIR | Pat Rice |
| - | DF | ENG | Bob McNab |
| - | MF | SCO | Eddie Kelly |
| - | DF | IRL | Terry Mancini |
| - | DF | ENG | Peter Simpson |
| - | MF | ENG | Peter Storey |
| - | MF | ENG | Alan Ball |
| - | MF | IRL | Liam Brady |
| - | FW | ENG | Brian Kidd |
| - | FW | ENG | John Radford |
| No. | Pos. | Nation | Player |
| - | MF | ENG | George Armstrong |
| - | MF | ENG | John Matthews |
| - | DF | NIR | Sammy Nelson |
| - | MF | ENG | Brian Hornsby |
| - | FW | ENG | Charlie George |
| - | MF | SCO | Alex Cropley |
| - | DF | ENG | Jeff Blockley |
| - | DF | ENG | Wilf Rostron |
| - | DF | ENG | Richie Powling |
| - | GK | ENG | Geoff Barnett |
| - | MF | ENG | Trevor Ross |
| - | FW | IRL | Frank Stapleton |
| - | MF | ENG | David Price |