The 1982–83 season was Arsenal Football Club's 57th consecutive season in the top flight of English Football, the Football League First Division. The club ended the season tenth, down from the fifth of the previous season, which had qualified them for the UEFA Cup. However, they went out first-round of the UEFA Cup and lost to Manchester United in the semifinals of both the FA Cup and League Cup.
New signing Tony Woodcock was the top scorer in both league and all competitions.
Pat Jennings became the first player in English football to appear in 1,000 first team matches.
| 1982–83 season | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Chairman | Peter Hill-Wood | ||
| Manager | Terry Neill | ||
| First Division | 10th | ||
| FA Cup | Semi-Final | ||
| League Cup | Semi-Final | ||
| UEFA Cup | First Round | ||
| Top goalscorer | League: Tony Woodcock (14) All: Tony Woodcock (21) | ||
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Season summary
Arsenal had earned a place in the UEFA Cup with a fifth-place finish despite having recently lost some key players. Manchester United had snapped-up Frank Stapleton in 1981, while Liam Brady had moved to Juventus a year earlier.[1] Manager Terry Neill once again attempted to boost Arsenal's scoring potential, signing Tony Woodcock for £500,000 from FC. Koln after the 1982 World Cup and Stoke City top scorer Lee Chapman for the same price. While Woodcock went on to be Arsenal's top scorer in the league with 14 goals in 34 games,[2] Chapman scored only 4 goals in 23 appearances and was sold to Sunderland for £100,000.[3]
Arsenal finished in mid table at 10th after being in the lower reaches of the league for much of the season. Arsenal reached the semi-finals of the FA Cup and League Cup but on both occasions were beaten by Manchester United.[1]
Arsenal’s foray into the 1982-83 UEFA Cup was short as they lost 8-4 on aggregate to Spartak Moscow, including a 5-2 drubbing at Highbury. Arsenal fans demonstrated that they could appreciate fine football for what it was. As the final whistle sounded, the Arsenal fans were applauding the Russians off the pitch, the show of admiration was so remarkable that the Spartak players reappeared on the centre circle to acknowledge the crowd.[4]
37 year old Pat Jennings became the first player in English football to appear in 1,000 first team matches. He reached this milestone against West Bromwich Albion on 26 February 1983. Jennings found himself out of favour at Arsenal in 1982 as Scottish keeper George Wood assumed the No 1 spot in half of the games of the season. [5][6]
Arsenal Chairman Denis Hill-Wood passed away at age 76. His son Peter Hill-Wood succeeded him in the position.[1]
Squad
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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Results
First Division
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8 | West Ham United | 42 | 20 | 4 | 18 | 68 | 62 | +6 | 64 |
| 9 | Ipswich Town | 42 | 15 | 13 | 14 | 64 | 50 | +14 | 58 |
| 10 | Arsenal | 42 | 16 | 10 | 16 | 58 | 56 | +2 | 58 |
| 11 | West Bromwich Albion | 42 | 15 | 12 | 15 | 51 | 49 | +2 | 57 |
| 12 | Southampton | 42 | 15 | 12 | 15 | 54 | 58 | −4 | 57 |
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Goals scored
| 28 August 1982 1 | Stoke City | 2–1 | Arsenal | Stoke-on-Trent |
| Stadium: Victoria Ground |
| 31 August 1982 2 | Arsenal | 1–1 | Norwich City | London |
| Stadium: Highbury |
| 7 September 1982 4 | Brighton & Hove Albion | 1–0 | Arsenal | Brighton |
| Stadium: Goldstone Ground |
| 11 September 1982 5 | Coventry City | 0–2 | Arsenal | Coventry |
| Stadium: Highfield Road |
| 18 September 1982 6 | Arsenal | 2–0 | Notts County | London |
| Stadium: Highbury |
| 25 September 1982 7 | Manchester United | 0–0 | Arsenal | Manchester |
| Stadium: Old Trafford |
| 2 October 1982 8 | Arsenal | 2–3 | West Ham United | London |
| Stadium: Highbury |
| 9 October 1982 9 | Ipswich Town | 0–1 | Arsenal | Ipswich |
| Stadium: Portman Road |
| 16 October 1982 10 | Arsenal | 2–0 | West Bromwich Albion | London |
| Stadium: Highbury |
| 23 October 1982 11 | Nottingham Forest | 3–0 | Arsenal | Nottingham |
| Stadium: City Ground |
| 30 October 1982 12 | Arsenal | 0–0 | Birmingham City | London |
| Stadium: Highbury |
| 6 November 1982 13 | Luton Town | 2–2 | Arsenal | Luton |
| Stadium: Kenilworth Road |
| 20 November 1982 15 | Swansea City | 1–2 | Arsenal | Swansea |
| Stadium: Vetch Field |
| 4 December 1982 17 | Manchester City | 2–1 | Arsenal | Manchester |
| Stadium: Maine Road |
| 7 December 1982 18 | Arsenal | 2–1 | Aston Villa | London |
| Stadium: Highbury |
| 18 December 1982 19 | Sunderland | 3–0 | Arsenal | Sunderland |
| Stadium: Roker Park |
| 27 December 1982 20 | Arsenal | 2–0 | Tottenham Hotspur | London |
| Stadium: Highbury |
| 28 December 1982 21 | Southampton | 2–2 | Arsenal | Southampton |
| Stadium: The Dell |
| 1 January 1983 22 | Arsenal | 2–1 | Swansea City | London |
| Stadium: Highbury |
| 15 January 1983 24 | Arsenal | 3–0 | Stoke City | London |
| Stadium: Highbury |
| 22 January 1983 25 | Notts County | 1–0 | Arsenal | Nottingham |
| Stadium: Meadow Lane |
| 5 February 1983 26 | Arsenal | 3–1 | Brighton & Hove Albion | London |
| Stadium: Highbury |
| 26 February 1983 27 | West Bromwich Albion | 0–0 | Arsenal | West Bromwich |
| Stadium: The Hawthorns |
| 5 March 1983 28 | Arsenal | 0–0 | Nottingham Forest | London |
| Stadium: Highbury |
| 15 March 1983 29 | Birmingham City | 2–1 | Arsenal | Birmingham |
| Stadium: St Andrew's |
| 19 March 1983 30 | Arsenal | 4–1 | Luton Town | London |
| Stadium: Highbury |
| 22 March 1983 31 | Arsenal | 2–2 | Ipswich Town | London |
| Stadium: Highbury |
| 26 March 1983 32 | Everton | 2–3 | Arsenal | Liverpool |
| Stadium: Goodison Park |
| 2 April 1983 33 | Arsenal | 0–0 | Southampton | London |
| Stadium: Highbury |
| 4 April 1983 34 | Tottenham Hotspur | 5–0 | Arsenal | London |
| Stadium: White Hart Lane |
| 9 April 1983 35 | Arsenal | 2–1 | Coventry City | London |
| Stadium: Highbury |
| 20 April 1983 36 | Norwich City | 3–1 | Arsenal | Norwich |
| Stadium: Carrow Road |
| 23 April 1983 37 | Arsenal | 3–0 | Manchester City | London |
| Stadium: Highbury |
| 30 April 1983 38 | Watford | 2–1 | Arsenal | Watford |
| Stadium: Vicarage Road |
| 2 May 1983 39 | Arsenal | 3–0 | Manchester United | London |
| Stadium: Highbury |
| 7 May 1983 40 | Arsenal | 0–1 | Sunderland | London |
| Stadium: Highbury |
| 10 May 1983 41 | West Ham United | 1–3 | Arsenal | London |
| Stadium: Upton Park |
| 14 May 1983 42 | Aston Villa | 2–1 | Arsenal | Birmingham |
| Stadium: Villa Park |
Football League Cup
| 5 October 1982 Second round (1st Leg) | Arsenal | 2–1 | Cardiff City | London |
| Stadium: Highbury |
| 26 October 1982 Second round (2nd Leg) | Cardiff City | 1–3 (2–5 agg.) | Arsenal | Cardiff |
| Stadium: Ninian Park |
| 9 November 1982 Third round | Everton | 1–1 | Arsenal | Liverpool |
| Stadium: Goodison Park |
| 30 November 1982 Fourth round | Arsenal | 1–0 | Huddersfield Town | London |
| Stadium: Highbury |
| 18 January 1983 Quarter-final | Arsenal | 1–0 | Sheffield Wednesday | London |
| Stadium: Highbury |
| 15 February 1983 Semi-final (1st Leg) | Arsenal | 2–4 | Manchester United | London |
| Stadium: Highbury |
| 22 February 1983 Semi-final (2nd Leg) | Manchester United | 2–1 (6–3 agg.) | Arsenal | Manchester |
| Stadium: Old Trafford |
FA Cup
Arsenal entered the FA Cup in the third round proper, in which they were drawn to face Bolton Wanderers.
| 8 January 1983 Third round | Arsenal | 2–1 | Bolton Wanderers | London |
| Stadium: Highbury |
| 29 January 1983 Fourth round | Arsenal | 1–1 | Leeds United | London |
| Stadium: Highbury |
| 2 February 1983 Fourth round replay | Leeds United | 1–1 | Arsenal | Leeds |
| Stadium: Elland Road |
| 9 February 1983 Fourth round 2nd replay | Arsenal | 2–1 | Leeds United | London |
| Stadium: Highbury |
| 19 February 1983 Fifth round | Middlesbrough | 1–1 | Arsenal | Middlesbrough |
| Stadium: Ayresome Park |
| 28 February 1983 Fifth round replay | Arsenal | 3–2 | Middlesbrough | London |
| Stadium: Highbury |
| 16 April 1983 Semi-final | Manchester United | 2–1 | Arsenal | Birmingham |
B. Robson  49'Whiteside 70' |
Woodcock 36' |
Stadium: Villa Park Attendance: 46,535 |
UEFA Cup
| 15 September 1982 First round (1st Leg) | Spartak Moscow  | 3–2 |  Arsenal | Moscow |
| Stadium: Central Lenin Stadium |
| 29 September 1982 First round (2nd Leg) | Arsenal | 2–5 (4–8 agg.) | Spartak Moscow | London |
| Stadium: Highbury |
Top scorers
First Division
References
- 1 2 3 Soar, Phil; Tyler, Martin (1986). Arsenal 1886-1986: the official centenary history of Arsenal Football Club. Twickenham: Hamlyn. p. 244. ISBN 9780600358718.
- ↑ Soar, Phil; Tyler, Martin (1986). Arsenal 1886-1986: the official centenary history of Arsenal Football Club. Twickenham: Hamlyn. p. 247. ISBN 9780600358718.
- ↑ "Lee Chapman". Arsenal. Archived from the original on 27 October 2023. Retrieved 27 October 2023.
- ↑ "arsenal-home-defeat-europe-spartak-moscow". TheGuardian.com. 10 April 2022.
- ↑ Spurling, Jon (2001). All Guns Blazing: Arsenal in the 1980's. Aureus Publishing.
- ↑ "thearsenalhistory". 24 April 2022.
- ↑ "Arsenal players: League Division One 1983".
External links
- Arsenal 1982–83 on statto.com