In 1946 the Football League in the United Kingdom fully resumed on a national basis following the disruption caused by World War II. In the club's first post-war First Division match, on 31 August 1946; Arsenal lost 6–1 to Wolves, their biggest League defeat in nearly twenty years. Although the Gunners had been the dominant force in English football in the 1930s, they struggled in their first season after the war, escaping relegation and finishing 13th. They were knocked out of the FA Cup by Chelsea in the third round after two replays.
It was George Allison's last season as manager for Arsenal. Tom Whittaker, his assistant, succeeded him as manager.
Due to Arsenal's wartime move to White Hart Lane and the War itself, there was little young talent available to the club on short-notice..[2] Arsenal found solutions in players like the amateur Albert Guðmundsson, later Iceland's Minister of Finance.[3]Dr. Kevin O'Flanagan made 14 First Division appearances and scored three goals. He made his first-class league debut[4] against Blackburn Rovers on 4 September and his last appearance for the senior team came on 28 December 1946 against Wolves. Bernard Joy played the first half of the 1946–47 season before deciding that his age (35) was counting against him; he retired from top-flight football in December 1946. George Curtis played 12 times in the 1946–47 season, but was sold to Southampton in part-exchange for Don Roper in summer 1947.
Joe Mercer, near retirement from football to concentrate on his grocery business, made his Arsenal debut against Bolton Wanderers on 30 November 1946 and soon after became club captain. Everton boss Theo Kelly had brought Mercer's boots to the transfer negotiations to prevent Mercer having a reason to go back to say goodbye to the other players at Everton.[5] His transfer fee was set at £9,000 (2015: £337,000) and he remained in Liverpool to live and train.[2]
Despite being nearly 35 and having never played in the top flight, Ronnie Rooke was signed by Arsenal (Cyril Grant going in the other direction). The move was surprising, but Rooke immediately made an impact, scoring the winner on his debut against Charlton Athletic on 14 December. He scored 21 goals in just 24 League matches that season.[2]
The season marked the last for Cliff Bastin, who played just six league matches of the season and required a major ear operation in April, and for manager George Allison who had been involved with the club for four decades who announced his retirement in May.[2]
Matches
Arsenal began the season with a 6-1 loss to Wolves, their biggest defeat in nearly 20 years.Their home season began on 4 September against Blackburn Rovers. On 21 September 63,000 attended Highbury to see Arsenal beaten by Derby County.[7]
^The Times, 30 August 1946; "Association Football: The New Season"
^ abcdSoar, Phil; Tyler, Martin (1995). Arsenal: Official History. London: Hamlyn. pp. 99–100. ISBN0600588262.
^ abThe Times, 3 October 1946; Association Football Sparta Draw With Arsenal
^Appearances in wartime leagues such as the Football League South are not counted as official first-class matches by statisticians, hence this is considered O'Flanagan's first-class league debut.
^Corbett, James (2003); p104 Everton:School of Science publ by MacMillan ISBN0-330-42006-2
^The Times, Saturday, 16 November 1946; Association Football Some Championship Anxieties
^The Times, 23 September 1946; Association Football Four Unbeaten Clubs
^The Times, 9 November 1946; Association Football Wolverhampton at Charlton
^The Times, 11 November 1946; Association Football Bad Day For Home Teams
^The Times, 12 November 1946; Association Football Changes in Welsh Team
^The Times, 15 November 1946; Association Football