1946–47 Arsenal F.C. season


In 1946 the Football League in the United Kingdom fully resumed on a national basis following the disruption caused by World War II. In the club's first post-war First Division match, on 31 August 1946; Arsenal lost 6–1 to Wolves, their biggest League defeat in nearly twenty years. Although the Gunners had been the dominant force in English football in the 1930s, they struggled in their first season after the war, only finishing 13th.

Players

Players returning after the break included Cliff Bastin, Bryn Jones, Reg Lewis, Jimmy Logie, George Male, David Nelson and Laurie Scott. George Swindin established himself as Arsenal's undisputed No. 1, a position he would hold for the next six seasons. The squad included brothers Leslie Compton and Denis Compton both of whom also played Cricket for Middlesex. Ian McPherson made his Arsenal debut in the opening match against Wolves. He played 40 times that season on the right wing.
Dr. Kevin O'Flanagan made 14 First Division appearances and scored three goals. He made his first-class league debut against Blackburn Rovers on 4 September and his last appearance for the senior team came on 28 December 1946 against Wolves. Bernard Joy played the first half of the 1946–47 season before deciding that his age was counting against him; he retired from top-flight football in December 1946. George Curtis played 12 times in the 1946–47 season, but was sold to Southampton in part-exchange for Don Roper in summer 1947.
Joe Mercer made his Arsenal debut against Bolton Wanderers on 30 November 1946 and soon after became club captain. Everton boss Theo Kelly had brought Mercer's boots to the transfer negotiations to prevent Mercer having a reason to go back to say goodbye to the other players at Everton. His transfer fee was set at £9,000.
Arsenal were unsuccessful in their attempts to land Archie Macaulay, who signed with Brentford F.C. in October 1946.
Despite being nearly 35 and having never played in the top flight, Ronnie Rooke was signed by Arsenal. The move was surprising, but Rooke immediately made an impact, scoring the winner on his debut against Charlton Athletic on 14 December. He scored 21 goals in just 24 League matches that season.

Matches

On 21 September 63,000 attended Highbury to see Arsenal beaten by Derby County. Czech Champions, AC Sparta opened their tour of Britain with a 2–2 draw against Arsenal on 2 October with Albert Guðmundsson, later Iceland's Minister of Finance, playing inside forward for The Gunners.
Despite leading at half time, Arsenal lost to Sheffield United in early November. Six changes were made for the match against Preston North End the following week: Walley Barnes replaced Joy at left back. With Jones still injured, Lewis was moved to inside forward and Cyril Grant made his Arsenal debut as centre forward. However, the poor form continued and Arsenal lost 2–0.
Each November between 1930 and 1962, Racing Club de Paris hosted a prestige game with Arsenal. In 1946 The London club were beaten 2–1 at Colombes Stadium. In mid November they beat Oxford University 6–0 with goals by Doug Farquhar, Morgan and Whalley.

Results

Arsenal's score comes first
https://www.11v11.com/teams/arsenal/tab/matches/season/1947/

Legend

Football League First Division

DateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorers
31 August 1946Wolverhampton WanderersA1–650,845Lewis
4 September 1946Blackburn RoversH1–328,700Lewis
7 September 1946SunderlandH2–253,377Lewis
11 September 1946EvertonA2–340,000Lewis
14 September 1946Aston VillaA2–053,778Lewis, O'Flanagan
17 September 1946Blackburn RoversA2–124,563Lewis
21 September 1946Derby CountyH0–160,643
28 September 1946Manchester UnitedA2–562,718Lewis, McPherson
5 October 1946BlackpoolA1–224,039Logie
12 October 1946BrentfordH2–245,000Lewis, Logie
19 October 1946Stoke CityH1–060,266O'Flanagan
26 October 1946ChelseaA1–256,568Lewis
2 November 1946Sheffield UnitedH2–341,173Lewis, Logie
9 November 1946Preston North EndA0–229,971
16 November 1946Leeds UnitedH4–236,377Lewis, Logie, McPherson
23 November 1946LiverpoolA2–451,435Lewis, Logie
30 November 1946Bolton WanderersH2–242,522Lewis, O'Flanagan
7 December 1946MiddlesbroughA0–230,357
14 December 1946Charlton AthleticH1–038,606Rooke
21 December 1946Grimsby TownA0–013,308
25 December 1946PortsmouthH2–132,108Rooke, Logie
26 December 1946PortsmouthA2–038,000Rooke
28 December 1946Wolverhampton WanderersH1–158,075Rooke
4 January 1947SunderlandA4–136,812Rooke, Lewis
18 January 1947Aston VillaH0–257,524
1 February 1947Manchester UnitedH]6–229,145Rooke, Rudkin, Logie, McPherson
8 February 1947BlackpoolH1–131,111Rooke
22 February 1947Stoke CityA1–330,000Rooke
1 March 1947ChelseaH1–252,606Rudkin
15 March 1947Preston North EndH4–145,775Lewis, Rooke
22 March 1947Leeds UnitedA1–132,000Lewis
4 April 1947Huddersfield TownH1–246,105Jones
5 April 1947Bolton WanderersA3–134,398Rooke, Lewis
7 April 1947Huddersfield TownA0–033,381
12 April 1947MiddlesbroughH]4–0
19 April 1947Charlton AthleticA2–2
26 April 1947Grimsby TownH5–3
10 May 1947Derby CountyA1–0
24 May 1947LiverpoolH1–2
26 May 1947BrentfordA1–0
31 May 1947EvertonH]2–1
7 June 1947Sheffield UnitedH1–2

Final League table

DateOpponentVenueResultScore
F–A		ScorerAttendance
12 April 1947MiddlesbroughHW4–0Rooke 44,230
19 April 1947Charlton AthleticAD2–2McPherson, Logie57,983
26 April 1947Grimsby TownHW5–3Lewis, D. Compton42,100
10 May 1947Derby CountyAW1–0Rooke19,153
24 May 1947LiverpoolHL1–2McPherson44,265
26 May 1947BrentfordAW1–0Sloan17,599
31 May 1947EvertonHW2–1Rooke, Lewis23,785
7 June 1947Sheffield UnitedAL1–2McPherson14,939

Results by round

FA Cup

RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceGoalscorers
R311 January 1947ChelseaA1–170,195McPherson
R3 R15 January 1947ChelseaH1–1 53,350Rooke
R3 2R20 January 1947ChelseaN0–259,590

Player statistics