Arsenal FA Cup Semi-Final v Stoke 1970-71

Note: This video is for educational and commentary purposes only.

I always consider this to be Peter Storey's FA Cup semi-final. Played against a very good Stoke team, 2 nil down at half time with the great Jimmy Greenoff failing to kill the game off and make it 3 - 1 to Stoke.

Watch Gordon Banks, considered to be the best keeper in the world at the time, do a very passable impression of Jens Lehmann. Priceless.

But the best has to be Peter Storey's penalty in extra time. Against a keeper of Bank's quality, this has to be one of the greatest of all time. Watch how close it passes to Banks and how he is rooted to the spot.

Thanks Peter. One of the best Arsenal and England players of all time. He's just published a new book called "True Storey, My Life and Crimes as a Football Hatchet Man". There's a great review on Goonerholic (just Google Goonerholic Peter Story Book) and they have a link to Amazon to buy the book. A must for any Arsenal supporter.

Category:

Sports

Tags:

• Arsenal
• Peter
• Storey
• Double
• 1970
• 1971
• 1970-71
• FA
• Cup
• Semi
• Final
• Stoke

[Poopingbotham]

So, so, so close for Stoke City. If Mahoney or Greenhoff had put away their chance, Arsenal would never have came back. Or if Banks had moved the other way, he could have just stuck his foot out and stopped Storey's penalty.

The course of history hangs on a tiny, tiny thread

[barrywebb]

@Poopingbotham

So true. The score could have been 4 - 1 to Stoke at one point and I don't think Arsenal were coming back from that. For those whose football knowledge doesn't extend beyond the Premier League, Stoke, under Tony Waddington, were a very good side.

Banks had a nightmare. I can't remember seeing him that excited before. The prospect of an FA Cup final must have got the better of him.

The penalty: Considering how good a keeper Bank's was, he didn't move at all.

[vordman]

Banks should have saved that penalty, it was practically down the middle.

[barrywebb]

@vordman

Perhaps so. But at the time he was considered the best goalkeeper in the World.

I think he was genuinely taken by surprise partly because Storey didn't hit the ball that well. But it's often harder for a keeper to stop a ball that is close to you (including through the legs) than it is if it had been better struck.

[LiterallyMad]

Arsenal could do with Peter Storey now. He wouldn't take any nonsense in the centre of midfield.

[barrywebb]

@LiterallyMad

Perhaps we need someone a little faster! When you look at those old clips, you realize how much faster the modern game has become.

But judged on skill, commitment and heart alone, he would be perfect. And as an added bonus, he can speak French!

[MrGipwagga]

Great to see this. Was standing down the Kop end with my Dad and remember him cursing the ball hitting the post when it had actually been handled, then his jubilation when the ref pointed to the spot. Wonderful memories.

[BilsonIslington]

Note the average price of a ticket. £1.60p

[BilsonIslington]

The glory of Peter Storey!

The Arsenal wouldn't have won the double in 1971 without this stupendous effort from Peter Storey.

'Great back pass... Charlie?' - Ha! I wonder what Frank McIntock's comments were at that moment?

[converse91970]

@LiterallyMad So true!

[walesdad]

@barrywebb

Thanks for the reply,I might well give that book a read.It would appear that there was more to Peter Storey than the 'midfield destroyer' tag he has been labelled with.Cheers.