by Andy Kelly

We thought it would be a good idea to put together a compendium of information relating to all of Arsenal’s FA Cup final appearances on one page so you don’t have to trawl all over the internet to find out the answers to all of those nagging questions.

Weekly Illustrated 25 April 1936. This image was supplied by @alsnotnutz – twitter hashtag – #operationarsenalart

Arsenal have appeared in 17 previous FA Cup Finals, winning 10 of them. Reaching the 2014 final equals Manchester United’s record of 18 appearances and a win will equal United’s total of 11. What we have collated here is a list of all the FA Cup finals that Arsenal have appeared in with match details, line-ups, match reports and some stats at the end of the article.

We don’t expect you to read through this all in one go, but to dip in whenever you think “who was Arsenal’s captain in the 2003 final” or “what was the weather like in the 1950 final”? I highly recommend reading the match reports, especially for the earlier finals even if it is only to see the difference in reporting styles when compared with today’s reporters.

The front cover of Weekly Illustrated from 25 April 1936 was kindly supplied by @alsnotnutz (hashtag #operationarsenalart ) who produces high quality Arsenal memorabilia and impressive iconography.

Final appearances (3 or more):
5 – Ray Parlour, Pat Rice, David Seaman

4 – Tony Adams, Dennis Bergkamp, Ashley Cole, Joe Hulme, Martin Keown, Freddie Ljungberg, David O’Leary, Patrick Vieira

3 – Cliff Bastin, Liam Brady, Lee Dixon, Eddie Hapgood, Thierry Henry, Pat Jennings, Bob John, Lauren, Sammy Nelson, Tom Parker, Robert Pires, David Price, Graham Rix, Frank Stapleton, Alan Sunderland, Sylvain Wiltord, Willie Young

N.B. The 1993 final counts as one appearance.

Winners medals:
4 – Ray Parlour, David Seaman.

3 – Tony Adams, Dennis Bergkamp, Ashley Cole, Martin Keown, Lauren, Freddie Ljungberg, Patrick Vieira.

2 – Cliff Bastin, Lee Dixon, Edu, Eddie Hapgood, Thierry Henry, Joe Hulme, Alex James, David O’Leary, Robert Pires, Pat Rice, Gilberto Silva, Sylvain Wiltord, Nigel Winterburn.

1 – Nicolas Anelka, George Armstrong, Mikel Arteta, Alf Baker, Wally Barnes, Ray Bowden, Liam Brady, Kevin Campbell, Sol Campbell, Santi Cazorla, Denis Compton, Leslie Compton, Wilf Copping, Freddie Cox, Jack Crayston, Paul Davis, Ted Drake, Lukasz Fabianski, Cesc Fabregas, Alex Forbes, Charlie George, Kieran Gibbs, Peter Goring, George Graham, David Jack, Pat Jennings, John Jensen, Charlie Jones, Kanu, Eddie Kelly, Ray Kennedy, Laurent Koscielny, Jack Lambert, Jens Lehmann, Reg Lewis, Andy Linighan, Jimmy Logie, Oleg Luzhny, Frank McLintock, Bob McNab, George Male, Joe Mercer, Paul Merson, Per Mertesacker, Sammy Nelson, Marc Overmars, Mesut Ozil, Tom Parker, Emmanuel Petit, David Platt, Lukas Podolski, Charlie Preedy, David Price, John Radford, Aaron Ramsey, Jose Antonio Reyes, Graham Rix, Herbie Roberts, Tomas Rosicky, Bacary Sagna, Yaya Sanogo, Laurie Scott, Bill Seddon, Philippe Senderos, Peter Simpson, Alan Smith, Frank Stapleton, Peter Storey, Alan Sunderland, George Swindin, Brian Talbot, Kolo Toure, Robin van Persie, Steve Walford, Jack Wilshere, Alex Wilson, Bob Wilson, Christopher Wreh, Ian Wright, Willie Young.

Arsenal’s FA Cup final goalscorers:
2 – Reg Lewis, Freddie Ljungberg, Ian Wright.

1 – Nicolas Anelka, Santi Cazorla, Ted Drake, Charlie George, Alex James, Bob John, Eddie Kelly, Laurent Koscielny, Jack Lambert, Andy Linighan, Marc Overmars, Ray Parlour, Robert Pires, Aaron Ramsey, Frank Stapleton, Alan Sunderland, Brian Talbot.

Arsenal’s FA Cup final captains:

Player Appearances as captain Winners’ medals as captain
Charlie Buchan 1 0
Tom Parker 2 1
Alex James 1 1
Joe Mercer 2 1
Frank McLintock 2 1
Pat Rice 3 1
Tony Adams 4 3
David Seaman 1 1
Patrick Vieira 1 1
Mikel Arteta 1 1

 

Arsenal FA Cup final managers:

Manager Finals Wins
Herbert Chapman 3 1
George Allison 1 1
Tom Whittaker 2 1
Bertie Mee 2 1
Terry Neill 3 1
George Graham 1 1
Arsene Wenger 6 5

 

Kits

To read about the kits that Arsenal have worn in the FA Cup final, read Mark’s previous blog.

Match details

1927 – The “Shiny Shirt” Final
23rd April 1927
Cardiff City 1 Arsenal 0
Wembley Stadium
Attendance: 91,206
Dan Lewis, Tom Parker, Andy Kennedy, Alf Baker, Jack Butler, Bob John, Joe Hulme, Charlie Buchan (captain), Jimmy Brain, Billy Blyth, Sid Hoar.

1927 FA Cup Final report (click to enlarge)

1927 FA Cup Final report
(click to enlarge)

1930 – The “Graf Zeppelin” Final 
26th April 1930
Arsenal 2 Huddersfield Town 0
Wembley Stadium
Attendance: 92,488
Charlie Preedy, Tom Parker (captain), Eddie Hapgood, Alf Baker, Bill Seddon, Bob John, Joe Hulme, David Jack, Jack Lambert, Alex James, Cliff Bastin.
Goalscorers: James (16), Lambert (88)

1930 FA Cup Final report (click to enlarge)

1930 FA Cup Final report
(click to enlarge)

1932 – The “Over The Line” Final
23rd April 1932
Newcastle United 2 Arsenal 1
Wembley Stadium
Attendance: 92,298
Frank Moss, Tom Parker (captain), Eddie Hapgood, Charlie Jones, Herbie Roberts, George Male, Joe Hulme, David Jack, Jack Lambert, Cliff Bastin, Bob John.
Goalscorer: John (15).

1932 FA Cup Final report (click to enlarge)

1932 FA Cup Final report
(click to enlarge)

1936 – The “Viewed From The Skies” Final
25th April 1936
Arsenal 1 Sheffield United 0
Wembley Stadium
Attendance: 93,384
Alex Wilson, George Male, Eddie Hapgood, Jack Crayston, Herbie Roberts, Wilf Copping, Joe Hulme, Ray Bowden, Ted Drake, Alex James (captain), Cliff Bastin.
Goalscorer: Drake (74).

1936 FA Cup Final report (click to enlarge)

1936 FA Cup Final report
(click to enlarge)

1950 – The “Old Gold” Final
29th April 1950
Arsenal 2 Liverpool 0
Wembley Stadium
Attendance: 100,000
George Swindin, Laurie Scott, Wally Barnes, Alex Forbes, Leslie Compton, Joe Mercer (captain), Freddie Cox, Jimmy Logie, Peter Goring, Reg Lewis, Denis Compton.
Goalscorer: Lewis (18 and 63).

1950 FA Cup Final report (click to enlarge)

1950 FA Cup Final report
(click to enlarge)

1952 – The “About Time They Had Substitutes” Final
3rd May 1952
Newcastle United 1 Arsenal 0
Wembley Stadium
Attendance: 100,000
George Swindin, Wally Barnes, Lionel Smith, Alex Forbes, Ray Daniel, Joe Mercer (captain), Freddie Cox, Jimmy Logie, Cliff Holton, Doug Lishman, Don Roper.

1952 FA Cup Final report (click to enlarge)

1952 FA Cup Final report
(click to enlarge)

1971 – The “Long Haired Lover Beats Liverpool” Final
8th May 1971
Arsenal 2 Liverpool 1
Wembley Stadium
Attendance: 100,000
Bob Wilson, Pat Rice, Bob McNab, Peter Storey (Eddie Kelly), Frank McLintock (captain), Peter Simpson, George Armstrong, George Graham, John Radford, Ray Kennedy, Charlie George.
Goalscorers: Kelly (101), George (111).

1971 FA Cup Final report (click to enlarge)

1971 FA Cup Final report
(click to enlarge)

1972 – The “Centenary Year” Final
6th May 1972
Leeds United 1 Arsenal 0
Wembley Stadium
Attendance: 100,000
Geoff Barnett, Pat Rice, Bob McNab, Peter Storey, Frank McLintock (captain), Peter Simpson, George Armstrong, Alan Ball, Charlie George, John Radford (Ray Kennedy), George Graham.

1972 FA Cup Final report (click to enlarge)

1972 FA Cup Final report
(click to enlarge)

1978 – The “Injury List” Final
6th May 1978
Ipswich Town 1 Arsenal 0
Wembley Stadium
Attendance: 100,000
Pat Jennings, Pat Rice (captain), Sammy Nelson, David Price, David O’Leary, Willie Young, Liam Brady (Graham Rix), Alan Sunderland, Malcolm Macdonald, Frank Stapleton, Alan Hudson.

1978 FA Cup Final report (click to enlarge)

1978 FA Cup Final report
(click to enlarge)

1979 – The “Five Minute” Final
12th May 1979
Arsenal 3 Manchester United 2
Wembley Stadium
Attendance: 99,219
Pat Jennings, Pat Rice (captain), Sammy Nelson, Brian Talbot, David O’Leary, Willie Young, Liam Brady, Alan Sunderland, Frank Stapleton, David Price (Steve Walford), Graham Rix.
Goalscorers: Talbot (12), Stapleton (43), Sunderland (89).

1979 FA Cup Final report (click to enlarge)

1979 FA Cup Final report
(click to enlarge)

1980 – The “Absolutely Knackered” Final
10th May 1980
West Ham United 1 Arsenal 0
Wembley Stadium
Attendance: 100,000
Pat Jennings, Pat Rice (captain), John Devine (Sammy Nelson), Brian Talbot, David O’Leary, Willie Young, Liam Brady, Alan Sunderland, Frank Stapleton, David Price, Graham Rix.

1980 FA Cup Final report (click to enlarge)

1980 FA Cup Final report
(click to enlarge)

1993 – The “Last Gasp” Final
15th May 1993
Arsenal 1 Sheffield Wednesday 1
Wembley Stadium
Attendance: 79,347
David Seaman, Lee Dixon, Andy Linighan, Tony Adams (captain), Nigel Winterburn, Paul Merson, Paul Davis, John Jensen, Ray Parlour (Alan Smith), Kevin Campbell, Ian Wright (David O’Leary).
Goalscorer: Wright (20).

1993 FA Cup Final report (click to enlarge)

1993 FA Cup Final report
(click to enlarge)

20th May 1993
Arsenal 2 Sheffield Wednesday 1
Wembley Stadium
Attendance: 62,267
David Seaman, Lee Dixon, Andy Linighan, Tony Adams (captain), Nigel Winterburn, Paul Merson, Paul Davis, John Jensen, Kevin Campbell, Alan Smith, Ian Wright (David O’Leary).
Goalscorers: Wright (34), Linighan (119).

1993 FA Cup Final replay report (click to enlarge)

1993 FA Cup Final replay report
(click to enlarge)

1998 – The “Easy” Cup Final
16th May 1998
Arsenal 2 Newcastle United 0
Wembley Stadium
Attendance: 79,183
David Seaman, Lee Dixon, Tony Adams (captain), Martin Keown, Nigel Winterburn, Ray Parlour, Patrick Vieira, Emmanuel Petit, Marc Overmars, Christopher Wreh (David Platt), Nicolas Anelka.
Goalscorers: Overmars (23), Anelka (69).

1998 FA Cup Final report (click to enlarge)

1998 FA Cup Final report
(click to enlarge)

2001 – The “Why Did He Make Those Substitutions” Final
12th May 2001
Liverpool 2 Arsenal 1
Millennium Stadium
Attendance: 72,500
David Seaman, Lee Dixon (Dennis Bergkamp), Martin Keown, Tony Adams (captain), Ashley Cole, Robert Pires, Gilles Grimandi, Patrick Vieira, Freddie Ljungberg (Nwankwo Kanu), Sylvain Wiltord (Ray Parlour), Thierry Henry.
Goalscorer: Ljungberg (72).

2001 FA Cup Final report (click to enlarge)

2001 FA Cup Final report
(click to enlarge)

2002 – The “It’s Alright, It’s Only Ray Parlour” Final
4th May 2002
Arsenal 2 Chelsea 0
Millennium Stadium
Attendance: 73,963
David Seaman, Lauren, Sol Campbell, Tony Adams (captain), Ashley Cole, Sylvain Wiltord (Martin Keown), Ray Parlour, Patrick Vieira, Freddie Ljungberg, Dennis Bergkamp (Edu), Thierry Henry (Nwankwo Kanu).
Goalscorers: Parlour (70), Ljungberg (80).

2002 FA Cup Final report (click to enlarge)

2002 FA Cup Final report
(click to enlarge)

2003 – The “Indoors” Final
17th May 2003
Arsenal 1 Southampton 0
Millennium Stadium
Attendance: 73,726
David Seaman (captain), Lauren, Martin Keown, Oleg Luzhny, Ashley Cole, Robert Pires, Ray Parlour, Gilberto Silva, Freddie Ljungberg, Dennis Bergkamp (Sylvain Wiltord), Thierry Henry.
Goalscorer: Pires (38).

2003 FA Cup Final report (click to enlarge)

2003 FA Cup Final report
(click to enlarge)

2005 – The “Park The Bus” Final
21st May 2005
Arsenal 0 Manchester United 0 (Arsenal won 5-4 on penalties)
Millennium Stadium
Attendance: 71,876
Jens Lehmann, Lauren, Kolo Toure, Philippe Senderos, Ashley Cole, Cesc Fabregas (Robin van Persie), Patrick Vieira (captain), Gilberto Silva, Robert Pires (Edu), Jose Antonio Reyes, Dennis Bergkamp (Freddie Ljungberg).
Penalty scorers: Lauren, Ljungberg, van Persie, Cole, Vieira.

2005 FA Cup Final report (click to enlarge)

2005 FA Cup Final report
(click to enlarge)

2014 – The “Comeback” Final
17th May 2014
Arsenal 3 Hull City 2
Wembley Stadium
Attendance: 89,345
Lukasz Fabianski, Bacary Sagna, Per Mertesacker, Laurent Koscielny, Kieran Gibbs, Mikel Arteta, Aaron Ramsey, Santi Cazorla (Tomas Rosicky), Mesut Ozil (Jack Wilshere), Lukas Podolski (Yaya Sanogo), Olivier Giroud.
Scorers: Cazorla (17), Koscielny (71), Ramsey (109).

Match report to follow

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