 It was hitherto only the second time that an FA Cup Final was played in May; 1937 being the first.Newcastle appeared in their 11th final in total and their second successive final, while it was Arsenal's sixth final and their second in three years.Arsenal played Newcastle United with several recovering players rushed back into the first team; Walley Barnes was taken off injured with a twisted knee after 35 minutes (no substitutes were allowed then), and ten-man Arsenal suffered further injuries to Holton, Roper and Daniel, so that by the end of the match they had only seven fit players on the pitch; with the numerical advantage in their favour, Newcastle won 1–0 with a goal from George Robledo.