Arsenal arrived at The County Ground in thirteenth place in the First Division. The Cobblers were 19th in Division Three. A cup upset seemed possible with Arsenal having lost their previous two games at Villa Park and Kenilworth Road but not really expected given their hosts lowly position.

With Walsall and Wrexham more in the consciousness due to the comparative status of Arsenal at those moments in time, this defeat is often forgotten but in the nation’s mind, this was still Arsenal, the fallen giant of the English game, sinking further into the mire.