1985–86 Arsenal F.C. season

After 4 consecutive wins in a run of 8 wins, 2 draws and 1 defeat in 11 games Don Howe resigned on 22 March 1986. With Arsenal on the fringes of the title race, rumours were abound that the Arsenal board had approached Terry Venables with a view to naming him as Don Howe’s successor. When Howe was unable to get clarity or reassurance from the board, he promptly resigned.

Howe was hardly a failure, as the Gunners had not finished lower than seventh in the First Division under his leadership, but in the absence of silverware his exit became inevitable. Adopting a lower public profile than his predecessor, Howe did not invest heavily in the transfer market, preferring to augment his squad by bringing through youngsters such as Tony Adams, David Rocastle and Niall Quinn, but he never attained the desired blend.{{Cite book |last=Soar |first=Phil |title=Arsenal 1886-1986: the official centenary history of Arsenal Football Club |last2=Tyler |first2=Martin |publisher=Hamlyn |year=1986 |isbn=9780600358718 |location=Twickenham |pages=250–54 |language=en}}

Steven Burtenshaw took over with the club 5th in the league. The momentum was immediately lost and with five defeats in the next seven games Arsenal slipped away from their challenging position. Once again, the domestic cups would see the Gunners fall short.  In the F.A. Cup they fell in the fifth round, losing 3 – 0 to Luton Town at Kenilworth Road after a replay. In the League Cup, another replay saw Arsenal bow out at the quarter-final stage to Aston Villa.{{Cite web |date=2022-04-01 |title=theguardian. |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/dec/24/don-howe}}Official Arsenal Handbook. On 8 April 1986 Paul Mariner played his last league game for Arsenal against Nottingham Forest.  In his final season he made just 5 starts and 7 sub appearances in league and cup but failed to score.

The crowds declined too. On 26 April 1986 when Arsenal met West Bromwich Albion at Highbury just 14,843 turned up. The 2-2 draw made it just one win in eight matches.  On 3 May against Birmingham City Tony Woodcock scored his 11th and final league goal of the season. He was Arsenal’s top scorer, as he was the previous season when both he and Brian Talbot got 10 each. Only 6,234 were in the crowd at St.Andrew's to see it. Two days later Tony Woodcock played his last game for Arsenal, a 3-0 away defeat to Oxford. Then with the season over, Arsenal finishing in 7th, on 14 May 1986 George Graham became manager.Tony Atwood. Arsenal History Society: preserving Arsenal's heritage.

{{Fs start}}

{{Fs player|no=|nat=ENG|pos=GK|name=John Lukic}}

{{Fs player|no=|nat=ENG|pos=DF|name=Viv Anderson}}

{{Fs player|no=|nat=ENG|pos=DF|name=Kenny Sansom}}

{{Fs player|no=|nat=ENG|pos=MF|name=Stewart Robson}}

{{Fs player|no=|nat=IRL|pos=DF|name=David O'Leary}}

{{Fs player|no=|nat=ENG|pos=DF|name=Martin Keown}}

{{Fs player|no=|nat=ENG|pos=MF|name=Ian Allinson}}

{{Fs player|no=|nat=ENG|pos=MF|name=Paul Davis}}

{{Fs player|no=|nat=SCO|pos=FW|name=Charlie Nicholas}}

{{Fs player|no=|nat=ENG|pos=FW|name=Tony Woodcock}}

{{Fs player|no=|nat=ENG|pos=MF|name=Graham Rix|other=captain}}

{{Fs mid}}

{{Fs player|no=|nat=ENG|pos=DF|name=Tommy Caton}}

{{Fs player|no=|nat=ENG|pos=MF|name=Steve Williams}}

{{Fs player|no=|nat=ENG|pos=MF|name=David Rocastle}}

{{Fs player|no=|nat=ENG|pos=FW|name=Martin Hayes}}

{{Fs player|no=|nat=ENG|pos=DF|name=Tony Adams}}

{{Fs player|no=|nat=IRL|pos=FW|name=Niall Quinn}}

{{Fs player|no=|nat=ENG|pos=DF|name=Chris Whyte}}

{{Fs player|no=|nat=ENG|pos=FW|name=Paul Mariner}}

{{Fs player|no=|nat=ENG|pos=DF|name=Gus Caesar}}

{{Fs player|no=|nat=WAL|pos=GK|name=Rhys Wilmot}}

{{Fs end}}

{{main|1985–86 Football League#First Division}}

{{:1985–86 Football League|transcludesection=First Division|only_totals=y|showteam=ARS}}

{{Football box collapsible

|round = 1

|date = 17 August 1985

|time =

|team1 = Liverpool

|score = 2–0

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|team2 = Arsenal

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|goals2 =

|location = Liverpool

|stadium = Anfield

|attendance =

|referee =

|result = L

}}

{{Football box collapsible

|round = 2

|date = 20 August 1985

|time =

|team1 = Arsenal

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|team2 = Southampton

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|goals2 =

|location = London

|stadium = Highbury

|attendance =

|referee =

|result = W

}}

{{Football box collapsible

|round = 3

|date = 24 August 1985

|time =

|team1 = Arsenal

|score = 1–2

|report =

|team2 = Manchester United

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|goals2 =

|location = London

|stadium = Highbury

|attendance =

|referee =

|result = L

}}

{{Football box collapsible

|round = 4

|date = 27 August 1985

|time =

|team1 = Luton Town

|score = 2–2

|report =

|team2 = Arsenal

|goals1 =

|goals2 =

|location = Luton

|stadium = Kenilworth Road

|attendance =

|referee =

|result = D

}}

{{Football box collapsible

|round = 5

|date = 31 August 1985

|time =

|team1 = Arsenal

|score = 1–0

|report =

|team2 = Leicester City

|goals1 =

|goals2 =

|location = London

|stadium = Highbury

|attendance =

|referee =

|result = W

}}

{{Football box collapsible

|round = 6

|date = 3 September 1985

|time =

|team1 = Queen's Park Rangers

|score = 0–1

|report =

|team2 = Arsenal

|goals1 =

|goals2 =

|location = London

|stadium = Loftus Road

|attendance =

|referee =

|result = W

}}

{{Football box collapsible

|round = 7

|date = 7 September 1985

|time =

|team1 = Coventry City

|score = 0–2

|report =

|team2 = Arsenal

|goals1 =

|goals2 =

|location = Coventry

|stadium = Highfield Road

|attendance =

|referee =

|result = W

}}

{{Football box collapsible

|round = 8

|date = 14 September 1985

|time =

|team1 = Arsenal

|score = 1–0

|report =

|team2 = Sheffield Wednesday

|goals1 =

|goals2 =

|location = London

|stadium = Highbury

|attendance =

|referee =

|result = W

}}

{{Football box collapsible

|round = 9

|date = 21 September 1985

|time =

|team1 = Chelsea

|score = 2–1

|report =

|team2 = Arsenal

|goals1 =

|goals2 =

|location = London

|stadium = Stamford Bridge

|attendance =

|referee =

|result = L

}}

{{Football box collapsible

|round = 10

|date = 28 September 1985

|time =

|team1 = Arsenal

|score = 0–0

|report =

|team2 = Newcastle United

|goals1 =

|goals2 =

|location = London

|stadium = Highbury

|attendance =

|referee =

|result = D

}}

{{Football box collapsible

|round = 11

|date = 5 October 1985

|time =

|team1 = Arsenal

|score = 3–2

|report =

|team2 = Aston Villa

|goals1 =

|goals2 = {{goal}}

|location = London

|stadium = Highbury

|attendance =

|referee =

|result = W

}}

{{Football box collapsible

|round = 12

|date = 12 October 1985

|time =

|team1 = West Ham United

|score = 0–0

|report =

|team2 = Arsenal

|goals1 = Hayes {{goal|pen.}} {{goal}}
Rocastle {{goal}}

|goals2 =

|location = London

|stadium = Upton Park

|attendance =

|referee =

|result = D

}}

{{Football box collapsible

|round = 13

|date = 19 October 1985

|time =

|team1 = Arsenal

|score = 1–0

|report =

|team2 = Ipswich Town

|goals1 =

|goals2 =

|location = London

|stadium = Highbury

|attendance =

|referee =

|result = W

}}

{{Football box collapsible

|round = 14

|date = 26 October 1985

|time =

|team1 = Nottingham Forest

|score = 3–2

|report =

|team2 = Arsenal

|goals1 =

|goals2 =

|location = Nottingham

|stadium = City Ground

|attendance =

|referee =

|result = L

}}

{{Football box collapsible

|round = 15

|date = 2 November 1985

|time =

|team1 = Arsenal

|score = 1–0

|report =

|team2 = Manchester City

|goals1 =

|goals2 =

|location = London

|stadium = Highbury

|attendance =

|referee =

|result = W

}}

{{Football box collapsible

|round = 16

|date = 9 November 1985

|time =

|team1 = Everton

|score = 6–1

|report =

|team2 = Arsenal

|goals1 =

|goals2 =

|location = Liverpool

|stadium = Goodison Park

|attendance =

|referee =

|result = L

}}

{{Football box collapsible

|round = 17

|date = 16 November 1985

|time =

|team1 = Arsenal

|score = 2–1

|report =

|team2 = Oxford United

|goals1 =

|goals2 =

|location = London

|stadium = Highbury

|attendance =

|referee =

|result = W

}}

{{Football box collapsible

|round = 18

|date = 23 November 1985

|time =

|team1 = West Bromwich Albion

|score = 0–0

|report =

|team2 = Arsenal

|goals1 =

|goals2 =

|location = West Bromwich

|stadium = The Hawthorns

|attendance =

|referee =

|result = D

}}

{{Football box collapsible

|round = 19

|date = 30 November 1985

|time =

|team1 = Arsenal

|score = 0–0

|report =

|team2 = Birmingham City

|goals1 =

|goals2 =

|location = London

|stadium = Highbury

|attendance =

|referee =

|result = D

}}

{{Football box collapsible

|round = 20

|date = 7 December 1985

|time =

|team1 = Southampton

|score = 3–0

|report =

|team2 = Arsenal

|goals1 =

|goals2 =

|location = Southampton

|stadium = The Dell

|attendance =

|referee =

|result = L

}}

{{Football box collapsible

|round = 21

|date = 14 December 1985

|time =

|team1 = Arsenal

|score = 2–0

|report =

|team2 = Liverpool

|goals1 =

|goals2 =

|location = London

|stadium = Highbury

|attendance =

|referee =

|result = W

}}

{{Football box collapsible

|round = 22

|date = 21 December 1985

|time =

|team1 = Manchester United

|score = 0–1

|report =

|team2 = Arsenal

|goals1 =

|goals2 =

|location = Manchester

|stadium = Old Trafford

|attendance =

|referee =

|result = W

}}

{{Football box collapsible

|round = 23

|date = 28 December 1985

|time =

|team1 = Arsenal

|score = 3–1

|report =

|team2 = Queen's Park Rangers

|goals1 =

|goals2 =

|location = London

|stadium = Highbury

|attendance =

|referee =

|result = W

}}

{{Football box collapsible

|round = 24

|date = 1 January 1986

|time =

|team1 = Arsenal

|score = 0–0

|report =

|team2 = Tottenham Hotspur

|goals1 =

|goals2 =

|location = London

|stadium = Highbury

|attendance =

|referee =

|result = D

}}

{{Football box collapsible

|round = 25

|date = 18 January 1986

|time =

|team1 = Leicester City

|score = 2–2

|report =

|team2 = Arsenal

|goals1 =

|goals2 =

|location = Leicester

|stadium = Filbert Street

|attendance =

|referee =

|result = D

}}

{{Football box collapsible

|round = 26

|date = 1 February 1986

|time =

|team1 = Arsenal

|score = 2–1

|report =

|team2 = Luton Town

|goals1 =

|goals2 =

|location = London

|stadium = Highbury

|attendance =

|referee =

|result = W

}}

{{Football box collapsible

|round = 27

|date = 1 March 1986

|time =

|team1 = Newcastle United

|score = 1–0

|report =

|team2 = Arsenal

|goals1 =

|goals2 =

|location = Newcastle upon Tyne

|stadium = St James' Park

|attendance =

|referee =

|result = L

}}

{{Football box collapsible

|round = 28

|date = 8 March 1986

|time =

|team1 = Aston Villa

|score = 1–4

|report =

|team2 = Arsenal

|goals1 =

|goals2 =

|location = Birmingham

|stadium = Villa Park

|attendance =

|referee =

|result = W

}}

{{Football box collapsible

|round = 29

|date = 11 March 1986

|time =

|team1 = Ipswich Town

|score = 1–2

|report =

|team2 = Arsenal

|goals1 =

|goals2 =

|location = Ipswich

|stadium = Portman Road

|attendance =

|referee =

|result = W

}}

{{Football box collapsible

|round = 30

|date = 15 March 1986

|time =

|team1 = Arsenal

|score = 1–0

|report =

|team2 = West Ham United

|goals1 =

|goals2 =

|location = London

|stadium = Highbury

|attendance =

|referee =

|result = W

}}

{{Football box collapsible

|round = 31

|date = 22 March 1986

|time =

|team1 = Arsenal

|score = 3–0

|report =

|team2 = Coventry City

|goals1 =

|goals2 =

|location = London

|stadium = Highbury

|attendance =

|referee =

|result = W

}}

{{Football box collapsible

|round = 32

|date = 29 March 1986

|time =

|team1 = Tottenham Hotspur

|score = 1–0

|report =

|team2 = Arsenal

|goals1 =

|goals2 =

|location = London

|stadium = White Hart Lane

|attendance =

|referee =

|result = L

}}

{{Football box collapsible

|round = 33

|date = 31 March 1986

|time =

|team1 = Arsenal

|score = 0–2

|report =

|team2 = Watford

|goals1 =

|goals2 =

|location = London

|stadium = Highbury

|attendance =

|referee =

|result = L

}}

{{Football box collapsible

|round = 34

|date = 1 April 1986

|time =

|team1 = Watford

|score = 3–0

|report =

|team2 = Arsenal

|goals1 =

|goals2 =

|location = London

|stadium = Vicarage Road

|attendance =

|referee =

|result = L

}}

{{Football box collapsible

|round = 35

|date = 5 April 1986

|time =

|team1 = Manchester City

|score = 0–1

|report =

|team2 = Arsenal

|goals1 =

|goals2 =

|location = Manchester

|stadium = Maine Road

|attendance =

|referee =

|result = W

}}

{{Football box collapsible

|round = 36

|date = 8 April 1986

|time =

|team1 = Arsenal

|score = 1–1

|report =

|team2 = Nottingham Forest

|goals1 =

|goals2 =

|location = London

|stadium = Highbury

|attendance =

|referee =

|result = D

}}

{{Football box collapsible

|round = 37

|date = 12 April 1986

|time =

|team1 = Arsenal

|score = 0–1

|report =

|team2 = Everton

|goals1 =

|goals2 =

|location = London

|stadium = Highbury

|attendance =

|referee =

|result = L

}}

{{Football box collapsible

|round = 38

|date = 16 April 1986

|time =

|team1 = Sheffield Wednesday

|score = 2–0

|report =

|team2 = Arsenal

|goals1 =

|goals2 =

|location = Sheffield

|stadium = Hillsborough

|attendance =

|referee =

|result = L

}}

{{Football box collapsible

|round = 39

|date = 26 April 1986

|time =

|team1 = Arsenal

|score = 2–2

|report =

|team2 = West Bromwich Albion

|goals1 =

|goals2 =

|location = London

|stadium = Highbury

|attendance = 14,843

|referee =

|result = D

}}

{{Football box collapsible

|round = 40

|date = 29 April 1986

|time =

|team1 = Arsenal

|score = 2–0

|report =

|team2 = Chelsea

|goals1 =

|goals2 =

|location = London

|stadium = Highbury

|attendance = 24,025

|referee =

|result = W

}}

{{Football box collapsible

|round = 41

|date = 3 May 1986

|time =

|team1 = Birmingham City

|score = 0–1

|report =

|team2 = Arsenal

|goals1 =

|goals2 =

|location = Birmingham

|stadium = St Andrew's

|attendance = 6,234

|referee =

|result = W

}}

{{Football box collapsible

|round = 42

|date = 5 May 1986

|time =

|team1 = Oxford United

|score = 3–0

|report =

|team2 = Arsenal

|goals1 =

|goals2 =

|location = Oxford

|stadium = Manor Ground

|attendance = 13,651

|referee =

|result = L

}}

{{main|1985–86 Football League Cup}}

{{football box collapsible

|round = Second round
(1st Leg)

|date = 25 September 1985

|time =

|team1 = Hereford United

|score = 0–0

|report =

|team2 = Arsenal

|goals1 =

|goals2 =

|location = Hereford

|stadium = Edgar Street

|attendance =

|referee =

|result = D

}}

{{football box collapsible

|round = Second round
(2nd Leg)

|date = 8 October 1985

|time =

|team1 = Arsenal

|score = 2–1

|aggregatescore = 2–1

|report =

|team2 = Hereford United

|goals1 =

|goals2 =

|location = London

|stadium = Highbury

|attendance =

|referee =

|result = W

}}

{{football box collapsible

|round = Third round

|date = 30 October 1985

|time =

|team1 = Manchester City

|score = 1–2

|report =

|team2 = Arsenal

|goals1 =

|goals2 =

|location = Manchester

|stadium = Maine Road

|attendance =

|referee =

|result = W

}}

{{football box collapsible

|round = Fourth round

|date = 19 November 1985

|time =

|team1 = Arsenal

|score = 0–0

|report =

|team2 = Southampton

|goals1 =

|goals2 =

|location = London

|stadium = Highbury

|attendance =

|referee =

|result = D

}}

{{football box collapsible

|round = Fourth round
(replay)

|date = 26 November 1985

|time =

|team1 = Southampton

|score = 1–3

|report =

|team2 = Arsenal

|goals1 =

|goals2 =

|location = Southampton

|stadium = The Dell, Southampton

|attendance =

|referee =

|result = W

}}

{{football box collapsible

|round = Fifth round

|date = 22 January 1986

|time =

|team1 = Aston Villa

|score = 1–1

|report =

|team2 = Arsenal

|goals1 =

|goals2 =

|location = Birmingham

|stadium = Villa Park

|attendance =

|referee =

|result = D

}}

{{football box collapsible

|round = Fifth round
(replay)

|date = 4 February 1986

|time =

|team1 = Arsenal

|score = 1–2

|report =

|team2 = Aston Villa

|goals1 =

|goals2 =

|location = London

|stadium = Highbury

|attendance =

|referee =

|result = L

}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.11v11.com/teams/arsenal/tab/matches/season/1986/|title=Arsenal match record: 1986}}

{{main|1985–86 FA Cup}}

Arsenal entered the FA Cup in the third round proper, in which they were drawn to face Grimsby Town.

{{football box collapsible

|round = Third round

|date = 4 January 1986

|time =

|team1 = Grimsby Town

|score = 3–4

|report =

|team2 = Arsenal

|goals1 =

|goals2 =

|location = Grimsby

|stadium = Blundel Park

|attendance =

|referee =

|result = W

}}

{{football box collapsible

|round = Fourth round

|date = 25 January 1986

|time =

|team1 = Arsenal

|score = 5–1

|report =

|team2 = Rotherham United

|goals1 =

|goals2 =

|location = London

|stadium = Highbury

|attendance =

|referee =

|result = W

}}

{{football box collapsible

|round = Fifth round

|date = 15 February 1986

|time =

|team1 = Luton Town

|score = 2–2

|report =

|team2 = Arsenal

|goals1 =

|goals2 =

|location = Luton

|stadium = Kenilworth Road

|attendance =

|referee =

|result = D

}}

{{football box collapsible

|round = Fifth round
(replay)

|date = 3 March 1986

|time =

|team1 = Arsenal

|score = 0–0

|report =

|team2 = Luton Town

|goals1 =

|goals2 =

|location = London

|stadium = Highbury

|attendance =

|referee =

|result = D

}}

{{football box collapsible

|round = Fifth round
(2nd replay)

|date = 5 March 1986

|time =

|team1 = Luton Town

|score = 3–0

|report =

|team2 = Arsenal

|goals1 =

|goals2 =

|location = Luton

|stadium = Kenilworth Road

|attendance =

|referee =

|result = L

}}

• {{flagicon|ENG}} Tony Woodcock 11
• {{flagicon|SCO}} Charlie Nicholas 10
• {{flagicon|ENG}} Ian Allinson 6
• {{flagicon|ENG}} Paul Davis 4
• {{flagicon|ENG}} Stewart Robson 4

{{Reflist}}

• Arsenal 1985–86 on [http://www.statto.com/football/teams/arsenal/1985-1986 statto.com]

{{Arsenal F.C. seasons}}

{{1985–86 in English football}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:1985-86 Arsenal F.C. season}}

Arsenal

Category:Arsenal F.C. seasons