1952–53 Arsenal F.C. season

During the 1952–53 English football season, Arsenal F.C. competed in the Football League First Division.

Arsenal
1952–53 season
ChairmanBracewell Smith
ManagerTom Whittaker
First Division1st
FA CupSixth round
FA Cup away colours

Season summary

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After finishing third the previous term, Arsenal battled with Preston North End in the 1952/53 season for the title, and ultimately finished level on points; however, Arsenal won the league for the seventh time on goal average, by a margin of 0.099. With Preston having won their final game of the season two days before Arsenal faced Burnley in their final match, it meant Arsenal needed to win to claim the title. Goals from Alex Forbes, Jimmy Logie and Doug Lishman ensured a 3–2 win.

In the FA Cup, Arsenal beat Doncaster Rovers, Bury and Burnley before being knocked out by eventual winners Blackpool in the quarter-finals. The Gunners' biggest win was joint between the cup win over Bury and a league fixture against Derby County; both were won 6–2. Their highest scoring match was a 6–4 triumph at Reading, and their top scorer Doug Lishman, who scored 25 goals in all competitions.[1]

Final league table

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Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GAv Pts
1 Arsenal (C) 42 21 12 9 97 64 1.516 54
2 Preston North End 42 21 12 9 85 60 1.417 54
3 Wolverhampton Wanderers 42 19 13 10 86 63 1.365 51
4 West Bromwich Albion 42 21 8 13 66 60 1.100 50
5 Charlton Athletic 42 19 11 12 77 63 1.222 49
Source: World Football
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal average; 3) Goals scored
(C) Champions

Results

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Arsenal's score comes first[2]

Win Draw Loss

Football League First Division

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Date Opponent Venue Result Attendance Scorers
23 August 1952 Aston Villa A 2–1 50,930 Oakes, Lishman
27 August 1952 Manchester United H 2–1 57,831 Cox, Goring
30 August 1952 Sunderland H 1–2 56,873 Lishman
3 September 1952 Manchester United A 0–0 39,193
6 September 1952 Wolverhampton Wanderers A 1–1 43,371 Roper
10 September 1952 Portsmouth H 3–1 39,743 Milton, Goring, Roper
13 September 1952 Charlton Athletic H 3–4 60,102 Daniel, Milton, Goring
17 September 1952 Portsmouth A 2–2 37,356 Holton 2
20 September 1952 Tottenham Hotspur A 3–1 69,247 Milton, Logie, Goring
27 September 1952 Derby County A 0–2 24,582
4 October 1952 Blackpool H 3–1 66,642 Logie, Roper 2
11 October 1952 Sheffield Wednesday H 2–2 54,678 Logie, Roper
25 October 1952 Newcastle United H 3–0 63,744 Lishman, Roper 2
1 November 1952 West Bromwich Albion A 0–2 48,061
8 November 1952 Middlesbrough H 2–1 48,564 Milton, Holton
15 November 1952 Liverpool A 5–1 45,010 Holton 3, Marden 2
22 November 1952 Manchester City H 3–1 38,161 Logie 2, Lishman
29 November 1952 Stoke City A 1–1 24,057 Holton
13 December 1952 Burnley A 1–1 32,753 Milton
20 December 1952 Aston Villa H 3–1 30,064 Holton, Lishman, Roper
25 December 1952 Bolton Wanderers A 6–4 45,432 Daniel, Milton, Logie, Holton 2, Roper
3 January 1953 Sunderland A 1–3 54,912 Lishman
17 January 1953 Wolverhampton Wanderers H 5–3 57,983 Daniel, Milton, Logie, Lishman 2
24 January 1953 Charlton Athletic A 2–2 66,555 Lishman, Roper
7 February 1953 Tottenham Hotspur H 4–0 69,051 Logie, Holton 2, Lishman
18 February 1953 Derby County H 6–2 32,681 Daniel 2, Holton 2, Lishman 2
21 February 1953 Blackpool A 2–3 30,034 Mercer, Goring
2 March 1953 Sheffield Wednesday A 4–1 32,814 Holton 4
7 March 1953 Cardiff City H 0–1 59,780
14 March 1953 Newcastle United A 2–2 51,618 Lishman 2
19 March 1953 Preston North End H 1–1 33,597 Mercer
21 March 1953 West Bromwich Albion H 2–2 49,078 Holton, Roper
28 March 1953 Middlesbrough A 0–2 25,911
3 April 1953 Chelsea A 1–1 72,614 Goring
4 April 1953 Liverpool H 5–3 39,564 Goring, Lishman, Roper 2, Hughes (og)
6 April 1953 Chelsea H 2–0 40,536 Lishman, Marden
11 April 1953 Manchester City A 4–2 50,018 Roper, Logie, Goring 2
15 April 1953 Bolton Wanderers H 4–1 35,381 Goring, Lishman 2, Marden
18 April 1953 Stoke City H 3–1 47,376 Lishman 3
22 April 1953 Cardiff City A 0–0 57,893
25 April 1953 Preston North End A 0–2 39,537
1 May 1953 Burnley H 3–2 51,586 Forbes, Logie, Lishman

[3]

FA Cup

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Round Date Opponent Venue Result Attendance Goalscorers
R3 10 January 1953 Doncaster Rovers H 4–0 57,443 Logie, Holton, Lishman, Roper
R4 31 January 1953 Bury H 6–2 45,071 Milton, Logie, Holton, Lishman, Roper, Daniel (og)
R5 14 February 1953 Burnley A 2–0 52,122 Holton, Lishman
R6 28 February 1953 Blackpool H 1–2 69,158 Logie

[3]

References

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  1. ^ "Arsenal's Top Seasons – 1952-53, our 12th best". 9 October 2017.
  2. ^ "Arsenal results for the 1952-1953 season". Archived from the original on 8 March 2016. Retrieved 4 April 2021.
  3. ^ a b Andrews, Mark; James, Josh; Kelly, Andy. Arsenal: The Complete Record. decoubertin. p. 212. ISBN 978-1-909245-75-4.