Amy Lawrence
The Arsenal Supporters Trust are holding their AGM this evening (Monday 15th April) and after the formalities will be discussing all Arsenal matters with leading journalist and broadcaster, Amy Lawrence.
Amy’s first published football writing was in The Gooner way back in October 1989 (a match report of our 3-1 League Cup defeat on Oldham’s plastic pitch) and she contributed regular articles for the next few years including this tribute to our super Swede, which appeared in issue 54 shortly after he had joined Everton in March 1994.
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”Limpar… what’s he trying? Oh! That’s one that you’ll never forget! A privilege to see such a goal. Few players would have even thought of that, and even fewer could have done it! Anders Limpar…”
The commentator was right. I’ll never forget it, it was a privilege to witness and Limpar was probably the only man in English football blessed with the vision, speed of though, and extraordinary, unique skill such a breath-taking goal demands. During a 4-0 demolition of Liverpool in 1992, Limpar struck an audacious chip from the half way line. It floated gloriously into the North Bank goal. Highbury went beserk.
It was arguably Limpar’s finest moment during an all too brief and unnecessarily turbulent love affair with Arsenal. But there were many moments of outrageous skill, daring opportunism and awesome technique which epitomised Limpar’s game. Later on in the same match against Liverpool, Anders hit a bullet of a shot so hard that it all but smashed the crossbar in two. It would have brought the house down.
I remember the first time I saw Limpar play, for Sweden in the 1990 World Cup. There had been rumours that George Graham was trying to sign him, so I spent the entire duration of the Scotland/Sweden encounter with my eyes fixed on our Super Swede. All the signs were there; his devastating dribbling ability, close control which surely required superglue, passing with pinpoint accuracy, and off the ball movement which always spelt danger. The only problem was that Limpar was continuously one step ahead of his team mates.
Limpar’s Arsenal debut was pre-season in Sweden. He made both goals in his first game and scored a fine solo effort in his second. Then to Wembley for the Makita tournament and a thunderbolt goal! Anders was probably the only Arsenal player to be a cult hero before he had even played at Highbury. He slotted into the team instantly and became the crucial, inspirational, final piece of the jigsaw that was the 1990-91 record breaking champions.
Limpar was a dynamic, influential force from the first to the last game of that season. August 1990, Wimbledon 0 Arsenal 3; Anders created our first goal of the season with a clever lob to Merse on the far post. May 1991, Arsenal 6 Coventry 1; Anders scored a richly deserved, delicious hat-trick to celebrate our champion status. No-one deserved it more, for it was Limpar’s creative vision and flair for the unusual which won us so many matches throughout the season.
Who could forget the tight game at Old Trafford? No-one but Limpar would have even thought about shooting from the acutest of angles. 1-0. How about Highfield Road where we were heading for a 0-0 draw when Limpar danced around the entire Coventry defence and curled the ball home from outside the area. He even found time to score another and come desperately close to a third. 2-0. Against Chelsea at Highbury he scored a beauty and made the other three. 4-1. Two inspired goals in a phenomenal performance at Leeds. 2-2. We could go on and on… He is a born matchwinner.
The following season, Limpar was part of the most exciting Arsenal team seen in years. The seventeen match unbeaten run in 1992 where we walloped everyone in sight was a joy to behold. Limpar, Merson, Wright, Campbell and Smith terrorised just about every defence in the land, scoring goals galore.
Since then, to the distress of all Arsenal fans, Limpar has been treated with an incomprehensible lack of respect for such a gifted player. He was distanced from the team at a time when talent and raw skill was not seen often enough. Many a time the biggest cheer of the day would greet Anders warming up on the touchline, but for some reason George belligerently refused to give him the platform his skill warranted. It is ironic that Limpar was just sneaking back into the side and again providing inspirational, creating numerous goals at Southampton and Ipswich. Then he was gone.
To allow a talent of Anders Limpar’s stature to leave is tragic, especially considering how much he loved Arsenal and the fact that he wanted to stay. How depressing that nobody would offer him a new contract.
Anders knows how highly he was valued by the fans, a rare talent, an enthusiastic, intelligent person and a worthy hero.
You can follow Amy on Twitter@amylawrence7.
