In It's an Honour, featured first in the official matchday programme, we're looking back at the seasons that have brought silverware to north London. We re-live the 1936 FA Cup win.
Despite some tough away draws early in the competition, George Allison’s Gunners blasted their way to Wembley, netting 18 goals en route.
Arsenal started with a comfortable 5-1 win at Bristol Rovers, Cliff Bastin and Ted Drake netted two each, while Ray Bowden claimed the other.
Next Arsenal travelled to Anfield, and returned triumphant courtesy of strikes from Bowden and Joe Hulme. Next up were Newcastle United in a repeat of the 1932 final.
Bowden (two) and Hulme were again on target as Arsenal secured a good 3-3 draw to take the tie back to Highbury. Bastin slotted home two penalties in the replay as Arsenal won 3-0.
George Allison at Highbury
Given a home draw in the last eight Arsenal easily saw off Barnsley 4-1 to set up a semi-final clash with Grimsby at Huddersfield. Bastin’s goal was enough to send Arsenal through to Wembley for the fourth time in 10 years.
Arsenal met Sheffield United of the Second Division in the final, and were able to name Drake in the line-up despite him having only recently recovered from a cartilage operation.
His inclusion proved decisive. With just over a quarter of an hour remaining, and largely against the run of play, Drake received a through-ball from Bastin and fired a rocket past the United ‘keeper to seal the win.
Drake was unable to celebrate the winning goal though, as his injured knee was proving too painful. It had proved a memorable season for Darke though. On December 14, 1935 he scored all seven goals in the 7-1 league win against Aston Villa at Villa Park. It remains an Arsenal record for most goals in a game.
Road to Wembley
Third round - Bristol Rovers 1, Arsenal 5
Fourth round - Liverpool 0, Arsenal 2
Fifth round - Newcastle United 3, Arsenal 3
Fifth round replay - Arsenal 3, Newcastle United 0
Quarter-final - Arsenal 4, Barnsley 1
Semi-final - Arsenal 1, Grimsby Town 0
Final - Arsenal 1, Sheffield United 0 (Drake 74)
April 25, 1936
Attendance: 93,384
Arsenal team: Wilson, Male, Hapgood, Crayston, Roberts, Copping, Hulme, Bowden, Drake, James, Bastin.
FA Cup appearances: Bastin 7, Bowden 7, Copping 7, Crayston 7, Hapgood 7, Hulme 7, Male 7, James 6, Roberts 5, Wilson 5, Beasley 4, Drake 3, Moss 2, Sidey 2, Davidson 1.
FA Cup goals: Bastin 6, Bowden 5, Beasley 3, Drake 3, Hulme 2
Also that season: Joe Payne of Luton Town scored a record 10 goals in a league game against Bristol Rovers on April 13, 1936. Luton won the Third Division match 12-0. Payne scored 83 goals in 72 league games for the Hatters overall, and netted two in his only England appearance.
And… The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) launched the world's first television service with three hours of programming a day.
FA Cup squad 1936
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