Whittaker's Years

The 1947-48 season, Whittakers first, saw Arsenal crowned at champions again with the final game a convincing 8-0 win over Grimsby Town. This season also saw the last of Chapmans men play their last game, when George Male retired after the final game.

Whilst it was to be another five years before Arsenal would again be crowned champions, the FA Cup returned to Arsenal in 1950, when Liverpool were beaten 2-0.

The 1951-52 season was the closest Arsenal had ever come to winning the double, losing in the FA Cup Final to Newcastle and losing the championship on the last two games (losing 3-1 to West Bromwich Albion and 6-1 to Manchester United).

The 1952-53 season saw Arsenal again crowned champions, this time with an unremarkable 54 points, winning on goal average (Arsenals goal average was 1.516 against Prestons 1.417).

It would be 17 years before Arsenal next brought home any silverware, with a win in the European Fairs Cup in 1969 over Anderlecht, winning 4-3 on aggregate (losing the away leg 3-1 and winning the home leg 3-0).

Arsenal appeared at Wembley twice in the 17 years, both times in the Football League Cups, losing on both occasions; firstly to Leeds in 1968 then to Swindon Town in 1969.

Overall the period from the start of the 1953-54 season to the start of the famous 1970-71 season, Arsenal failed to achieve league form, attaining their highest position of 3rd in the 1958-59 season.

Tom Whittaker died in October of 1956, like Chapman before him he died young and whilst still manager of Arsenal.

Jack Crayston, Whittakers assistant took over the managers role, resigning only two years later succeeded by George Swindon who in turn only stayed at the helm until 1962. Swindon was followed by Billy Wright, himself removed by the board at the end of the 1966 season.