1984–85 Arsenal F.C. season

Arsenal's start to the 1984/85 season had been relatively promising, with eight wins in the first eleven league matches. Don Howe had taken over from Terry Neill in December 1983 and results had improved. At the end of October 1984 saw Arsenal looking like a team that could challenge for the title; they had reclaimed their place at the top of Division One. However, that good form soon dipped. After a 4-2 defeat at Old Trafford, Arsenal slowly began to fall. The season overall was a disappointment. Some decent league performances were undermined by a complete lack of consistency, and two embarrassing cup exits, to Second Division Oxford United in the League Cup, and Third Division York City in the FA Cup.[1][2] York City's victory over Arsenal in the fourth round, still resonates as one of the competition's big shocks. A star-studded Arsenal-side, put together at a cost of more than £4.5 million and featuring eight internationals, arrived at Bootham Crescent on January 26, 1985, confident of straightforward progression into the last 16. But on a snow-bound day in York, they met their match against a heroic side that defied the odds to record a famous 1–0 victory.[3][4]

1984-85 was Pat Jennings final season in his long and illustrious career. Arsenal played Oxford United away in the League Cup on Halloween night 1984 and Arsenal and Jennings in particular, had a real horror show. Arsenal got beat 3-2 and they were out the competition. John Lukic played the next game, before Jennings returned to the side for three more games. The last being up at Hillsborough, against Sheffield Wednesday on 25 November 1984. Lukic then returned to the side and Jennings never played for Arsenal again.[5]

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player — GK  ENG John Lukic — DF  ENG Viv Anderson — DF  ENG Kenny Sansom — MF  ENG Brian Talbot — DF  IRL David O'Leary — DF  ENG Tommy Caton — MF  ENG Stewart Robson — MF  ENG Paul Davis — FW  ENG Paul Mariner — FW  ENG Tony Woodcock — FW  SCO Charlie Nicholas

No. Pos. Nation Player — MF  ENG Ian Allinson — MF  ENG Graham Rix — DF  ENG Tony Adams — GK  NIR Pat Jennings — MF  ENG Steve Williams — FW  ENG Raphael Meade — DF  NIR Colin Hill

• Arsenal 1984–85 on statto.com