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Anfield '89 may represent the most dramatic end to a title race but,
as far as close-run things are concerned, the 1952/53 season deserves an
honourable mention.
There was no final-day head-to-head between the two title
protagonists on that occasion but number crunchers were gainfully
employed as Arsenal pipped Preston to the Division One crown by the skin
of their teeth.
On the final Saturday of the league campaign, Tom Whittaker took his
team to Deepdale with a two-point advantage over Preston at the top of
the table. Goals from Tom Finney and Charlie Wayman left the title race
hanging in the balance with both sides locked on 52 points and one game
each to play.
Preston were first up, beating rock-bottom Derby to move two points
ahead of Arsenal. That left Whittaker's men facing a must-win game at
Highbury on the Friday before FA Cup Final day. Burnley, a top-six side
no less, made life difficult.
The Clarets were ahead after just three minutes when Arsenal captain
Joe Mercer diverted the ball past his own keeper. The title seemed to be
on its way to Deepdale but the Gunners roared back with goals from
Jimmy Logie, Alex Forbes and Doug Lishman.
Arsenal's nerves were frayed once more when Burnley reduced the
deficit to 3-2 in the second half, but the home side held on to the
delight of a capacity crowd. The title was back at Highbury for a
seventh time.
Arsenal and Preston finished with identical records of 21 wins, 12
draws and nine defeats. Goal average was needed to separate the sides
and Whittaker's players were rewarded for their attacking ethos.
Arsenal's goal average was 1.516, Preston's was 1.417. The margin of
victory? A mere 0.099 of a goal.
That was the good news. The bad news, in retrospect, was that this
success represented Arsenal's last major trophy for 17 years. It was the
beginning of a barren spell which would eventually be broken by Bertie
Mee's class of 1970.
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