1971 FA Cup Final: Arsenal vs Liverpool

Arsenal 2 - 1 Liverpool

• Arsenal
  • Graham 101'
  • George 111'
• Liverpool
  • Heighway 92'

Wembley - Saturday 8th May

Attendance: 100,000

Match Referee: N Burkenshaw

Team Line-ups:

Arsenal won the Cup deservedly in their triumphal 'double' season, but, having made and missed chances in the first ninety minutes, found themselves forced to fight against the shock of being a goal down in extra time to a brave and skilful Liverpool team.

Bertie Mee and Bill Shankly lead out the teams

Liverpool spent most of the first half well up in their opponents 'half, but rarely did they prompt Wilson in the Arsenal goal to sharp action, and Arsenal, counter‑punching, looked more dangerous on the break.

Three times in the second half Arsenal went close to settling the matter within the ninety minutes. Kennedy flicked Radford's pass wide from five yards and Graham first headed against the bar and then had another header blocked on the line by Lindsay.

Liverpool scored two minutes into extra time, Heighway surprisingly beating Wilson at the near post, and that, it seemed, must be the end of Arsenal's 'double' hopes.

After Wilson’s critical one‑handed save from Hall's volley, Arsenal found the heart to fight back, and, with eleven minutes of extra time gone, they drew level. Radford's overhead kick into the Liverpool goalmouth was rolled gently goalwards by substitute Kelly, and Graham appeared to run the ball over the line. The goal was later credited to Kelly.

Now the scene was set for George's magnificent winner ‑ an unstoppable twenty‑five yard drive, shoulder‑high, to Clemence's right.

Kennedy slices wide in the last minute

Kennedy slices wide in the last minute

Leicester C v ARSENAL 0‑0, 0‑ 1 , Hull C v Stoke C 2‑3; Everton v Colchester Utd 5‑0; LIVERPOOL v Spurs 0‑0, 1 ‑0

Man C v ARSENAL 1‑2; Leicester C v Oxford Utd 1‑1, 3‑1, Hull C v Brentford 2‑1, Stoke C v Ipswich T 0‑0, 1‑0; Everton v Derby Co 1 ‑0, Colchester Utd v Leeds Utd 3‑2; Spurs v Nott'm Forest 2‑1, LIVERPOOL v Southampton 1‑0

Portsmouth v ARSENAL 1‑1, 2‑3; Chelsea v Man C 0‑3; Leicester C v Torquay Utd 3‑0; Oxford Utd v Watford 1‑1, 2‑1; Hull C v Blackpool 2‑0; Cardiff C v Brentford 0‑2; Stoke C v Huddersfield T 3‑3, 0‑0, 1 ‑0; WBA v Ipswich T 1‑1, 0‑3; Everton v Middlesbro 3‑0; Derby Co v Wolves 2‑1; Rochdale v Colchester Utd 3‑3, 0‑5; Leeds Utd v Swindon T 4‑0

Yeovil T v ARSENAL 0‑3; Portsmouth v Sheff Utd 2‑0; Crystal Palace v Chelsea 2‑2,0‑2; Man C v Wigan Ath 1 ‑0; Leicester C v Notts Co 2‑0, Torquay Utd v Lincoln C 4‑3, Oxford Utd v Burnley 3‑0; Watford v Reading 5‑0; Hull C v Charlton Ath 3‑0; Blackpool v W‑ Ham 4‑0; Cardiff C v Brighton & H Alb 1 ‑0; Workington v Brentford 0‑1; Stoke C v Millwall 2‑1; Huddersfield T v Birmingham C 1‑1, 2‑0; WBA v Scunthorpe Utd 0‑0, 3‑1; Newcastle Utd v Ipswich T 1‑1, 1‑2; Everton v Blackburn R 2‑0; Man Utd v Middlesbro 0‑0, 1‑2; Chester v Derby Co 1‑2; Wolves v Norwich C 5‑1; Rochdale v Coventry C 2‑ 1; Barnet v Colchester Utd 0‑ 1; Rotherham Utd v Leeds Utd 0‑0, 2‑3; QPR v Swindon T 1‑2, Southend Utd v Carlisle Utd 0‑3; Spurs v Sheff Wed 4‑1; Nott'm Forest v Luton T 1‑1, 4‑3; Sunderland v Orient 0‑3; York C v Bolton Wand 2‑0;Southampton v Bristol C 3‑0; Swansea C v Rhyl 6‑1; LIVERPOOL v Aldershot 1 ‑0