1979 FA Cup Final: Arsenal vs Man Utd

Arsenal 3 - 2 Man Utd

• Arsenal
  • Talbot 12'
  • Stapleton 43'
  • Sunderland 89'
• Man Utd
  • McQueen 86'
  • McIlroy 88'

Wembley - Saturday 12th May

Attendance: 100,000

Match Referee: R Challis

Team Line-ups:

Arsenal seemed to be coasting home, 2‑0 in the lead with only five minutes of a fairly undistinguished match left, when three almost unbelievable events occurred, so that in the end it all added up to one of the most fantastic and dramatic Finals of recent years.

United had clearly decided that Brady was their most menacing opponent, and Macari attempted to mark him closely. But Brady lost his shadow in the twelfth minute and swung out a long pass to Stapleton. A through pass to Price, a quick centre, and three Arsenal players dashed for the ball in the goalmouth. Talbot won the race and put Arsenal one up.

United, apparently unshaken, had most of the play for the next half‑hour, but they went further behind just before half‑time. Brady was again the architect, as his floated cross from the right was headed in with the minimum of fuss by Stapleton.

An eighty‑fifth minute substitution ‑ Walford for Price ‑ may well have upset Arsenal's rhythm. First McOueen was on the spot to score for United following Coppell's free‑kick, and then, improbably, United drew level through Mcilroy.

But they had hardly finished congratulating themselves when Brady produced a perfectly controlled diagonal run before feeding Rix out on the left, and the latter's curving centre to the far post was shot home by Sunderland for a last‑minute Arsenal winner.

Southampton v ARSENAL 1‑1, 0‑2; Wolves v Shrewsbury T 1‑1, 3‑1; Ipswich T v Liverpool 0‑1 Spurs v MAN UTD 1‑1, 0‑2

Nott'm Forest v ARSENAL 0‑1; WBA v Southampton 1‑1, 1‑2; Crystal Palace v Wolves 0‑1 Aldershot v Shrewsbury T 2‑2, 1‑3; Ipswich T v Bristol R 6‑1; Liverpool v Burnley 3‑0, Oldham Ath v Spurs 0‑1 , Colchester Utd v MAN UTD 0‑1

ARSENAL v Notts Co 2‑0; Nott'm Forest v York C 3‑1, Leeds Utd v WBA 3‑3, 0‑2; PNE v Southampton 0‑1; Crystal Palace v Bristol C 3‑0; Newcastle Utd v Wolves 1‑1, 0‑1; Aldershot v Swindon T 2‑1, Shrewsbury T v Man C 2‑0; Ipswich T v Orient 0‑0, 2‑0; Bristol R v Charlton Ath 1 ‑0; Liverpool v Blackburn R 1 ‑0; Burnley v Sunderland 1‑1, 3‑0; Oldham Ath v Leicester C 3‑1; Spurs v Wrexham 3‑3,3‑2; Newport Co v Colchester Utd 0‑0, 0‑1; Fulham v MAN UTD 1 ‑1, 0‑1

Sheff Wed v ARSENAL 1‑1, 1‑1, 2‑2,3‑3,0‑2; Notts Co v Reading 4‑2; Nott'm Forest v Aston Villa 2‑0; York C v Luton T 2‑0; Hartlepool Utd v Leeds Utd 2‑6; Coventry C v WBA 2‑2, 0‑4; PNE v Derby Co 3‑0; Wimbledon v Southampton 0‑2; Middlesbro v Crystal Palace 1‑1, 0‑1; Bristol C v Bolton Wand 3‑1; Newcastle Utd v Torquay Utd 3‑1; Brighton & H Alb v Wolves 2‑3; Sheff Utd v Aldershot 0‑0, 0‑1 , Swindon T v Cardiff C 3‑0; Shrewsbury T v Cambridge Utd 3‑1; Man C v Rotherham Utd 0‑0, 4‑2; Ipswich T v Carlisle Utd 3‑2; Orient v Bury 3‑2; Swansea C v Bristol R 0‑1; Charlton Ath v Maidstone Utd 1‑1, 2‑11; Southend Utd v Liverpool 0‑0, 0‑3; Millwall v Blackburn 1‑2; Birmingham C v Burnley 0‑2; Sunderland v Everton 2‑1; Stoke C v Oldham Ath 0‑1; Leicester C v Norwich C 3‑0; Spurs v Altrincharn 1‑1, 3‑0; Wrexham v Stockport Co 6‑2; Newport Co v W. Ham 2‑ 1; Darlington v Colchester Utd 0‑1; Fulham v QPR 2‑0; MAN UTD v Chelsea 3‑0