"LUCKY ARSENAL"
AMONG THE GREATEST OF THE ENGLISH
WM system working like clockwork — Goal-snatching: effective rather than stylish — The engineers: David Jack and Alex James — Wingers scoring goals.

Combining the level achieved and consistency throughout the journey, some notable teams deserved to be highlighted for their high performance, whether in their own territory or in the opponent's territory. However, the team constantly considered the best team in the world was present in England. This year's competition was less fierce than in previous years. After all, Arsenal F.C., the London team led by Herbert Chapman, reached the peak of its performance during the 1930/31 season. After winning the F.A. Cup — their first ever title — the previous season, it was Lucky Arsenal's turn to win — and for the first time in its history — the First Division.


EDDIE HAPGOOD (1939): This may seem very curious; but I admit that Arsenal's first victory in the championship — that of 1931 — was the easiest to obtain.


All season long, this club team dominated the First Division scene. Even when it looked like they were going to lose, Arsenal managed to win. The team made up of several stars. However, as a unit, they made splendid side, working like a clockwork. The London club carried out an exceptional campaign, having the second best attack — one goal behind Aston Villa F.C. — and conceding very few goals during the First Division.


CLIFFORD BASTIN (1950): This Arsenal team of 1930-31 was the finest eleven I ever played in. And, without hesitation, I include in that generalisation international teams as well. Never before had there been such a team put out by any club — and never since have I seen it rivalled.


Through some notable changes in the English football, Arsenal F.C. continued to apply the WM system, a formation that was  popularized  by the club. While defending with seven or eight players most of the time, Arsenal F.C., in just a few touches of the ball, converted defensive actions into quick counterattacks. Therefore, leaving their offensive trio (Joe Hulme, Jack Lambert, Cliff Bastin) in full condition to score goals. Ivan Sharpe used to call this Goal-snatching. The London team, moreover, had the notorious characteristic of its outside forwards scoring several goals, especially Bastin, the outside left.


James, the wizard.

The main aspect of the team, above all, was the withdrawn inside forwards, David Jack and Alex James, both considered as two of the best footballers ever produced by British Isles.

The Gunners had in James and Jack, when commanding the forward actions, the engineers of the offensive actions. Both were the main functionality of the team, as they defended, were the builders and, in the case of David Jack, specifically, advanced to complete offensive actions. James, the left inside forward, who was constantly called Engineer-in-Chief, was the team's sine qua non in several aspects, be it creative for the functionality of the offensive system; be it through the entertainment he propagated when he acted.

In those times, it could be said that Arsenal F.C., which was considered the best club side in the world, also had the best footballer in the world: Wee Alec James.