Domestic football in the new decade got off to a dramatic start, Arsenal coming through with a late burst to record a famous Double in 1970-71. It was ten years on from Spurs’ achievement, and fate decreed that the Gunners had to win their last match at White Hart Lane to secure the title. A Ray Kennedy goal settled the issue. Arsenal had been six points off the pace with six weeks to go, but 27 points from the last 16 games was unstoppable championship form. Almost inevitably it was Leeds who missed out, pipped by a single point.
Arsenal also left it late in the Cup. They needed a last-minute penalty to salvage a draw against Stoke in the semifinal before winning the replay 2-0. Five days after the Spurs match Arsenal went to Wembley for the 64th and
Final match of the campaign.
They were up against a Liverpool side that was in a state of flux. The likes of Tommy Lawrence, Ron Yeats,
Peter Thompson, Roger Hunt and Ian St John had all disappeared as Shankly overhauled the squad completely.
Teenager Emlyn Hughes had arrived from
Blackpool in 1967. He had been joined by Jolin ShanJdy S new
To. shack, Larry Lloyd, Steve Heighway and Brian look Liverpool HaU in a new-look side. There were also two youngsters who would enjoy very different fortunes at the club. Shankly paid Wolves ?100,000 for striker Alun Evans. He would show flashes of what he could do at Anfield but overall the verdict was one of disappointment.
The same could hardly be said of Shankly’s ?35,000 buy from Scunthorpe, who sat in the stands to watch his new team-mates take on Arsenal. His name was Kevin Keegan.
Above: In extra time, Charlie George slams the ball into the net past Liverpoors keeper Ray Clemence to provide the goal that won Arsenal the FA Cup and the Double in the 1970-71 season; they had won the league with just one point to spare over Leeds United.
Left: The Double-winning Arsenal team arrive aboard an open-top bus at Islington Town Hall for a civic reception.
Opposite above: Members of the Arsenal team that had won the 1970 Fairs Cup (from 1972, the UEFA Cup), set off for the airport for a flight to Rome where they were to play Lazio at the start of their defence of the title.
Opposite below: Goal-scorer Martin Peters is lifted in celebration by Martin Chivers as Geoff Hurst rushes to congratulate and Scotland's Frank McLintock shouts in dismay in England's 3-1 win at Wembley in the Home Championships of 1971.
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