24 December 1932 – a staggering Arsenal Christmas present

By Tony Attwood

If you ever want to see an amazing run up to Christmas, consider 1932.

28 August 1932:  The Times confirms Charlie Jones appointed captain

3 September 1932.  Arsenal start an amazing 18 match run in which they won 15, drew 2 and suffered one defeat scored 66 goals in the process (3.66 a game)

15 October 1932: George Male’s first appearance as a right back v Blackburn

29 October 1932: Arsenal 8 Leicester 2, continuing a run of 9 wins, drawn 2 and lost 1 in the league.

31 October 1932: Racing club de Paris 2 Arsenal 5.  Four goals from Cliff Bastin

5 November 1932: Following the 8-2 win one week before Arsenal beat Wolverhampton 7-1 away.

12 November 1932: Arsenal make it 11 wins, 2 draws and 1 defeat in the opening of the season  with a 1-0 win over Newcastle.

19 November 1932 Arsenal let in five!

3 December 1932: Arsenal score 3+ goals for the fifth match running – not repeated until 2008/9

24 December 1932: Arsenal 9 Sheffield Wed 2.  It meant thus far in the season Arsenal had in different games scored 6, 7, 8 and 9 goals.

27 December 1930: George Male first game for the first team.  Arsenal 7 Blackpool 1  The fourth game of the season with five or more goals by Arsenal Nov 19 1932

Here’s the full set of results…

As you can see from the final column on the right Arsenal had started poorly but climbed to top position.   Here is the league table for Christmas day 1932.

Date Opposition Venue Result Pos
27 Aug Birmingham City away W1-0 1
31 Aug West Bromwich Albion home L1-2 9
3 Sept Sunderland home W6-1 7
10 Sept Manchester City away W3-2 5
14 Sept West Bromwich Albion away D1-1 5
17 Sept Bolton Wanderers home W3-2 4
24 Sept Everton home W2-1 2
1 Oct Blackpool away W2-1 2
8 Oct Derby County home D3-3 2
15 Oct Blackburn Rovers away W3-2 2
22 Oct Liverpool away W3-2 2
29 Oct Leicester City home W8-2 1
5 Nov Wolverhampton W away W7-1 1
12 Nov Newcastle United home W1-0 1
19 Nov Aston Villa away L3-5 2
26 Nov Middlesbrough home W4-2 1
3 Dec Portsmouth away W3-1 1
10 Dec Chelsea home W4-1 1
17 Dec Huddersfield Town away W1-0 1
24 Dec Sheffield Utd home W 9-2 1

68 goals in 20 games had led to something of a gung-ho attitude in the defence, but I doubt that too many people were complaining.

Just to emphasise the fact, take a closer look at the run up to Xmas Eve

26.11.1932 Middlesbrough home W4-2 1
03.12.1932 Portsmouth away W3-1 1
10.12.1932 Chelsea home W4-1 1
17.12.1932 Huddersfield Town away W1-0 1
24.12.1932 Sheffield United home W9-2 1

Five straight wins, 21 goals scored, six let in.  We were six points clear at the top of the league in an era of only two points for a win.

P W D L F A G.D. Pts
1 Arsenal 20 16 2 2 68 31 2.19 34
2 Aston Villa 20 11 6 3 50 30 1.67 28
3 Sheffield Wednesday 20 12 3 5 45 29 1.55 27
4 Derby County 20 10 6 4 45 32 1.41 26
5 Leeds United 20 9 8 3 29 22 1.32 26
6 Newcastle United 19 10 3 6 36 24 1.50 23
7 Everton 20 9 4 7 38 31 1.23 22
8 West Bromwich Albion 20 10 2 8 38 34 1.12 22
9 Sunderland 20 9 4 7 37 37 1.00 22
10 Huddersfield Town 20 9 3 8 28 26 1.08 21
11 Blackburn Rovers 20 6 7 7 42 45 0.93 19
12 Bolton Wanderers 20 8 3 9 43 49 0.88 19
13 Sheffield United 20 7 5 8 38 50 0.76 19
14 Portsmouth 20 7 4 9 39 44 0.89 18
15 Manchester City 20 8 1 11 41 39 1.05 17
16 Birmingham City 20 6 5 9 29 30 0.97 17
17 Liverpool 20 6 5 9 37 42 0.88 17
18 Chelsea 20 7 2 11 30 41 0.73 16
19 Blackpool 20 8 0 12 32 45 0.71 16
20 Middlesbrough 19 4 2 13 29 45 0.64 10
21 Leicester City 20 1 8 11 26 49 0.53 10
22 Wolverhampton Wndrs 20 3 3 14 34 59 0.58 9

24 December 1932 – a staggering Xmas present to the fans.

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