COACH: Terry Neill



GOALKEEPERS:

1 Pat JENNINGS

DEFENDERS:

5 David O'LEARY
6 Willie YOUNG
2 Pat RICE (c)
3 Sammy NELSON
Steve WALFORD
John DEVINE
Steve GATTING

MIDFIELDERS:

4 Brian TALBOT
7 Liam BRADY
10 David PRICE
11 Graham RIX
John HOLLINS
Alan HUDSON
Mark HEELEY

FORWARDS:

8 Alan SUNDERLAND
9 Frank STAPLETON
Malcolm MACDONALD
Paul VAESSEN


4-4-2 FORMATIONS:

Arsenal Vs Manchester United 3:2 - FA Cup final (12/05/1979)



GK JENNINGS
CB O'LEARY
CB YOUNG
RB RICE ©
LB NELSON
DMF TALBOT
CMF PRICE
AMF BRADY
LMF RIX
CF/RWF SUNDERLAND
CF STAPLETON


4-4-2 FORMATIONS:

Valencia Vs Arsenal 0–0 (a.e.t.); Penalties 5-4 - Cup Winners' Cup final (14/05/1980)



GK JENNINGS
CB O'LEARY
CB YOUNG
RB RICE ©
LB NELSON
DMF TALBOT
CMF PRICE
AMF BRADY
LMF RIX
CF/RWF SUNDERLAND
CF STAPLETON



HONOURS:

English First Division: 5th (1978) | 7th (1979) | 4th (1980)
FA Cup: Winner (1979) | Runner-up (1978,1980)
FA Charity Shield: Runner-up (1979)
Cup Winners' Cup: Runner-up (1980)


INFO:

https://www.arsenal.com/news/news-archi ... nners-1979
https://somegreengrassandaball.wordpres ... e-rewards/
https://www.theguardian.com/football/th ... l-juventus

Four cup finals under Neill...
Former player Terry Neill succeeded Mee in 1976. At the age of 34, he became the youngest Arsenal manager to date. With new signings like Malcolm Macdonald and Pat Jennings, and a crop of talent in the side like Liam Brady and Frank Stapleton, the club reached a trio of FA Cup finals (1978, 1979 and 1980), and lost the 1980 European Cup Winners' Cup Final on penalties. The club's only trophy during this time was the 1979 FA Cup, achieved with a last-minute 3–2 victory over Manchester United. The final is widely regarded as a classic.

In the 79/80 season, ​Arsenal played 70 games, reached two finals and won... nothing.
After beating Liverpool in an FA Cup semi-final and Juventus in a Cup Winners’ Cup semi-final, Arsenal failed at the final step losing to West Ham in the FA cup and Valencia in CWC, on penalties. The strings of this Arsenal were pulled by Liam Brady, who provided the ammunition for Frank Stapleton and Alan Sunderland and was protected by Talbot. Pat Jennings was in goal, behind a defence which was marshalled by David O’Leary, Willie Young, Pat Rice and Sammy Nelson. The pre-disgraced Graham Rix was on the wing and the ageing, but still useful John Hollins was there to make whimsical cameo appearances.

Two different seasons with two very different outcomes. Arsenal’s triumph in the FA Cup in 1979 was a joyous occasion, a therapeutic experience after the horror show against Ipswich in the final the year before. But there would be no such happy ending in 1980. This time the club embarked on a 70-match emotional rollercoaster that hit so many highs but only ended in crushing lows. You don’t always get what you deserve in life and sport is no different.