Celebrating the Double in 1971
Supporting Arsenal is a lifetime commitment. We never switch off. There are highs and lows and sometimes summer sports intervene but come July we are scanning the internet for news of possible new arrivals and arrangements for early season fixtures.
Today is the 45th anniversary of Charlie George’s two goals to beat Manchester City at Maine Road in the Fifth Round of the FA Cup. It was about this time that manager Bertie Mee called the squad together and told them that the Double was on and that they should be prepared to commit themselves every minute of the day to the realisation of that achievement. The run-in had begun. We were off the pace behind Leeds United albeit with games in hand but Revie’s team were the hot favourites – Bremner, Giles, Hunter, Sprake, Madeley, Jones and Clarke. They were formidable and the focus on their strengths enabled Arsenal to avoid the spotlight and the expectation of success. We were not favourites – outside Highbury or even inside.
A double v Man City 45 Years ago in 5th Round
But Bertie was tuned in. He knew there was a race to be run. He knew that Leeds had psychological flaws. Their undoubted strengths were undermined by their fear of falling short. It had happened in earlier seasons and was to dog them throughout Revie’s tenure. He was dominated by superstitions and his mental frailty communicated itself to his players. And yet they were seven points ahead of us (two points for a win not three) but Bertie reminded his players that at Highbury there was more collective confidence than at Elland Road.
Mee Tuned In
Back to the FA Cup and Charlie’s two goals brought us an away tie at Filbert Street against Leicester City. It ended 0-0 although with seconds to go Pat Rice managed to ease Len Glover away from a winning goal as the ball bobbed in the penalty area. The replay at Highbury was memorable for just one moment when Charlie rose at the near post and in the rain to a corner from George Armstrong and headed in at the Clock End. We were now in the semi-final and the nail-biting last minute penalty scored by Peter Storey gave us the equaliser and a replay at Villa Park when we won 2-0 – the second being one of the most beautiful headed goals by George Graham from the D of the penalty area. Wembley beckoned and Charlie was our talisman and scored that famous winning goal after an exchange of passes with John Radford.
Storey semi v Stoke
We all know – Charlie included – that he failed to fully realise his potential and if he had his time again he would have done things differently. As George Bernard Shaw famously said “Youth is a wonderful thing but it is wasted on young people”. But if Bertie was predictable and seemingly unimaginative (he wasn’t but that was how he wanted to be portrayed) then Charlie was inspirational and instinctive. Their combination plus Don Howe and Frank McClintock and the squad of committed and talented players provided the winning formula that carried us to League victory at White Hart Lane on 3 May 1971 and five days later to the FA Cup win over Liverpool at Wembley.
History does not repeat itself but it does produce parallels when the present has echoes of the past and this arises today as two league wins have propelled us back into the title race and we approach a home draw against Hull in the 5th Round of the FA Cup. Of course there are differences. Football is different; the media is different; the money is different and the players are different. And we have the complication of the Champions League. But you can imagine Wenger calling his squad together after Welbeck’s last second goal when the collective determination and celebration – written up by Dave Seager so perceptively – was apparent to us all. You can see Arsene looking each of the players in the eye and reminding them that between now and the end of the season the squad will have possibilities of success that has existed in their dreams. Of course Barcelona is an obstacle but so was the win at Anfield in 1989. When the spirit gets you and the excitement fires you things become possible.
2106 Charlie George style Talisman
And in Alexis Sanchez we have another talisman, another Charlie George – the man for the occasion. He always comes good – a period of missed opportunities is only ever a prelude to a spate of goals and the good thing is that we have collected six points without Sanchez doing the business. It is there ahead of us and ready to happen. Charlie ran sixty yards with the ball at his feet to score his memorable second goal at Maine Road. On the pitch he was focused and measured and controlled. Sanchez is the same and looking ahead would anyone bet against him scoring some crucial goals. The first challenge is Hull at the weekend and they are scoring goals and playing with confidence but every opponent is going to be up for beating us. At the same our squad will be up for every match they play in. It is an exciting time to be an Arsenal supporter. We may yet fall short. Football hands out surprises but never has a squad been more ready for the challenge of the run-in.
My name is Graham Perry and I have been a lifelong Arsenal supporter since 1952 when I saw the ten men in red shirts hold out heroically until the 84th minute at Wembley.
The Arsenal thing was confirmed by a meeting with Alex James during Easter 1953. As with most of us it is a family thing with my father always waxing eloquent about the Chapman years.
I am married with four children and five grandchildren. I have been a solicitor in a legal aid practice and have just stepped down after 13 years as an Immigration Judge.
Arsenal is in the blood. The goals and the excitement matter but so does the Community thing and sharing Arsenal with friends and family over so many years.
Want nothing more than to see Wenger hold aloft the Premier League Trophy again.
Great observation as always Graham. It is a pity a lot of our younger fans do not have the memories you conjure up. There were real characters in the game in 1971 and Charlie was undoubtedly one of them.
We are all fans – those, like you and me, with the years and hence a perspective and those of tender years. Every now and then we see possible repeats and a good run now could see us really making our presence felt.Jack to score the winning goal at Wembley? Steady on Perry!
I have argued that with the assets AW has at the moment, perhaps, the play pattern needs to change. I have suggested a 4.1.2.3 system to carry us along the tough run in. We get to play the fullbacks (Bellerin and Monreal) as wingbacks. As fullback they are super but as Wingbacks, we could have two CAFU’s in our hands.Then we have Coquelin playing on a double role as the third centre back and defensive midfielder rolled into one. Then we have Ramsey running box to box, it’s his best area of operation and he has turned it his own in the absence of Carzola and Coquelin. Then Ozil operating at his usual position. However, this time he has in front of him three players aim his assists at. Sanchez operating left wing as a Leftwingfront, he plays through the wings, cuts into centre and attacks from that side. Welbeck comes from the rightwingfront. He too he plays through the wings, cuts into centre and attacks from that side. Giroud get to play centre half and helped by Walcott to keep the fighting going in the second half or vice versa. then, you have Ox-Chamberlain, Campbell, Iwobi etc…Point of note – Each player engages in multiple roles except the goal keeper. Even the two centre backs will find that they need to cover for the fullback once in a while. this results in developing AN EXTRA PLAYER. Against Barcelona for instance we get to give the SGW (Sanchez, Giroud, Welbeck) verses their SNM. This play allows us quick transition from defense to attack (what has worked well for Leicester could be devastating for us) against any opposition including Barca, Real, Bayern and the likes. The pattern will help develop into a 5 defensive setup quickly to stop the attackers but with the mobile wingbacks quickly we will have 6 midfielders and then 3 or more strikers when at the attacking point. I know this is just talk that AW may never entertain but it great to imagine…