1981–82 Arsenal F.C. season

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The 1981-82 season was Arsenal Football Club's 56th consecutive season in the top flight of English football. The club ended their campaign fifth in the Football League First Division. After losing Liam Brady in 1980, Arsenal lost Frank Stapleton, Arsenal's 1980-81 top scorer, to Manchester United. Pat Rice also departed Arsenal for Watford and David O'Leary assumed the captaincy.

Contents

Losing to Stoke at home on opening day boded poorly for the season. In January, goalkeeper Pat Jennings was injured and George Wood took his place. Arsenal also performed poorly in cup competitions, losing to rivals Tottenham Hotspur in the third round of the FA Cup and to Belgian semi-professional team KFC Winterslag in the UEFA Cup.

Alan Sunderland was Arsenal's top scorer. However, he only slightly improved on his previous goalscoring form, and Arsenal continuously suffered from a lack of goals.

JVC were the team's first shirt sponsor, the first time Arsenal had ever had the name of a sponsor on their shirts.

Arsenal F.C.
1981–82 season
Chairman Denis Hill-Wood
Manager Terry Neill
First Division 5th
FA Cup Third Round
League Cup Fourth Round
UEFA Cup Second Round
Top goalscorerLeague: Alan Sunderland (11)
All: Alan Sunderland (12)
←  1980–81
1982–83  →

Season summary

The start of the 1981/82 season went poorly for Arsenal manager Terry Neill. After losing Liam Brady in the summer of 1980, Frank Stapleton was the next star to leave Highbury, joining Manchester United in August 1981. Arsenal received only £1.5 million for the departure of their two stars, making it difficult to find replacements. [1] Captain Pat Rice also left the club, departing for Watford. [2] David O'Leary became the captain. [3]

Terry Neill made several purchases but could not fill the team's absences. John Hawley joined Arsenal from Sunderland for £51,000 and scored 3 goals in 20 games, but he was soon sent on consecutive loans to Leyton Orient and Hull City. [4] Hawley's former strike partner Ray Hankin briefly joined Arsenal from the Vancouver Whitecaps, but he appeared only twice (both times as a substitute in the League Cup) and no permanent move ensued. [5]

This season was the first season that Arsenal bore the name of a sponsor on their shirts. The Japan Victor Company, or JVC as they’re better known, had the honour of being Arsenal’s first shirt sponsor.  

A third-place finish during the previous campaign had seen Neill’s men go through the season unbeaten at home. But alarm bells immediately chimed when Stoke left Highbury victorious on the opening day of the 81/82 season. Five defeats in their first twelve League matches indicated that all was not well, and more worryingly the team had scored just eight goals in the process of slumping to 14th place in the table.

There was a welcome distraction in the UEFA Cup. Two wins against Panathinaikos, saw the club go through to the next round. And when Belgian part-timers Winterslag were paired with Arsenal in the draw for the second round, it looked as if Neill could at least look forward to another European trip in the last 16 of the competition. But again, Arsenal would pay for their wastefulness in front of goal. Arsenal won the second leg 2-1, but went out on the away goals rule and they were stunned when Winterslag went through. In fairness to Neill, the team did respond well after the Winterslag debacle. Five straight league wins, and just six defeats in the remaining 30 matches saw the club finish fifth in the League.

On 2 January 1982 Pat Jennings found himself on the treatment table, after a disappointing FA Cup third round exit, 0-1 against Tottenham Hotspur after an error by Jennings, and a groin injury forced him to limp off with 15 minutes to go. Due to substitution rules at the time, Peter Nicholas (beset by his own injury problems throughout the season) took to the goal. Scottish keeper George Wood assumed the No 1 spot until the end of the season. [6] [7] [8] [9]

Squad

[10] Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No.Pos.NationPlayer
— GK Flag of Scotland.svg  SCO George Wood
— DF Flag of England.svg  ENG John Hollins
— DF Flag of England.svg  ENG Kenny Sansom
— MF Flag of England.svg  ENG Brian Talbot
— DF Flag of Ireland.svg  IRL David O'Leary
— DF Flag of England.svg  ENG Chris Whyte
— MF Flag of England.svg  ENG Stewart Robson
— MF Flag of England.svg  ENG Paul Davis
— FW Flag of England.svg  ENG Alan Sunderland
— MF Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg  WAL Peter Nicholas
— MF Flag of England.svg  ENG Graham Rix
No.Pos.NationPlayer
— GK Ulster Banner.svg  NIR Pat Jennings
— FW Flag of England.svg  ENG John Hawley
— DF Flag of Ireland.svg  IRL John Devine
— DF Flag of Scotland.svg  SCO Willie Young
— MF Flag of England.svg  ENG Brian McDermott
— FW Flag of England.svg  ENG Paul Vaessen
— FW Flag of England.svg  ENG Raphael Meade
— MF Flag of Ireland.svg  IRL Paul Gorman
— FW Flag of England.svg  ENG Ray Hankin

Results

First Division

PosTeam
PldWDLGFGAGDPtsQualification or relegation
3 Manchester United 42221285929+3078Qualification for the UEFA Cup first round
4 Tottenham Hotspur 422011116748+1971Qualification for the Cup Winners' Cup first round [lower-alpha 1]
5 Arsenal 422011114837+1171Qualification for the UEFA Cup first round
6 Swansea City 42216155851+769Qualification for the Cup Winners' Cup preliminary round [lower-alpha 2]
7 Southampton 42199147267+566Qualification for the UEFA Cup first round
Source: World Football
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Goals scored
Notes:
  1. ↑ Tottenham Hotspur qualified for the European Cup Winners' Cup first round as the 1981–82 FA Cup winners.
  2. ↑ Swansea City qualified for the European Cup Winners' Cup preliminary round as the 1982 Welsh Cup winners.
29 August 19811 Arsenal 0–1 Stoke City London
Stadium: Highbury
5 September 19813 Liverpool 2–0 Arsenal Liverpool
Stadium: Anfield
12 September 19814 Arsenal 1–1 Sunderland London
Stadium: Highbury
19 September 19815 Leeds United 0–0 Arsenal Leeds
Stadium: Elland Road
22 September 19816 Arsenal 1–0 Birmingham City London
Stadium: Highbury
26 September 19817 Arsenal 0–0 Manchester United London
Stadium: Highbury
3 October 19818 Notts County 2–1 Arsenal Nottingham
Stadium: Meadow Lane
10 October 19819 Swansea City 2–0 Arsenal Swansea
Stadium: Vetch Field
17 October 198110 Arsenal 1–0 Manchester City London
Stadium: Highbury
24 October 198111 Ipswich Town 2–1 Arsenal Ipswich
Stadium: Portman Road
31 October 198112 Arsenal 1–0 Coventry City London
Stadium: Highbury
7 November 198113 Aston Villa 0–2 Arsenal Birmingham
Stadium: Villa Park
28 November 198115 Arsenal 1–0 Everton London
Stadium: Highbury
5 December 198116 West Ham United 1–2 Arsenal London
Stadium: Upton Park
20 January 198217 Stoke City 0–1 Arsenal Stoke on Trent
Stadium: Victoria Ground
23 January 198218 Southampton 3–1 Arsenal Southampton
Stadium: The Dell
30 January 198220 Arsenal 1–0 Leeds United London
Stadium: Highbury
6 February 198222 Sunderland 0–0 Arsenal Sunderland
Stadium: Roker Park
13 February 198223 Arsenal 1–0 Notts County London
Stadium: Highbury
16 February 198224 Arsenal 1–0 Middlesbrough London
Stadium: Highbury
27 February 198226 Arsenal 0–2 Swansea City London
Stadium: Highbury
13 March 198228 Arsenal 1–0 Ipswich Town London
Stadium: Highbury
27 March 198231 Arsenal 4–3 Aston Villa London
Stadium: Highbury
24 April 198237 Everton 2–1 Arsenal Liverpool
Stadium: Goodison Park
11 May 198241 Arsenal 1–1 Liverpool London
Stadium: Highbury
15 May 198242 Arsenal 4–1 Southampton London
Stadium: Highbury

Football League Cup

6 October 1981Second round
(1st Leg)		 Sheffield United 1–0 Arsenal Sheffield
Stadium: Bramel Lane
27 October 1981Second round
(2nd Leg)		 Arsenal 2–0
(2–1 agg.)		 Sheffield United London
Stadium: Highbury
10 November 1981Third round Arsenal 1–0 Norwich City London
Stadium: Highbury
1 December 1981Fourth round Arsenal 0–0 Liverpool London
Stadium: Highbury
8 December 1981Fourth round
replay		 Liverpool 3–0 (aet) Arsenal Liverpool
Stadium: Anfield

FA Cup

Arsenal entered the FA Cup in the third round proper, in which they were drawn to face Tottenham Hotspur.

2 January 1982Third round Tottenham Hotspur 1–0 Arsenal London
Stadium: White Hart Lane

UEFA Cup

16 September 1981First round
(1st Leg)		 Panathinaikos Flag of Greece.svg 0–2 Flag of England.svg Arsenal Athens
Stadium: Leoforos Stadium
30 September 1981First round
(2nd Leg)		 Arsenal Flag of England.svg 1–0
(4–0 agg.)		 Flag of Greece.svg Panathinaikos London
Stadium: Highbury
21 October 1981Second round
(1st Leg)		 FC Winterslag Flag of Belgium (civil).svg 1–0 Flag of England.svg Arsenal Genk
Stadium: Winterslag Stadium
3 November 1981Second round
(2nd Leg)		 Arsenal Flag of England.svg 2–1
(2–2 agg.)		 Flag of Belgium (civil).svg FC Winterslag London
Stadium: Highbury

Top scorers

First Division

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References

  1. ↑ Soar, Phil; Tyler, Martin (1986). Arsenal 1886-1986: the official centenary history of Arsenal Football Club. Twickenham: Hamlyn. p. 244. ISBN   9780600358718.
  2. ↑ "Pat Rice". Arsenal. Archived from the original on 22 May 2017. Retrieved 27 October 2023.
  3. ↑ "David O'Leary". Arsenal. Archived from the original on 28 January 2023. Retrieved 27 October 2023.
  4. ↑ "John Hawley". Arsenal. Archived from the original on 12 January 2014. Retrieved 27 October 2023.
  5. ↑ Kelly, Andy (27 December 2013). "The Arsenal Legend Who Only Played 110 Minutes". The Arsenal History. Archived from the original on 8 December 2022. Retrieved 27 October 2023.
  6. ↑ Pye, Steven (6 October 2016). "Great goalkeeping gaffes: from John Lukic to Erik Thorstvedt via Pat Jennings". TheGuardian.com . Archived from the original on 7 November 2022.
  7. ↑ The Gooner Magazine issue 270
  8. ↑ Soar, Phil (2003). The Official Illustrated History of Arsenal. Hamlyn.
  9. ↑ "thearsenalhistory". 10 April 2022.
  10. ↑ Arsenal and Man United in hunt for Germany U-21 ace. "Arsenal FC - Kader 1980/1981". Worldfootball.net. Retrieved 19 August 2012.
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