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The 1977–78 season was Arsenal Football Club's 52nd consecutive season in the Football League First Division. It was Terry Neill's second season as manager. Arsenal finished fifth in the league. In cup play, Arsenal reached the semi-finals in the League Cup, losing to the previous season's league and European champions Liverpool. Arsenal were also in the finals of the FA Cup, the first of three consecutive FA Cup finals that Arsenal would reach under Neill. They lost 1-0 to Ipswich.
| 1977–78 season | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Chairman | Denis Hill-Wood | ||
| Manager | Terry Neill | ||
| First Division | 5th | ||
| FA Cup | Finalists | ||
| League Cup | Semi-Finalists | ||
| Top goalscorer | League: Malcolm Macdonald (15) All: Malcolm Macdonald (26) | ||
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In the transfer business, Pat Jennings joined the club from Tottenham Hotspur. He would go on to make over two-hundred appearances for Arsenal. Alan Sunderland joined Arsenal at centre forward where he would remain an important player for several seasons. Neill also brought in Don Howe as an assistant.
Malcom Macdonald was again Arsenal's top scorer.
Beginning with a difficult pre-season tour in Singapore and Australia, Terry Neill struggled with Malcolm Macdonald and Alan Hudson and disciplined them due to poor behavior. Arsenal had relied heavily especially on Macdonald in previous seasons and the management was hoping to strengthen team play, which Macdonald found difficult at times.[1]
After an eighth place finish in Neill's first season, the manager was looking to improve the squad. First, he brought in former Arsenal player and coach Don Howe for £40,000 as his assistant.[2] Neill then looked to improve Arsenal's goalkeeping in the transfer market. Jimmy Rimmer, a solid performer in the 1975-76 season as Arsenal fought relegation, moved to Aston Villa. In came Pat Jennings at age 32 after spending thirteen years at Tottenham.[3] Arsenal also brought in striker Alan Sunderland from Wolves for £70,000.[1] Outgoing players included left-back Wilf Rostron,[4] and midfielder (and former academy player) Trevor Ross.[5]
Arsenal began the season with a 1-0 loss to Ipswich while playing in a hailstorm in what would be an echo of the FA Cup final later in the season. Arsenal, though performing better than the previous season, struggled with the squad depth to challenge for the league championship. They ended up fifth in league play.[1]
In the League Cup, Arsenal beat Hull and Southampton at Highbury before going to a second game against Manchester City in the quarterfinals. Macdonald won a penalty which was put in by Liam Brady, who at that point had scored a goal every round. Arsenal then faced Liverpool, English and European Champions, in the semifinals. Arsenal lost 2-1 at Anfield, followed by a goalless draw at Highbury.[1]
In the FA Cup, Arsenal beat Manchester United 3-2 in the second-round tie at Highbury. They then faced Walsall who had knocked Arsenal out of the FA Cup 45 years previous, beating them 4-1 soon after their semifinal loss to Liverpool in the League Cup. Arsenal beat Wrexham 3-2 in the next round before clearing Orient 3-0 in the semifinal. Arsenal was to face Bobby Robson's Ipswich in the final. Arsenal struggled with injury problems,[6] with Sunderland recovering from a broken foot, Macdonald requiring a knee operation, and Brady being carried off with an injured ankle versus Liverpool. All of them featured in the game. Roger Osborne scored the only goal for Ipswich. Macdonald went into surgery three days later, the beginning of the end of his career.[1]
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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First Division
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification or relegation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | Everton | 42 | 22 | 11 | 9 | 76 | 45 | +31 | 55 | Qualification for the UEFA Cup first round |
| 4 | Manchester City | 42 | 20 | 12 | 10 | 74 | 51 | +23 | 52 | |
| 5 | Arsenal | 42 | 21 | 10 | 11 | 60 | 37 | +23 | 52 | |
| 6 | West Bromwich Albion | 42 | 18 | 14 | 10 | 62 | 53 | +9 | 50 | |
| 7 | Coventry City | 42 | 18 | 12 | 12 | 75 | 62 | +13 | 48 |
Source: World Football
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Goals scored
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Goals scored
| 20 August 1977 1 | Ipswich Town | 1–0 | Arsenal | Ipswich |
| Stadium: Portman Road |
| 27 August 1977 3 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 1–1 | Arsenal | Wolverhampton |
| Stadium: Highbury |
| 3 September 1977 4 | Arsenal | 3–0 | Nottingham Forest | London |
| Stadium: Highbury |
| 10 September 1977 5 | Aston Villa | 1–0 | Arsenal | Birmingham |
| Stadium: Villa Park |
| 17 September 1977 6 | Arsenal | 2–1 | Leicester City | London |
| Stadium: Highbury |
| 24 September 1977 7 | Norwich City | 1–0 | Arsenal | Norwich |
| Stadium: Carrow Road |
| 1 October 1977 8 | Arsenal | 3–0 | West Ham United | London |
| Stadium: Highbury |
| 8 October 1977 10 | Manchester City | 2–1 | Arsenal | Manchester |
| Stadium: Maine Road |
| 15 October 1977 11 | Arsenal | 1–0 | Queen's Park Rangers | London |
| Stadium: Highbury |
| 22 October 1977 12 | Bristol City | 0–2 | Arsenal | Bristol |
| Stadium: Ashton Gate |
| 29 October 1977 13 | Arsenal | 1–1 | Birmingham City | London |
| Stadium: Highbury |
| 5 November 1977 14 | Manchester United | 1–2 | Arsenal | Manchester |
| Stadium: Old Trafford |
| 12 November 1977 15 | Arsenal | 1–1 | Coventry City | London |
| Stadium: Highbury |
| 19 November 1977 16 | Newcastle United | 1–2 | Arsenal | Newcastle Upon Tyne |
| Stadium: St James' Park |
| 26 November 1977 17 | Arsenal | 1–3 | Derby County | London |
| Stadium: Highbury |
| 3 December 1977 18 | Middlesbrough | 0–1 | Arsenal | Middlesbrough |
| Stadium: Ayresome Park |
| 10 December 1977 19 | Arsenal | 1–1 | Leeds United | London |
| Stadium: Highbury |
| 17 December 1977 20 | Coventry City | 1–2 | Arsenal | Coventry |
| Stadium: Highfield Road |
| 27 December 1977 22 | West Bromwich Albion | 1–3 | Arsenal | West Bromwich |
| Stadium: The Hawthorns |
| 31 December 1977 23 | Everton | 2–0 | Arsenal | Liverpool |
| Stadium: Goodison Park |
| 2 January 1978 24 | Arsenal | 1–0 | Ipswich Town | London |
| Stadium: Highbury |
| 14 January 1978 25 | Arsenal | 3–1 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | London |
| Stadium: Highbury |
| 21 January 1978 26 | Nottingham Forest | 2–0 | Arsenal | Nottingham |
| Stadium: City Ground |
| 4 February 1978 27 | Arsenal | 0–1 | Aston Villa | London |
| Stadium: Highbury |
| 11 February 1978 28 | Leicester City | 1–1 | Arsenal | Leicester |
| Stadium: Filbert Street |
| 25 February 1978 29 | West Ham United | 2–2 | Arsenal | London |
| Stadium: Upton Park |
| 28 February 1978 30 | Arsenal | 0–0 | Norwich City | London |
| Stadium: Highbury |
| 4 March 1978 31 | Arsenal | 3–0 | Manchester City | London |
| Stadium: Highbury |
| 18 March 1978 32 | Arsenal | 4–1 | Bristol City | London |
| Stadium: Highbury |
| 21 March 1978 33 | Birmingham City | 1–1 | Arsenal | Birmingham |
| Stadium: St Andrew's |
| 25 March 1978 34 | Arsenal | 4–0 | West Bromwich Albion | London |
| Stadium: Highbury |
| 27 March 1978 35 | Chelsea | 0–0 | Arsenal | London |
| Stadium: Stamford Bridge |
| 1 April 1978 36 | Arsenal | 3–1 | Manchester United | London |
| Stadium: Highbury |
| 11 April 1978 37 | Queen's Park Rangers | 2–1 | Arsenal | London |
| Stadium: Loftus Road |
| 15 April 1978 38 | Arsenal | 2–1 | Newcastle United | London |
| Stadium: Highbury |
| 22 April 1978 39 | Leeds United | 1–3 | Arsenal | Leeds |
| Stadium: Elland Road |
| 29 April 1978 41 | Arsenal | 1–0 | Middlesbrough | London |
| Stadium: Highbury |
| 9 May 1978 42 | Derby County | 3–0 | Arsenal | Derby |
| Stadium: Baseball Ground |
Football League Cup
| 30 August 1977 Second round | Arsenal | 3–2 | Manchester United | London |
| Stadium: Highbury |
| 25 October 1977 Third round | Arsenal | 2–0 | Southampton | London |
| Stadium: Highbury |
| 18 January 1978 Quarter-final | Manchester City | 0–0 | Arsenal | Manchester |
| Stadium: Maine Road |
| 24 January 1978 Quarter-final replay | Arsenal | 1–0 | Manchester City | London |
| Stadium: Highbury |
FA Cup
Arsenal entered the FA Cup in the third round proper, in which they were drawn to face Sheffield United.
| 7 January 1978 Third round | Sheffield United | 0–5 | Arsenal | Sheffield |
| Stadium: Bramall Lane |
| 28 January 1978 Fourth round | Arsenal | 2–1 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | London |
| Stadium: Highbury |
| 11 March 1978 Sixth round | Wrexham | 2–3 | Arsenal | Wrexham |
| Stadium: Racecourse Ground |
| 8 April 1978 Semi-Final | Arsenal | 3–0 | Orient | London |
| Stadium: Stamford Bridge |
| 6 May 1978 Final | Arsenal | 0–1 | Ipswich Town | London |
| Stadium: Wembley Stadium Attendance: 100,000 |
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