50 years ago today: Arsenal win league at Tottenham for first time

50 years ago, on 3 May 1971, Arsenal won the league at White Hart Lane for the first time.

Arsenal player George Graham heads the ball at White Hart Lane during a match against arch rivals Tottenham Hotspur, 3 May 1971. Ray Kennedy scored for Arsenal in the last minute to beat Spurs and win the league championship title. (Photo by Hulton Archive/Getty Images)
Arsenal player George Graham heads the ball at White Hart Lane during a match against arch rivals Tottenham Hotspur, 3 May 1971. Ray Kennedy scored for Arsenal in the last minute to beat Spurs and win the league championship title. (Photo by Hulton Archive/Getty Images)
  • Arsenal hadn’t won league since 1953
  • Needed goalless draw or win
  • Beat Leeds to title by one point
  • Won Double with FA Cup victory over Liverpool

Arsenal have managed to win the league at White Hart Lane twice in their history.

The occasion we often think about came in 2004 and rounded off the end of a superb unbeaten season with the Gunners managing a 2-2 draw. That was all they needed after Chelsea had lost away to Newcastle in an earlier kick-off.

In 1971, Arsenal needed a win or goalless draw against their bitterest rivals to win the title for the first time since 1953.

arsenal 1971
Arsenal’s 1971 squad

The scoreline stayed 0-0 until the 88th minute when Ray Kennedy scored from a George Armstrong cross.

Arsenal beat Leeds to the title by just one point and the 1-0 win over Spurs meant they finished above their north London rivals by 13.

Tottenham lineup:

Pat Jennings
Joe Kinnear
Phil Beal
Cyril Knowles
Steve Perryman
Peter Collins
Alan Mullery
Jimmy Neighbour
Martin Peters
Martin Chivers
Alan Gilzean

Arsenal lineup:

Bob Wilson
Pat Rice
Frank McLintock
Peter Simpson
Bob McNab
George Armstrong
Eddie Kelly
Ray Kennedy
Charlie George
John Radford
George Graham

That season, Arsenal won the Double, also beating Liverpool (2-1) in the FA Cup final.