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In 1945/1946 Arsenal played DYNAMO MOSCOW while still sharing White Hart Lane. The game was a farce played in dense fog, The referee NIKOLAI LATYCHEV took one side of the pitch and made BOTH linesmen take the other side! Nobody could see what was going on in the middle of the pitch. At one point MOSCOW had 12 players on the pitch, no wonder MOSCOW won 4-3
KEN FRIAR joined Arsenal as a messenger/helper in 1946 and became managing director in 1983Highbury reopened for the start of the 1946/1947 season £50.000 in debt due to War damage and no income for 7 years
1947/1948 saw Arsenal win their (SIXTH) 1st DIVISION TITLE. Big wins included on the 03/09/1947 6-0 home to Charlton Athletic. On the 26/03/1948 7-0 home to Middlesbrough and the last game of the season on the 01/05/1948 8-0 versus Grimsby Town..... P 42 W 23 D 13 L 06 GF 81 GA 32 PTS 59
1949/1950 saw Arsenal win the 1950 FA CUP FINAL for the (THIRD) time beating Liverpool 2-0. Reg Lewis scored twice. Arsenal were wearing their new GOLD shirts for the FIRST time. Arsenal set a NEW RECORD in this FINAL for becoming the FIRST TEAM to win the FA CUP without leaving London during the entire run.
In 1951 Arsenal became the FIRST team to play under floodlights when they were switched on at Highbury, in a friendly against Happel Tel Aviv from Israel
1951/1952 season DOUG LISHMAN scored a HAT TRICK of HAT TRICKS in 3 SUCCESSIVE home games. First on the 27/10/1951 versus Fulham in a 4-3 win, Second on the 10/11/1951 versus West Bromwich Albion in a 6-3 win and then on the 24/11/1951 versus Bolton Wanderers in a 4-2 win
CHRISTMAS DAY 1952 Bolton Wanderers 4-6 Arsenal (Milton, Holton2, Roper, Logie and Daniel)
In 1952/1953 Arsenal win their (SEVENTH) 1st DIVISION TITLE. The season highlights are a CHRISTMAS DAY AWAY WIN at Bolton by 6 goals to 4. a 6-2 home win over Derby County on the 18/02/1953 and two 5-3 home wins against Wolverhampton Wanderers on the 17/01/1953 and Liverpool on the 04/04/1953..... P 42 W 21 D 12 L 09 GF 97 GA 64 PTS 54
On the 09/11/1954 Arsenal lost at home to SPARTAK MOSCOW 2-1 At the end of the game after Referee NIKOLAI LATYCHEV (the same Referee from the fog bound farce of 9 years earlier at White Hart Lane) turned down a dead cert Arsenal penalty. JIMMY LOGIE refused to shake hands with the referee at the end of the game. Arsenal Chairman Sir BRACEWELL SMITH was furious with JIMMY LOGIE for bad sportsmanship. A month later during a Christmas get together at Highbury the Chairman shook hands with ALL the Arsenal players EXCEPT JIMMY LOGIE, who left the club two months later
It was not until 1954 that the NORTH BANK got its new roof re built after its War time demolition
On the 01/02/1958 A week before the Munich air crash which killed and injured many Manchester United players, United won the famous 5-4 game at Highbury. United were 3-0 up at half time but within 15 minutes of the start of the second half Arsenal had scored 3 in THREE minutes to equalize, before United netted twice more and Arsenal got another late consolation goal.
In 1960 Arsenal players experimented with RADIO TRANSMITTERS and EAR PIECES so they could recieve instructions during the game from the bench.
In 1961 Arsenal recorded their LONGEST EVER DRAWING STREAK WHEN SIX CONSECUTIVE GAME'S ENDED ALL SQUARE!!In 1963/1964 Arsenal laid their first UNDER SOIL HEATING system consisting of 31 miles of heated cables.
04/03/1961 Aston Villa 2 Arsenal 2 1st Div
11/03/1961 Arsenal 0 Blackburn Rovers 0 1st Div
18/03/1961 Manchester United 1 Arsenal 1 1st Div
25/03/1961 Arsenal 0 West Ham United 0 1st Div
31/03/1961 Fulham 2 Arsenal 2 1st Div
01/04/1961 Bolton Wanderers 1 Arsenal 1 1st Div
JOHN RADFORD who was just 17 years 315 days old when he became Arsenal's YOUGEST EVER HAT TRICK SCORER in a 4-1 win versus Wolverhampton Wanderers at Highbury in the 1st Division on the 02/01/1965
On the 05/05/1966 Arsenal were forced to play a night League game at home to Leeds United on the same night as Liverpool were playing in the CUP WINNERS CUP FINAL live on TV. Only 4554 supporters turned up at Highbury (Leeds won 3-0)
ON THE 09/08/1969 I WENT TO MY FIRST ARSENAL GAME. MY FIRST EVER TRIP TO HIGHBURY ON THE FIRST DAY OF THE 1969/70 SEASON TURNED OUT TO BE ARSENALS FIRST DEFEAT OF THE SEASON, LOSING 1-0 TO EVERTON (WILSON RICE McNAB McLINTOCK NEILL SIMPSON ROBERTSON GEORGE GOULD GRAHAM RADFORD) (Att 44.364) I cried most of the way home!
My Original Programme
In 1969/1970 Arsenal won their first EUROPEAN Competition after playing a two legged FAIRS CUP FINAL against ANDERLECHT of Belgium. Arsenal lost the first leg away 3-1 but won the home leg 3-0 for a 4-3 aggregate win. EDDIE KELLY JOHN RADFORD and JON SAMMELS were the heroes
My Original Programme
1970/1971 turned out to be a history making seaon with six never to be forgotten days in May 1971. On Monday 03/05/1971 Arsenal could win the LEAGUE at Spurs of all places but the title was so close that if Arsenal WON or DREW 0-0 the title was theirs, if the game ended in a SCORE DRAW or Arsenal LOST then Leeds would win the title on goal AVERAGE (later changed to goal DIFFERENCE). Arsenal WON 1-0 thanks to a RAY KENNEDY (In shirt, below) winner and half the DOUBLE was complete (the match was a sell out and up to 40.000 supporters were locked out, mostly Arsenal) this was Arsenal's (EIGHTH) 1sr DIVISION TITLE..... P 42 W 29 D 07 L 06 GF 71 GA 29 PTS 65
My original programme
On Saturday May the 8th 1971 Arsenal then played Liverpool in the FA Cup Final. An average game ended 0-0 before going into extra time, things looked bleak when soon after the start of extra time Liverpool's Steve Highway deceived Bob Wilson in Arsenal's goal and put Liverpool 1-0 up. GEORGE GRAHAM then got a faint touch in the Liverpool area to put Arsenal level (to this day its not clear if GRAHAM actually touched the ball or not) With time running out up popped Arsenal Legend CHARLIE GEORGE with a 20 yard rocket past Liverpool's keeper Ray Clemence to secure only the second DOUBLE achieved in the 20th century (Spurs were first 10 years earlier in 1961)
My Original Programme
In 1977 Arsenal recorded a DOUBLE RECORD they did NOT want! THE LONGEST LOSING 1st DIVISION RUN OF SEVEN GAME'S and a TOTAL LOSING RECORD OF EIGHT GAME'S with a LOSING FA CUP GAME included as well
15/02/1977 Middlesbrough 3 Arsenal 0 1st Div
19/02/1977 Arsenal 2 West Ham 3 1st Div
26/02/1977 Middlesbrough 4 Arsenal 1 FA CUP 5th rd
01/03/1977 Everton 2 Arsenal 1 1st, Div
05/03/1977 Arsenal 1 Ipswich Town 4 1st Div
08/03/1977 Arsenal 1 West Bromwich Albion 2 1st Div
12/03/1977 Queens Park Rangers 2 Arsenal 1 1st Div
Hot favourites Arsenal lost the 1978 FA Cup Final 1-0 against outsiders Ipswich Town making their first ever final appearance.
My Original Ticket and Programme
On the 18/10/1978 Arsenal played a UEFA CUP 2nd rd 1st leg match in the coastal town of SPLIT in Yugoslavia against Hajduk Split. I flew out on the morning of the match and had a great day. The match played in a tiny stadium overlooking mountains was very tough and Arsenal did well coming away with a 2-1 defeat but a vital away goal scored by the brilliant LIAM BRADY gave everyone hope that the tie would still be won back at Highbury.
My Photos
Me in the middle
In the next round of the UEFA CUP (round 3) Arsenal were drawn against another team from Yugoslavia, this time Yugoslavian giants Red Star from the capital Belgrade. As with the last tie i flew out on the morning of the game (22/11/1978) to a day that was to turn out to be total confusion! To enter Yugoslavia you needed a 10 year passport but i only had a one year passport. The Arsenal travel club had told all one year passport holders they had got permission to let us in for the game with just the one year passport we had. When we got to Yugoslavia and tried to get through customs we were told we could not enter the country and we would have to get the next plane back! After hours of negotiations between travel club officials and Yugoslavian officials they decided we could just watch the game but we had lost all our sight seeing time held at the airport. With kick off fast approaching we were finally allowed to leave the air port. It was a FREEZING day with -5 temperatures. We finally got to the ground which was a total contrast to Hajduk Split's tiny ground. This was a massive ground that was overwhelming. This again turned out to be another difficult game with Arsenal on the back foot the whole 90 minutes. When the final whistle had gone Arsenal had lost 1-0 and faced an uphill struggle in the home leg. From the ground it was straight back to the airport and home.
On the 06/12/1978 Arsenal played the return leg against Red Star Belgrade in the UEFA CUP 3rd rd 2nd leg. Another tough game looked to be going to Extra time after FRANK STAPLETON had given Arsenal a 1-0 lead but with only minutes left Red Star scored and that was that with the game ending 1-1 but we lost 2-1 on aggregate.
On the 23/12/1978 CHRISTMAS HAD COME EARLY AND EVERY ARSENAL SUPPORTER GOT SOMETHING VERY SPECIAL FROM SANTA. My early present came in two parts. Firstly i had managed to get a ticket for White Hart Lane to see the Tottenham versus Arsenal DIVISION 1 match and secondly Arsenal completely destroyed Tottenham with a breath taking display of football. ALAN SUNDERLAND scored a hat trick, FRANK STAPLETON scored 1 and an absolutely CRACKING CURLING UNSTOPPABLE SHOT form LIAM BRADY completed the rout. Tottenham left the pitch happy it was only five as the woodwork had been hit a couple of times and with so many near misses it could have been double figures. It was men against boys and one of those unforgettable days
My Original Ticket and Programme
On the 18/08/1979 Brighton & Hove Albion played their FIRST EVER 1st Division game against Arsenal of all teams. The Brighton supporters and team were well up for it but the trouble was Arsenal and our supporters were up for it more and destroyed their party with a 4-0 away demolition!! A night in Brighton hitting the pubs was the perfect end to a perfect day
My Original Programme
The 1978/1979 FA Cup run was a HISTORY making run of ELEVEN FA CUP GAMES IN ONE SEASON for the club, the most games ever played by a top division side before playing in the FINAL (TEN games to get there) It took FIVE games to beat Sheffield Wednesday starting with a 1-1 at Hillsborough 06/01/1979 then a 1-1 at Highbury 09/01/79 before it was off to Filbert Street, Leicester for THREE games starting with a 2-2 draw 15/01/79 then a CLASSIC 3-3 draw just two days later on the 17/01/79 before finally winning the 5th game 2-0 on the 22-01-79. I WAS PART OF THAT HISTORY MAKING RUN AS WELL BY GOING TO ALL ELEVEN CUP GAMES
06-01-1979 SHEFFIELD WEDNESDAY 1 ARSENAL 1
(SUNDERLAND)
09-01-1979 ARSENAL 1 SHEFFIELD WEDNESDAY 1 (1R)
(BRADY)
15-01-1979 ARSENAL 2 SHEFFIELD WEDNESDAY 2 (2R) AT LEICESTER
(BRADY, SUNDERLAND)
17-01-1979 ARSENAL 3 SHEFFIELD WEDNESDAY 3 (3R) AT LEICESTER
(YOUNG, STAPLETON (2))
22-01-1979 ARSENAL 2 SHEFFIELD WEDNESDAY 0 (4R) AT LEICESTER
(STAPLETON, GATTING)
27-01-1979 ARSENAL 2 NOTTS COUNTY 0
(YOUNG, TALBOT)
26-02-1979 NOTTINGHAM FOREST 0 ARSENAL 1
(STAPLETON)
19-03-1979 SOUTHAMPTON 1 ARSENAL 1
(PRICE)
21-03-1979 ARSENAL 2 SOUTHAMPTON 0
(SUNDERLAND (2))
31-03-1979 WOLVERHAMPTON WANDERERS 0 ARSENAL 2 AT VILLA PARK
(SUNDERLAND, STAPLETON)
12-05-1979 ARSENAL 3 MANCHESTER UNITED 2 AT WEMBLEY
(TALBOT, SUNDERLAND, STAPELTON)
Arsenal returned to Wembley for the CLASSIC 1979 FA Cup Final beating Manchester United 3-2, 2-0 up at half time with goals from BRIAN TALBOT and FRANK STAPLETON. With only FOUR minutes to go from the end of the match Gordon McQueen Uniteds giant Centre back scored what seemed like a late consolation goal but 2 minutes later Sammy Mcllroy equalized. Extra time seemed a dead cert but straight from the kick off LIAM BRADY passed the ball out wide left to GRAHAM RIX whos sweet cross was met by ALAN SUNDERLAND at the death and the most amazing end to a Cup Final was complete (I had £2.50p on 3-2 and hit the betting shop for £100 as they gave me the WRONG price of 40-1 when it should have been 33-1)
My Original Ticket and Programme
On the 04/09/1979 Arsenal recorded their BIGGEST EVER LEAGUE CUP WIN when they met Leeds United in a 2nd rd replay at Highbury after a 1-1 at Leeds six days earlier. With the half time score 3-0 the game ended 7-0 with goals from SAMMY NELSON, FRANK STAPLETON, LIAM BRADY (2) and a HAT TRICK from ALAN SUNDERLAND
I became part of a unique "band" of HISTORY making supporters (again) this time in the 1980 Cup Final, when Arsenal returned for their THIRD FA Cup Final in 3 seasons. As no other team had ever played in three FA Cup Finals on the trot, no other supporters had been in this position so i was amongst the FIRST to see my team in 3 successive Finals. A very tired Arsenal team whos end of season fixture list was horrendous after a fixture pile up (see the next 2 facts below for details) lost 1-0 to West Ham United
My Original Ticket and Programme
The FA Cup Semi-Final before losing to West Ham United saw Arsenal take on Liverpool FOUR times before a winning result was achieved. It started with a 0-0 draw at Hillsborough on the 12/04/80 then two 1-1 draws at Villa Park 16th and 28/05/80 (in one of those games ALAN SUNDERLAND scored after just 13 seconds and Liverpool equalized in the 94th minute) before finally winning 1-0 at Coventry's Highfield Road ground on the 01/05/80 with a goal from BRIAN TALBOT. I went ALL FOUR GAMES!
Because Arsenal also got to the CUP WINNERS CUP FINAL as well Arsenal had two Semi-Final games in that competition to play as well. (this was a 70 plus game season) First game was home to the MIGHTY Juventus from Turin in Italy. They got a 1-1 draw at Highbury on the 09/04/1980 and to many people, including many Arsenal supporters that was "it" as Juventus had NEVER lost a home European game in nearly 40 matches.
On the 23/04/1980 two weeks after the Highbury draw with Juventus, I was one of only 500 travelling Gooners brave and probably MAD enough (with the score against us) to Fly out to Italy and not only walk the Streets where the classic film "THE ITALIAN JOB" was filmed but savour what was one of the most AMAZING nights of my life. With a fanatical full house of 80.000 screaming Italians (screaming not at the match but at 500 Gooners all herded together like sheep) The game its self was a non event for 85 minutes with Juventus more than happy to play out a goal less draw as that was all they needed. With 15 minutes left on the clock a young inexperienced 18 year old kid by the name of PAUL VAESSEN came on for Arsenal and with the clock ticking down, a left wing cross from GRAHAM RIX was met by PAUL VAESSEN who headed past Italian goal keeping legend Dino Zoff. The "500" went MENTAL the remaining 79.500 went SILENT and then we got the stares as the final whistle went and what seemed like an impossible dream had came true!! This was NOT in the script and all that now remained as the Jubilant Arsenal players left the pitch was for the "500" to get out of the ground in one piece and that at that time was NOT possible. We was held back until reinforcements from the RIOT POLICE had come to get us out safely. With a DOUBLE line of riot police holding plastic see through re inforced riot shields above our heads to make a roof we all moved between our HUMAN shields as BRICKS and BOTTLES came raining down on the plastic shields they were holding above our heads. The "500" owe a debt of gratitude to the Riot Police who without their help i would not be typing this account now and that's a FACT! Once on the coach it was with a full police escort back to the air port with sirens screeching, lights flashing and RED traffic lights ignored as ALL the coach drivers were told not to stop for anything if possible, for fear of attack. We was still bombarded with BRICKS and BOTTLES as we hurtled towards the air port. As soon as we arrived at the air port our plane was ready to rock and roll and with PRIORITY clearance we all headed straight for the plane as soon as possible. With in seconds of the doors being shut we were in the air and the most amazing party at 30.000 ft EVER had ERUPTED and it was PARTY time all the way home (2 years after PAUL VAESSENS finest moment he was told he would NEVER play football again due to a knee injury. In August 2001 aged just 39 PAUL VAESSEN was DEAD but by the "500" and the many Gooners listening on their radios back home NEVER EVER FORGOTTEN!!!)
Less than 24 hours after the disappointment of losing to West Ham in the 1980 Cup Final, I was on a FERRY heading to BRUSSELS in BELGIUM for the CUP WINNERS CUP FINAL against VALENCIA from Spain. ARSENAL HAD ALREADY PLAYED OVER 70 GAMES AND HAD NEVER LOST TWO GAMES ON THE TROT ALL SEASON. SURELY THEY COULD NOT LOSE THE LAST TWO GAMES NOW? (BOTH BEING CUP FINALS!) I had four fantastic days in Brussels UNTIL the game started on the 14/05/1980. A shattered Arsenal team took to the field in what turned out to be a very poor Final. 0-0 after 90 minutes turned to 0-0 after 120 minutes and PENALTIES loomed. When PAT JENNINGS saved the first penalty of the shoot out, that should have been the signal to go on and win, but misses from the left boot of both LIAM BRADY and GRAHAM RIX meant the unthinkable had happened and the only two defeats on the trot in a long, hard gruelling season WERE BOTH CUP FINALS. It was a very long gutting trip home and the fantastic four days turned into nothing short of a NIGHTMARE!
On the 16/09/1980 Arsenal played Greek side Panathinaikos in Greece in the 1980/1981 UEFA CUP 1st rd 1st leg. I flew out to Athens but this time it was for a three day trip. The weather was scorching and Athens was a really nice place. I visited the Acropolis high above the city and was treated to a spectacular view. All the people in Athens were friendly, right up till kick off time, then the mood changed inside the ground. The very tightly packed crowd became very hostile to us and it never helped when BRIAN McDERMOTT scored Arsenal's first goal and then RAFAEL MEADE made it 2-0. After the match our coach took a pounding as we drove away from the ground but it was all worth it. This had turned out to be a great three day break from work and when i returned after phoning in with the flu before i left, i got some very strange looks as i now had a BRIGHT RED SUNTAN and a very BURNT NOSE!!
Burnt nose in the making
In 1980 Arsenal bought their first MILLION pound player, CLIVE ALLEN from Queens Park Rangers, before he ever played a proper game for Arsenal he was transferred to Crystal Palace in exchange for left back KENNY Sansom (who cost a reported 1.3 million pounds)
Me In Hawaii July 1982....... Already waiting for the 1982/1983 season to start!
Helicopter ride over Honolulu
29/09/1982 Arsenal played Spartak Moscow at Highbury in the UEFA CUP. The football was breath taking and the score line amazing! Shame it was 5-2 to Spartak, they played us off the pitch and we all gave them a standing ovation as they left the pitch. It was the FIRST and LAST time my mum went to Highbury and I banned her after that :-))
On Christmas day 1986 seven months after GEORGE GRAHAM'S return to become manager, Arsenal celebrated their 100th BIRTHDAY. It seemed fitting then that Arsenal sat proudly at the summit of the first divison
On the 27/12/86 Arsenal then celebrated their 100th Birthday on the pitch by beating Southampton 1-0 (QUNN) at Highbury
The 1987 LITTLEWOODS LEAGUE Cup Final saw Arsenal complete a HAT TRICK of Cup Final wins over Liverpool (FA Cups of 1950 and 1971) with a 2-1 win in the "CHARLIE NICHOLAS" CUP FINAL. Liverpool goal scoring legend Ian Rush opened the scoring in the 23rd minute (Rush had an amazing record over many years at Liverpool where if he scored the FIRST goal of ANY game Liverpool NEVER lost) so the signs were not good, but it took only 7 minutes for CHARLIE NICHOLAS to put Arsenal back in the game and Arsenal took control for the rest of the match and eventually scored a deserved winner, again CHARLIE NICHOLAS with just 7 minutes on the clock. Neither goal were classic's but enough to win the cup and break Rushes very long standing record
1986/1987 saw Arsenal set a new club record of 22 games unbeaten
On the 17/09/1988 Arsenal drew with Southampton 2-2 with goals from ALAN SMITH and BRIAN MARWOOD but the game is best remembered for an incident involving Arsenal's midfield player PAUL DAVIS. He became the first player to be punished after he was picked up by TV cameras breaking Glen Cockerill's jaw with a mighty off the ball punch. Both the referee and the linesmen missed the incident but PAUL DAVIS still picked up a RECORD BAN of NINE matches and a £3.000 fine
In 1989 the CLOCK end was redeveloped to include a money making development of 54 corporate boxes that were hired out on 10 year leases to companies and businesses. The famous CLOCK had to be repositioned in the new SOUTH BANK roof. THIS WAS THE THIRD TIME THE CLOCK HAD BEEN MOVED AND BY A REMARKABLE COINCIDENCE, ALL 3 YEARS TURNED OUT TO BE CHAMPIONSHIP WINNING YEARS!!
On the 04/11/1989 DAVID O'LEARY broke Arsenal's ALL TIME APPEARANCE RECORD (held by GEORGE ARMSTRONG) when he played his 622nd game against Norwich City in a 4-3 win at Highbury. The goals were scored by LEE DIXON 2 (1pen) DAVID O'LEARY (in his record breaking game) and NIALL QUINN
DAVID O'LEARY'S first game was on the 16/08/1975 against Burnley in a 0-0 draw at Highbury and his last game was on the 20/05/1993 after winning the FA CUP REPLAY against Sheffield Wednesday 2-1 at Wembley. His total appearance record ended up at 722 games
1988/1989 saw Arsenal using only 17 players all season win their (NINTH) 1st DIVISION LEAGUE TITLE in the most amazing dramatic climax to a season ever witnessed and has NEVER seen anything close to the most amazing last day/game to a season EVER!!..... P 38 W 22 D 10 L 06 GF 73 GA 36 PTS 76
Because of the Hillsborough tragedy on the 15-4-1989 where 96 Liverpool supporters were crushed to death up against security fences the Liverpool versus Arsenal match was postponed till the very last game of the season. It turned out to be Liverpool the top team against Arsenal the second placed team who needed to win the match at Anfield by two clear goals. From JANUARY TILL THIS GAME IN LATE MAY, Liverpool had only conceded ONE league goal at Anfield. It was also 15 years since Arsenal won their last game at Anfield. Arsenal players took to the pitch with flowers and gave them out to Liverpool supporters still grieving over the Hillsborough Tragedy. As the game kicked off the ground was full to capacity with 600 MILLION more watching live on TV. Arsenal had the best of the first half but had nothing to show for it at half time as both teams left the pitch with a 0-0 score line. The second half started and Arsenal looked bright but still needed that elusive first goal. On 51 minutes that wait was over as ALAN SMITH scored with a glancing header to put Arsenal 1 up. Liverpool who only days earlier had won the FA cup had 39 minutes plus injury time to keep Arsenal from scoring again and the DOUBLE would be theirs. Arsenal pushed forward at every opportunity but time was running out. With the remaining 39 minutes gone and only 3 minutes of injury time left it looked all up. As the game entered its final injury time minute with Liverpool about to be crowned League Champions and Double winners a footballing MIRACLE happened, goal keeper John Lukic cleared the ball to LEE DIXON who then slotted it forward to goal scorer ALAN SMITH who in turn threaded a forward ball to MICHAEL THOMAS (below left) who with defenders and the Liverpool keeper bearing down on him kept his cool to flick the ball over the keeper and turn the whole season on its head in a split second and produce a game NEVER TO BE FORGOTTEN and a season ending NEVER to be EQUALLED or be more DRAMATIC!! Arsenal supporters were in DREAM LAND and Liverpool supporters were STUNNED with disbelief at what they had just seen. Arsenal held out for the remaining 30 seconds and the result MANY thought to be IMPOSSIBLE was now reality with Arsenal scoring more goals in the last 42 minutes then Liverpool had conceded at Anfield in the last FIVE MONTHS!! It was now PARTY time as the curtain came down on not only a remarkable season but also a TRAGIC one, with new lessons learned about safety, the passing season will also be remembered for the beginning of a new era of ALL SEATED grounds for top flight and 2nd division clubs to start with, with standing to become a thing of the past
In October 1990 The Manchester United versus Arsenal match erupted into a mass player brawl on the pitch, besides players being BANNED from future games both clubs were FIND £50.000 with United being docked one point and Arsenal docked two
1990/1991 saw Arsenal Captain TONY ADAMS jailed for four months after crashing his car while drunk. Arsenal paid him his full wages whilst he was behind bars
On the afternoon of May the 6th 1991 I was in a pub not far from Arsenal to watch Nottingham Forest play Liverpool. IF FOREST COULD WIN THEN ARSENAL WOULD BE CROWNED 1st DIVISION LEAGUE CHAMPIONS for the (TENTH) time BEFORE THAT EVENINGS HOME GAME WITH MANCHESTER UNITED. When Forest WON having scored the only goal of the game the pub exploded with excitement and with the pressure now off tonights match, the rest of the day was a day to savour! When Arsenal took the field as Champions the Highbury party had already begun and the players were clapped onto the pitch by United players and their supporters as well. When the whistle went to start the match it became party time on the pitch, with Arsenal taking United apart with a ALAN SMITH hat trick in a 3-1 win with United's consolation goal a very late penalty..... P 38 W 24 D 13 L 01 GF 74 GA 18 PTS 83 (WITH TWO POINTS DEDUCTED)
On the 11/05/1991 Arsenal's last game of the Championship winning season saw Arsenal end the season and especially in the last ten minutes in true style, with two goals already in the bank Arsenal scored another FOUR! with another Hat trick being scored. This time it was the brilliant ANDERS LIMPAR as the NEWLY CROWNED LEAGUE TITLE WINNERS beat Coventry City 6-1
May the 2nd 1992 saw the last game at Highbury for the famous North Bank terrace before it was knocked down. Arsenal beat Southampton 5-1 with a terrace send off hat trick from none other than Ian Wright Wright Wright. Kevin Campbell and Alan Smith scored the other goals. On the 28/09/1991 Wright had also scored three in the away League game at Southampton. David Rocastle also scored in the 0-4 away victory
May 1992 saw Arsenal's famous NORTH BANK knocked down for redevelopment into an ALL SEATER stand to comply with the TAYLOR report after the Hillsborough tragedy. To hide the construction work a giant mural with painted faces was erected but caused uproar when supporters complained ALL THE FACES WERE WHITE, so the artist was called back to make some of the faces BLACK
In August 1993 The new ALL SEATER NORTH BANK opens and looks fantastic but there is a down side as the capacity has dropped from over 18.000 to 12.400
On the 14/08/1993 the first game of the new season with the new North Bank in place turned into a bit of an anti climax as un fancied Coventry won 0-3 with a Mick Quinn hat trick
The rest of the ground including the CLOCK END has its new seat's fitted as well and also looks good. Highbury will never see 70.000 plus attendencies again with the new limit of only 38.500 spectators
1992/1993 turned out to be another HISTORIC season as firstly DIVISION 1 became the new PREMIER LEAGUE and Arsenal become the first ever team to win BOTH DOMESTIC CUP FINALS at Wembley in the same season AMAZINGLY both Final wins would be over THE SAME TEAM!! Sheffield Wednesday. April the 18th saw the first meeting in the 1993 COCA COLA LEAGUE CUP FINAL which ended 2-1 with goals from PAUL MERSON and a FIRST EVER goal for the club from STEVE MORROW. After the game STEVE MORROW was lifted up in celebration by captain TONY ADAMS who accidently dropped him causing STEVE MORROW severe pain as he landed on his arm which had broken
On the 04/05/1994 Arsenal win their first Cup Winners Cup final against Parma from Italy, played in Copenhagen. Parma had most of the game but a stunning 20 yard shot from Alan Smith in the 21st minute was enough to ensure a very hard earned victory.
1994/1995 turned out to be a SHOCK SEASON OF EPIC MAGNITUDE when the very successful manager that was GEORGE GRAHAM was SENSATIONALLY SACKED!! It was all to do with Club transfers and unpaid/undeclared tax to the INLAND REVENUE totalling £285.000 Arsenal had no choice and with GRAHAM saying it was all a misunderstanding it was a very black day for the Club the supporters and the manager! GEORGE GRAHAM left Highbury a very BITTER man!
The 1994/1995 season saw Arsenal get back to the 1995 EUROPEAN CUP WINNERS CUP FINAL after a DRAMATIC two legged Semi-Final against Sampdoria of Italy. Arsenal won the home leg on the 06-04-95 by 3 goals to 2 with goals by STEVE BOULD (2) and IAN WRIGHT. Two weeks later in the return match in Italy on the 20-04-1995 Arsenal lost 3-2 but a 35 yard goal from STEFAN SCHWARZ with only three minutes to go took the game to EXTRA TIME. The other Arsenal goal on the night was scored by who else? IAN WRIGHT, meaning he had scored in EVERY game in the competition. The game ended 3-2 after EXTRA TIME and an AMAZING 5-5 on aggregate. 3-2 played its part again in this monumental match as Arsenal won on PENALTIES with THREE PENALTY SAVES from England's keeper DAVID SEAMAN and THREE PENALTIES SCORED from LEE DIXON, JOHN HARTSON and TONY ADAMS (EDDIE McGOLDRICK blazed over the bar and PAUL MERSON'S penalty was save by Zenga in the Sampdoria goal)
The 1995 EUROPEAN CUP WINNERS CUP FINAL ended in disaster for the Gunners in PARIS on the 10-05-1995 against Spain's Real Zaragoza. With 25 seconds of EXTRA TIME left with the score 1-1 (JOHN HARTSON) and with PENALTIES to come ex Spurs player Nayim just whacked the ball goal wards from the right and at least 50 yards out, with DAVID SEAMAN 10 yards off his line, the ball just sailed over him and into the back of the net for probably the ultimate Cup Final goal out of nothing
The 1995/1996 season saw Arsenal with a new Manager, Bruce Rioch. He was only to have the job for a single season but he will always be remembered for the signing of the great Dutchman Dennis Bergkamp, who went on to become an Arsenal Legend scoring 120 goals (mostly spectacular) in his 316 games for Arsenal, till he retired in 2006
In September 1996 Arsenal appointed the very aptly named ARSENE WENGER as the next Arsenal manager. The FRENCHMAN came from managing Nagoya Grampus Eight in Japan. Arsenal supporters as well as almost all other supporters up and down the country were saying ARSENE who??? Within a few short years EVERYBODY with an ounce of interest in footall knew who he was. This one man transformed the whole clubs mentality from what the players had to eat, from how they trained, how they should live their lives off the pitch to how they played on the pitch. His new ideas were a revelation and sustained success was soon to follow
CLIFF BASTIN was Arsenal's ALL TIME GOAL SCORING RECORD HOLDER with 178 goals but that was all to change on the 13/09/1997 when IAN WRIGHT scored his 178th 179th AND 180th goals to beat Bolton 4-1 at Highbury and become the new GOAL SCORING RECORD HOLDER to the delight of not only the player, the rest of the team but also Arsenal fans everywhere
On the 03/05/1998 Arsenal knew a Victory over relegation candidates Everton at Highbury would mean the Premiership Championship would be theirs. A last minute goal from Captain TONY ADAMS rounded off a magnificent display as Arsenal won 4-0 (early OG and two from MARC OVERMARS) It was a lovely sunny day and the atmosphere inside and outside the ground was incredible and that was before the kick off. When the final whistle went it was party time and ARSENE WENGER had won the LEAGUE in his first full season in charge and Arsenal's ELEVENTH LEAGUE TITLE in total, could he now do the impossible and win Arsenal's second double? ARSENE WENGER became the first FOREIGN manager EVER to lead a team to a ENGLISH LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP.... P 38 W 23 D 09 L 06 GF 68 GA 33 PTS 78
On the 16/05/1998 Arsenal played Newcastle United in the 1998 FA CUP FINAL. Newcastle had some chances but clinical finishing by MARC OVERMARS in the first half and NICHOLAS ANELKA in the second half gave Arsenal a deserved win and the impossible dream was complete, a DOUBLE,DOUBLE! (ARSENE WENGER was just as surprised as everyone else by how quick he had made his mark on English football)
1997/1998 SECOND LEAGUE and FA Cup Double
THIERRY HENRY came off the bench to score his FIRST LEAGUE goal for Arsenal on the 18/09/1999 in a 1-0 away win at Southampton
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