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History: When Arsenal Played the Busby Babes in Their Final Match on English Soil

As many know, the Munich Air Disaster was one of the worst tragedies in football history, occurring almost 70 years ago. On 6 February 1958, 23 of the 44 people on board Manchester United’s plane lost their lives, either in…

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Published: Saturday, 31 October 2026 at 10:45 PM

Key Things to Know

Arsenal were the final English team to play the Busby Babes before the Munich Air Disaster.
Manchester United defeated Arsenal 5-4 at Highbury on February 1, 1958, in front of 63,578 spectators.
Tommy Taylor scored twice for United, alongside goals from Duncan Edwards, Bobby Charlton, and Dennis Viollet.

The Story in 60 Seconds

On February 1, 1958, Arsenal hosted Manchester United at Highbury in a thrilling nine-goal contest that finished 5-4 to the visitors. The match marked the final time the famous 'Busby Babes' played together on English soil, taking place just five days before the Munich Air Disaster claimed the lives of 23 people, including eight United players.

Manchester United took a 3-0 lead through Duncan Edwards, Bobby Charlton, and Tommy Taylor before Arsenal launched a second-half comeback. David Herd and a Jimmy Bloomfield brace leveled the score at 3-3, but further goals from Dennis Viollet and Taylor sealed victory for Matt Busby's side despite a late consolation from Derek Tapscott.

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History: When Arsenal Played the Busby Babes in Their Final Match on English Soil

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