The Distinguished Men

I can barely imagine what it would have felt like to be an Arsenal fan in the year 1969. 12th position in First Division, knocked out in FA Cup 3rd round replay, trophy-less for a long 17 years, despairing times those must have been. The 1970-71 Season didn’t exactly start well either. Early in the Season, the Gunners got hammered 5-0 by Stoke. What happened next, was a fairy tale and 11Gunners relives the  story..

Once upon a time, there was a group of individuals whom everybody knew to have talent but they lacked the  Silverware backing through which they could prove themselves. People had their doubts whether this team could make it big and the apprehensions were at their peak when Stoke thrashed us on a fateful 26th September, 1970. That defeat instead turned out to be the blessing in disguise. The boys stepped up a gear and took English football by storm.

14 games without defeat in which they had drawn only 3 saw them make  headway into a 3 pronged Title race – Leeds being the clear favorites, Liverpool and Arsenal close on their heels. But this story has its share of twists and turns. The Arsenal team was one which didn’t boast of any renowned star but a group of diligent players who complemented each other to good effect. Their attitude was their hallmark and captain Frank McLintock was a symbol of that positive energy which a team needs.

“Now is the time for you to be really ambitious and to aim for the success which may never be possible for you as players again in your lifetimes.”

These were the words of inspiration from the Captain when Arsenal looked in an ominous mood but overhauling Leeds was something nobody expected frankly. An FA Cup semifinal victory over Stoke and the captain gladly announced:-

“We are going for the Double”

The climax is what makes the story special. Picture this – Last day of the Season, victory and our names enter the Histroy books, defeat and Leeds take away all the Glory, and where do we tarvel – only a few kilometers away to a place called White Hart Lane, a place where we ahve received so much “Love and Affection” over the years. Their intentions were clarified by their captain:-

“Arsenal have got as much chance of being handed the title by Spurs as I have of being given the Crown Jewels.”

I do not know if he was actually given the crown jewels but Arsenal did their bit in this one and they had to wait a long 88 minutes to do that. It was nothing comapred to the 17 year wait, was it, and thumbs up to this romanticism we call “Football”. Nightmarish for the Spurs fans, and since then to this day they have been destined to play second fiddle to us!

We became only the second team of the Century to complete a Double and altough the feat was repeated a number of times by a number of clubs including the Wenger-grown Arsenal but that feat in 1970-71 was by all means special.

May the Glory days come back, Waiting..

This high flying group of Gunners weren’t close to being satisfied. Liverpool stood between us and History as we squared up against them on a hot may afternoon at Wembley. The weather got the better of the two teams who failed to find breakthrough in normal time. 2 minutes into Extra Time, Liverpool struck and the dream became a distant blur. I wasn’t talking about attitude for no reason earlier. We rallied back  to equalise and then the master Charlie George clinched it with a thunderous shot from 20 yards. Graham celebrating with his arms outstreched is an image I am sure you would have seen plenty of times.

We Were There!

Also Read:

11Moments- The ‘Beginning’

11Moments- I Am ‘Legend’: Herbert Chapman

11Moments- Of Glory and More

11Moments- Good Times Bad Times

11Moments- ‘Seconds’ To Glory: ‘89

11Moments- The Prof And His Geeks

11Moments- The ‘Invincibles’

11Moments- Henry Is ‘GOD’

11Moments- Highbury: A Fitting Farewell

11Moments- A New Beginning: The Emirates