1978–79 Arsenal F.C. season

The 1978–79 season was Arsenal Football Club's 53rd consecutive season in the Football League First Division. The club finished seventh in the league but won the 1978-79 FA Cup. It was their second of three consecutive FA Cup finals under manager Terry Neill. Known as the "Five Minute Final," Arsenal went 2-0 up until the 85th minute, before Manchester United brought it to a tie. Alan Sunderland scored the winning goal for Arsenal and Arsenal won the FA Cup 3-2.

Arsenal F.C.

1978–79 season
Chairman	Denis Hill-Wood
Manager	Terry Neill
First Division	7th
FA Cup	Winners
League Cup	Second round
UEFA Cup	Third round
Top goalscorer	League: Frank Stapleton (17) All: Frank Stapleton (28)
Home colours Away colours
← 1977–78 1979–80 →

Arsenal were rather less successful in other cup competitions, going out to Rotherham United in the second round in the League Cup. The team had qualified for the UEFA Cup by finishing fifth the previous season, but went out in the third round to Red Star Belgrade.

In the transfer market, Neill brought in Brian Talbot from Ipswich Town halfway through the season to strengthen Arsenal's midfield, especially with a tough cup run. Paul Barron was brought in as the understudy to goalkeeper Pat Jennings at the beginning of the season.^[1]

Season summary

Arsenal had their first trophy since 1971, when they won the FA Cup final against Manchester United. Terry Neill had what was to be his only trophy as manager,^[2] and became the fifth Arsenal manager to win the FA Cup.

Arsenal had earned a place in the UEFA Cup with a fifth-place finish in the 1977-78 Football League. They faced Lokomotiv Leipzig, Hajduk Split (a game which brought Liam Brady's first goal in Europe), and Red Star Belgrade. Arsenal were eliminated by Red Star Belgrade in the third round of the competition. The Serbian side won 2-1 on aggregate, and the crucial last minute goal was scored by Dusan Savic at Highbury.^[3][4] In the League Cup, Arsenal went out early, losing 3-1 to Rotherham United.

For a while Arsenal had flirted with the notion of winning the league as they sat in the top four by Christmas, but the marathon battle with Sheffield Wednesday in January 1979 had put all the focus on the FA Cup, and league results had been at best average in the second half of the season.^[5]

However, the focus on the FA Cup paid dividends as Arsenal reached the "Five Minute Final." Arsenal's toughest opponent in the run up had been Third Division side managed by Jack Charlton, Sheffield Wednesday. The tie went to five matches in sixteen days. Arsenal won the fourth replay 2-0.^[6][7] After the first replay, Arsenal bought Brian Talbot from Ipswich for £400,000, an essential player in the team that had beat Arsenal in the FA Cup final the previous year. Talbot made his FA Cup debut in a 2-0 defeat of Notts Country before Arsenal faced Brian Clough's Nottingham Forest in the fifth round. Arsenal beat Forest 1-0 in a game where Forest hit the woodwork three times. It was Forest's first home defeat in 52 matches. Arsenal then beat Southampton in a replay, though lost Brady to injury thirty minutes from the end. Arsenal next faced Wolves under new manager John Barnwell in the semifinal. Alan Sunderland scored the second goal against his former club.^[4][5]

Arsenal faced Manchester United the FA Cup final. United had beaten the world-class Liverpool in the semifinal and Arsenal had played 9 games in 34 days (about 1 in every 4 days) in the run up to the final.^[5] Arsenal scored twice through Sunderland and Talbot. However, with five minutes remaining in the match, United recovered with goals from Gordon McQueen and Sammy McIlroy. From the second kick-off, Brady booted a pass to Graham Rix who crossed to the far post for Sunderland. United goalkeeper Gary Bailey misjudged the cross and Sunderland scored. Arsenal won the final, 3-2, with three goals of the five goals scored in the last five minutes of the match.^[4][5][8] Arsenal qualified for the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup with the victory.

After the season, Brady announced that he would leave the club when his contract ran out in 1980, hoping for a new challenge in European football.^[4] Malcolm Macdonald announced his retirement in August 1979 at just 29 years old. ^[9][10]

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  NIR Pat Jennings - DF  NIR Pat Rice - DF  NIR Sammy Nelson - MF  ENG Brian Talbot - DF  IRL David O'Leary - DF  SCO Willie Young - MF  IRL Liam Brady - FW  ENG Alan Sunderland - FW  IRL Frank Stapleton - MF  ENG David Price - MF  ENG Graham Rix

No. Pos. Nation Player - MF  ENG Steve Walford - DF  ENG Steve Gatting - DF  IRL John Devine - MF  ENG Mark Heeley - FW  ENG Malcolm Macdonald - GK  ENG Paul Barron - MF  NIR Jim Harvey - DF  ENG Kevin Stead - FW  ENG Paul Vaessen - DF  ENG Steve Brignall - FW  AUS John Kosmina - MF  ENG Brian McDermott

^[11]

Results

First Division

Main article: 1978–79 Football League § First Division

Pos	Team v t e	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	Qualification or relegation
5	Leeds United	42	18	14	10	70	52	+18	50	Qualification for the UEFA Cup first round
6	Ipswich Town	42	20	9	13	63	49	+14	49
7	Arsenal	42	17	14	11	61	48	+13	48	Qualification for the European Cup Winners' Cup first round[a]
8	Aston Villa	42	15	16	11	59	49	+10	46
9	Manchester United	42	15	15	12	60	63	−3	45

Source: World Football
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Goals scored
Notes:

1. Arsenal qualified for the European Cup Winners' Cup first round as the 1978–79 FA Cup winners.

Arsenal v Leeds United

19 August 1978 1	Arsenal	2–2	Leeds United	London
				Stadium: Highbury

Manchester City v Arsenal

22 August 1978 2	Manchester City	1–1	Arsenal	Manchester
				Stadium: Maine Road

Everton v Arsenal

26 August 1978 3	Everton	1–0	Arsenal	Liverpool
				Stadium: Goodison Park

Arsenal v Queen's Park Rangers

2 September 1978 4	Arsenal	5–1	Queen's Park Rangers	London
				Stadium: Highbury

Nottingham Forest v Arsenal

9 September 1978 5	Nottingham Forest	2–1	Arsenal	Nottingham
				Stadium: City Ground

Arsenal v Bolton Wanderers

16 September 1978 6	Arsenal	1–0	Bolton Wanderers	London
				Stadium: Highbury

Arsenal v Manchester United

23 September 1978 7	Arsenal	1–1	Manchester United	London
				Stadium: Highbury

Middlesbrough v Arsenal

30 September 1978 8	Middlesbrough	2–3	Arsenal	Middlesbrough
				Stadium: Ayresome Park

Arsenal v Aston Villa

7 October 1978 9	Arsenal	1–1	Aston Villa	London
				Stadium: Highbury

Wolverhampton Wanderers v Arsenal

14 October 1978 10	Wolverhampton Wanderers	1–0	Arsenal	Wolverhampton
				Stadium: Molineux

Arsenal v Southampton

21 October 1978 11	Arsenal	1–0	Southampton	London
				Stadium: Highbury

Bristol City v Arsenal

28 October 1978 12	Bristol City	1–3	Arsenal	Bristol
				Stadium: Ashton Gate

Arsenal v Ipswich Town

4 November 1978 13	Arsenal	4–1	Ipswich Town	London
				Stadium: Highbury

Leeds United v Arsenal

11 November 1978 14	Leeds United	0–1	Arsenal	Leeds
				Stadium: Elland Road

Arsenal v Everton

18 November 1978 15	Arsenal	2–2	Everton	London
				Stadium: Highbury

Coventry City v Arsenal

25 November 1978 16	Coventry City	1–1	Arsenal	Coventry
				Stadium: Highfield Road

Arsenal v Liverpool

2 December 1978 17	Arsenal	1–0	Liverpool	London
				Stadium: Highbury

Norwich City v Arsenal

9 December 1978 18	Norwich City	0–0	Arsenal	Norwich
				Stadium: Carrow Road

Arsenal v Derby County

16 December 1978 19	Arsenal	2–0	Derby County	London
				Stadium: Highbury

Tottenham Hotspur v Arsenal

23 December 1978 20	Tottenham Hotspur	0–5	Arsenal	London
				Stadium: White Hart Lane

Arsenal v West Bromwich Albion

26 December 1978 21	Arsenal	1–2	West Bromwich Albion	London
				Stadium: Highbury

Arsenal v Birmingham City

30 December 1978 22	Arsenal	3–1	Birmingham City	London
				Stadium: Highbury

Arsenal v Nottingham Forest

13 January 1979 23	Arsenal	2–1	Nottingham Forest	London
				Stadium: Highbury

Manchester United v Arsenal

3 February 1979 24	Manchester United	0–2	Arsenal	Manchester
				Stadium: Old Trafford

Arsenal v Middlesbrough

10 February 1979 25	Arsenal	0–0	Middlesbrough	London
				Stadium: Highbury

Queen's Park Rangers v Arsenal

13 February 1979 26	Queen's Park Rangers	1–2	Arsenal	London
				Stadium: Loftus Road

Arsenal v Wolverhampton Wanderers

24 February 1979 27	Arsenal	0–1	Wolverhampton Wanderers	London
				Stadium: Highbury

Southampton v Arsenal

3 March 1979 28	Southampton	2–0	Arsenal	Southampton
				Stadium: The Dell

Arsenal v Bristol City

10 March 1979 29	Arsenal	2–0	Bristol City	London
				Stadium: Highbury

Ipswich Town v Arsenal

17 March 1979 30	Ipswich Town	2–0	Arsenal	Ipswich Town
				Stadium: Portman Road

Arsenal v Manchester City

24 March 1979 31	Arsenal	1–1	Manchester City	London
				Stadium: Highbury

Bolton Wanderers v Arsenal

26 March 1979 32	Bolton Wanderers	4–2	Arsenal	Bolton
				Stadium: Burnden Park

Arsenal v Coventry City

3 April 1979 33	Arsenal	1–1	Coventry City	London
				Stadium: Highbury

Liverpool v Arsenal

7 April 1979 34	Liverpool	3–0	Arsenal	Liverpool
				Stadium: Anfield

Arsenal v Tottenham Hotspur

10 April 1979 35	Arsenal	1–0	Tottenham Hotspur	London
				Stadium: Highbury

West Bromwich Albion v Arsenal

14 April 1979 36	West Bromwich Albion	1–1	Arsenal	West Bromwich
				Stadium: The Hawthorns

Arsenal v Chelsea

16 April 1979 37	Arsenal	5–2	Chelsea	London
				Stadium: Highbury

Derby County v Arsenal

21 April 1979 38	Derby County	2–0	Arsenal	Derby
				Stadium: Baseball Ground

Aston Villa v Arsenal

25 April 1979 39	Aston Villa	5–1	Arsenal	Birmingham
				Stadium: Villa Park

Arsenal v Norwich City

28 April 1979 40	Arsenal	1–1	Norwich City	London
				Stadium: Highbury

Birmingham City v Arsenal

5 May 1979 41	Birmingham City	0–0	Arsenal	Birmingham
				Stadium: St Andrew's

Chelsea v Arsenal

19 May 1979 42	Chelsea	1–1	Arsenal	London
				Stadium: Stamford Bridge

Football League Cup

Main article: 1978–79 Football League Cup

Rotherham United v Arsenal

29 August 1978 Second round	Rotherham United	3–1	Arsenal	Rotherham
				Stadium: Millmoor

FA Cup

Main article: 1978–79 FA Cup

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

Sheffield Wednesday v Arsenal

6 January 1979 Third round	Sheffield Wednesday	1–1	Arsenal	Sheffield
	Johnson		Sunderland	Stadium: Hillsborough Stadium

Arsenal v Sheffield Wednesday

9 January 1979 Third round replay	Arsenal	1–1	Sheffield Wednesday	London
	Brady		Wylde	Stadium: Highbury

Sheffield Wednesday v Arsenal

15 January 1979 Third round 2nd replay	Sheffield Wednesday	2–2 (aet)	Arsenal	Leicester
	Hornsby (2, 1 pen)		Brady Sunderland	Stadium: Filbert Street

Arsenal v Sheffield Wednesday

17 January 1979 Third round 3rd replay	Arsenal	3–3 (aet)	Sheffield Wednesday	Leicester
	Stapleton (2) Young		Rushbury Lowey Hornsby (pen)	Stadium: Filbert Street

Sheffield Wednesday v Arsenal

22 January 1979 Third round 4th replay	Sheffield Wednesday	0–2	Arsenal	Leicester
			Gatting Stapleton	Stadium: Filbert Street

Arsenal v Notts County

27 January 1979 Fourth round	Arsenal	2–0	Notts County	London
	Talbot Young			Stadium: Highbury

Nottingham Forest v Arsenal

26 February 1979 Fifth round	Nottingham Forest	0–1	Arsenal	Nottingham
			Stapleton 78'	Stadium: City Ground

Southampton v Arsenal

19 March 1979 Sixth round	Southampton	1–1	Arsenal	Southampton
	Hayes		Price	Stadium: The Dell

Arsenal v Southampton

21 March 1979 Sixth round replay	Arsenal	2–0	Southampton	London
	Sunderland 32', 75'			Stadium: Highbury

Arsenal v Wolverhampton Wanderers

28 April 1979 Semi-Final	Arsenal	2–0	Wolverhampton Wanderers	Birmingham
	Stapleton 50' Sunderland 79'			Stadium: Villa Park

Arsenal v Manchester United

12 May 1979 Final	Arsenal	3–2	Manchester United	London
	Talbot 12' Stapleton 43' Sunderland 89'		McQueen 86' McIlroy 88'	Stadium: Wembley Stadium Attendance: 100,000

UEFA Cup

Main article: 1978–79 UEFA Cup

Arsenal v Lokomotive Leipzig

13 September 1978 First round (1st Leg)	Arsenal	3–0	Lokomotive Leipzig	London
				Stadium: Highbury

Lokomotive Leipzig v Arsenal

27 September 1978 First round (2nd Leg)	Lokomotive Leipzig	1–4 (1–7 agg.)	Arsenal	Leipzig
				Stadium: Bruno-Plache-Stadion

Hajduk Split v Arsenal

19 October 1978 Second round (1st Leg)	Hajduk Split	2–1	Arsenal	Split
				Stadium: Plinara Stadion

Arsenal v Hajduk Split

1 November 1978 Second round (2nd Leg)	Arsenal	1–0 (2–2 agg.)	Hajduk Split	London
				Stadium: Highbury

Red Star Belgrade v Arsenal

22 November 1978 Third Round (1st Leg)	Red Star Belgrade	1–0	Arsenal	Belgrade
				Stadium: Red Star Stadium

Arsenal v Red Star Belgrade

6 December 1978 Third Round (2nd Leg)	Arsenal	1–1 (1–2 agg.)	Red Star Belgrade	London
				Stadium: Highbury

Top scorers

First Division

• Frank Stapleton 17
• Liam Brady 13
• Alan Sunderland 9

^[12]

References

1. "Paul Barron". Arsenal. Archived from the original on 7 February 2023. Retrieved 5 November 2023.
2. Mason, Peter (31 July 2022). "Terry Neill obituary". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 10 October 2023. Retrieved 5 November 2023.
3. "Iz arhive: Kako smo bacili Arsenal na kolena". FK Crvena Zvezda (in Bosnian). 3 September 2020. Archived from the original on 5 November 2023.
4. Soar, Phil; Tyler, Martin (1995). Arsenal: Official History. London: Hamlyn. pp. 194–197. ISBN 0600588262.
5. Atwood, Tony (18 March 2014). "How Arsenal won the FA Cup in 1979". The History of Arsenal. Archived from the original on 2 July 2022. Retrieved 5 November 2023.
6. Pye, Steven (23 September 2023). "When Arsenal won the FA Cup ... after playing four replays in the same round". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 3 November 2023.
7. "Sheffield Wednesday v Arsenal, 1979 FA Cup". The 1888 Letter. 12 January 2019. Archived from the original on 8 October 2023.
8. Brodkin, Jon (19 May 2005). "Five minutes that will live forever". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 3 November 2023. Retrieved 5 November 2023.
9. Soar, Phil (2003). The official illustrerad history of Arsenal. Hamlyn. p. 134.
10. "Malcom Macdonald". Arsenal. Archived from the original on 5 November 2023.
11. "All Arsenal players: 1979". 11 vs 11. Archived from the original on 19 October 2023.
12. "Arsenal First Team Line ups". The Arsenal History. 1 April 2022. Archived from the original on 28 October 2023. Retrieved 1 April 2022.

External links

• Arsenal 1978–79 on statto.com