Who was Arsenal's goalkeeper in the 1971 FA Cup final?

Bob Wilson: The Goalkeeper Behind Arsenal's Famous Double

Bob Wilson was the man between the sticks for Arsenal on that historic afternoon at Wembley on 8 May 1971, and his performance played a crucial role in one of the most dramatic FA Cup finals of the decade.

The final itself was a tense, grinding affair against Liverpool. After 90 minutes the match was goalless, sending it into extra time. Steve Heighway broke the deadlock for Liverpool early in the extra period, and for a moment it looked like Arsenal's dream might be slipping away. Eddie Kelly pulled one back, and then — famously — Charlie George settled it with a thunderous long-range strike, wheeling away to lie flat on the Wembley turf in celebration. Arsenal won 2–1.

Wilson had kept Arsenal in the game throughout. His shot-stopping and command of his area were central to the Gunners holding Liverpool at bay for so long. It was the kind of composed, assured display that had become his trademark across four seasons as first-choice keeper at Highbury.

A Goalkeeper Unlike Any Other

What made Bob Wilson's story particularly remarkable was his route to the top. Born in Chesterfield in 1941, Wilson was one of the few outfield players who taught himself goalkeeping as an adult. He started his career as a full-back before reinventing himself between the posts — an almost unheard-of transition at professional level.

He joined Arsenal from Wolverhampton Wanderers in 1963 and spent years as a reliable understudy before eventually cementing his place in the first team. His dedication and technical intelligence made him one of the most respected keepers in English football by the time the 1970–71 season arrived.

The Double That Defined a Generation

That FA Cup triumph completed Arsenal's famous League and Cup Double — only the second club in the 20th century to achieve it, following Tottenham Hotspur's effort ten years earlier in 1961. Arsenal had clinched the First Division title just five days before at White Hart Lane, of all places, beating Spurs' bitter rivals on their own ground with a late Ray Kennedy header.

Wilson was an integral part of Bertie Mee's side throughout that season, making the Double possible as much through what he prevented as what his teammates scored.

Life After the Gloves

Wilson retired from professional football in 1974 and became one of British television's best-known football presenters, working for the BBC for many years. He also founded the Willow Foundation, a charity supporting seriously ill young adults, in memory of his daughter Anna, who died of cancer in 1998. His legacy stretches well beyond that sunny Wembley afternoon, but the 1971 FA Cup final remains one of his proudest chapters.