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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.
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.
| 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 goalscorer | League: Alan Sunderland (11) All: Alan Sunderland (12) | ||
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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]
[10] 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 | Manchester United | 42 | 22 | 12 | 8 | 59 | 29 | +30 | 78 | Qualification for the UEFA Cup first round |
| 4 | Tottenham Hotspur | 42 | 20 | 11 | 11 | 67 | 48 | +19 | 71 | Qualification for the Cup Winners' Cup first round[a] |
| 5 | Arsenal | 42 | 20 | 11 | 11 | 48 | 37 | +11 | 71 | Qualification for the UEFA Cup first round |
| 6 | Swansea City | 42 | 21 | 6 | 15 | 58 | 51 | +7 | 69 | Qualification for the Cup Winners' Cup preliminary round[b] |
| 7 | Southampton | 42 | 19 | 9 | 14 | 72 | 67 | +5 | 66 | Qualification for the UEFA Cup first round |
Source: World Football
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Goals scored
Notes:
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Goals scored
Notes:
- Tottenham Hotspur qualified for the European Cup Winners' Cup first round as the 1981–82 FA Cup winners.
- Swansea City qualified for the European Cup Winners' Cup preliminary round as the 1982 Welsh Cup winners.
| 29 August 1981 1 | Arsenal | 0–1 | Stoke City | London |
| Stadium: Highbury |
| 2 September 1981 2 | West Bromwich Albion | 0–2 | Arsenal | West Bromwich |
| Stadium: The Hawthorns |
| 12 September 1981 4 | Arsenal | 1–1 | Sunderland | London |
| Stadium: Highbury |
| 19 September 1981 5 | Leeds United | 0–0 | Arsenal | Leeds |
| Stadium: Elland Road |
| 22 September 1981 6 | Arsenal | 1–0 | Birmingham City | London |
| Stadium: Highbury |
| 26 September 1981 7 | Arsenal | 0–0 | Manchester United | London |
| Stadium: Highbury |
| 3 October 1981 8 | Notts County | 2–1 | Arsenal | Nottingham |
| Stadium: Meadow Lane |
| 10 October 1981 9 | Swansea City | 2–0 | Arsenal | Swansea |
| Stadium: Vetch Field |
| 17 October 1981 10 | Arsenal | 1–0 | Manchester City | London |
| Stadium: Highbury |
| 24 October 1981 11 | Ipswich Town | 2–1 | Arsenal | Ipswich |
| Stadium: Portman Road |
| 31 October 1981 12 | Arsenal | 1–0 | Coventry City | London |
| Stadium: Highbury |
| 7 November 1981 13 | Aston Villa | 0–2 | Arsenal | Birmingham |
| Stadium: Villa Park |
| 21 November 1981 14 | Nottingham Forest | 1–2 | Arsenal | Nottingham |
| Stadium: City Ground |
| 5 December 1981 16 | West Ham United | 1–2 | Arsenal | London |
| Stadium: Upton Park |
| 20 January 1982 17 | Stoke City | 0–1 | Arsenal | Stoke on Trent |
| Stadium: Victoria Ground |
| 23 January 1982 18 | Southampton | 3–1 | Arsenal | Southampton |
| Stadium: The Dell |
| 26 January 1982 19 | Arsenal | 0–0 | Brighton & Hove Albion | London |
| Stadium: Highbury |
| 30 January 1982 20 | Arsenal | 1–0 | Leeds United | London |
| Stadium: Highbury |
| 2 February 1982 21 | Arsenal | 2–1 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | London |
| Stadium: Highbury |
| 6 February 1982 22 | Sunderland | 0–0 | Arsenal | Sunderland |
| Stadium: Roker Park |
| 13 February 1982 23 | Arsenal | 1–0 | Notts County | London |
| Stadium: Highbury |
| 16 February 1982 24 | Arsenal | 1–0 | Middlesbrough | London |
| Stadium: Highbury |
| 20 February 1982 25 | Manchester United | 0–0 | Arsenal | Manchester |
| Stadium: Old Trafford |
| 27 February 1982 26 | Arsenal | 0–2 | Swansea City | London |
| Stadium: Highbury |
| 6 March 1982 27 | Manchester City | 0–0 | Arsenal | Manchester |
| Stadium: Maine Road |
| 13 March 1982 28 | Arsenal | 1–0 | Ipswich Town | London |
| Stadium: Highbury |
| 16 March 1982 29 | Arsenal | 2–2 | West Bromwich Albion | London |
| Stadium: Highbury |
| 20 March 1982 30 | Coventry City | 1–0 | Arsenal | Coventry |
| Stadium: Highfield Road |
| 27 March 1982 31 | Arsenal | 4–3 | Aston Villa | London |
| Stadium: Highbury |
| 29 March 1982 32 | Tottenham Hotspur | 2–2 | Arsenal | London |
| Stadium: White Hart Lane |
| 3 April 1982 33 | Wolverhapton Wanderers | 1–1 | Arsenal | Wolverhampton |
| Stadium: Molineux |
| 10 April 1982 34 | Brighton & Hove Albion | 2–1 | Arsenal | Brighton |
| Stadium: Goldstone Ground |
| 12 April 1982 35 | Arsenal | 1–3 | Tottenham Hotspur | London |
| Stadium: Highbury |
| 17 April 1982 36 | Arsenal | 2–0 | Nottingham Forest | London |
| Stadium: Highbury |
| 24 April 1982 37 | Everton | 2–1 | Arsenal | Liverpool |
| Stadium: Goodison Park |
| 1 May 1982 38 | Arsenal | 2–0 | West Ham United | London |
| Stadium: Highbury |
| 4 May 1982 39 | Birmingham City | 0–1 | Arsenal | Birmingham |
| Stadium: St Andrew's |
| 8 May 1982 40 | Middlesbrough | 1–3 | Arsenal | Middlesbrough |
| Stadium: Ayresome Park |
| 15 May 1982 42 | Arsenal | 4–1 | Southampton | London |
| Stadium: Highbury |
Football League Cup
| 6 October 1981 Second round (1st Leg) | Sheffield United | 1–0 | Arsenal | Sheffield |
| Stadium: Bramel Lane |
| 27 October 1981 Second round (2nd Leg) | Arsenal | 2–0 (2–1 agg.) | Sheffield United | London |
| Stadium: Highbury |
| 10 November 1981 Third round | Arsenal | 1–0 | Norwich City | London |
| Stadium: Highbury |
FA Cup
Arsenal entered the FA Cup in the third round proper, in which they were drawn to face Tottenham Hotspur.
| 2 January 1982 Third round | Tottenham Hotspur | 1–0 | Arsenal | London |
| Stadium: White Hart Lane |
UEFA Cup
| 16 September 1981 First round (1st Leg) | Panathinaikos  | 0–2 |  Arsenal | Athens |
| Stadium: Leoforos Stadium |
| 30 September 1981 First round (2nd Leg) | Arsenal | 1–0 (4–0 agg.) | Panathinaikos | London |
| Stadium: Highbury |
| 21 October 1981 Second round (1st Leg) | FC Winterslag  | 1–0 | Arsenal | Genk |
| Stadium: Winterslag Stadium |
| 3 November 1981 Second round (2nd Leg) | Arsenal | 2–1 (2–2 agg.) | FC Winterslag | London |
| Stadium: Highbury |
First Division
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