#FlashbackFriday – Liverpool at Home

Part 2 of a look back at past visits from next Monday’s opposition



#FlashbackFriday – Liverpool at Home

Anders Limpar – Long range special v Scousers in 92


According to Nick Hornby’s Fever Pitch, when Liverpool visited Highbury in Mid-December 1985 (their first meeting since Heysel) the Highbury crowd were in an unforgiving mood with chants of ‘Murderers! Murderers!’ One suspects this reception was received by Liverpool fans at most grounds throughout the country during the 1985/86 season. Football’s kudos was also at an all-time low as a result of Heysel, with average attendance figures at a post-war record low, as well as the fact that this particular Arsenal v Liverpool fixture was unable to feature on British television because of the Football League’s dispute with the BBC and ITV cartel over the paltry size of their collective bid (it was however captured for posterity for foreign broadcast).

Kenny Dalglish, taking over the vacant position at Anfield on Joe Fagan’s retirement, was unable to prevent a 2-0 win for Arsenal at Highbury, with goals from Charlie Nicholas and a debut strike for a nineteen year old Niall Quinn. To many observers, this fixture was the beginning of the emergence of the youthful invigoration of the Arsenal. Over the previous three months, products of our youth system such as Martin Keown, Niall Quinn, Martin Hayes and David Rocastle made their debuts and eventually would replace old stalwarts such as Paul Mariner, Tony Woodcock, Graham Rix and Tommy Caton within the first team. Liverpool however, freed from the distraction of European competition, went on to secure the first (and to date their only) League and FA Cup double, with Ian Rush scoring twice against Everton in the 1986 FA Cup Final.

A year later however, Ian Rush was playing out his farewell season and here with a 1-0 win for Liverpool at Highbury preserved his record of winning every game in which he scored for Liverpool, a record which was to last just one more month after Arsenal would defeat Liverpool 2-1 at Wembley to win their first League Cup in April 1987. After Rush departed for Juventus that summer, his look-a-like replacement John Aldridge would score at Highbury in the opening fixture of the 1987/88 season, in which Liverpool inflicted a 1-2 defeat upon Arsenal. Liverpool would go on to win the league that season, losing just two games along the way.

The following year however was to belong to Arsenal, though the meeting between the two at Highbury in December 1988 would end in a 1-1 draw Arsenal’s first win over Liverpool at Highbury during the George Graham era however came in the League Cup in late October 1989, with a goal from Alan Smith. At the end of that season however, Liverpool were to win their eighteenth and final league title. Just weeks before however they were held to a 1-1 draw at Highbury, caught out by a quickly taken Paul Davis free kick in the first half with Paul Merson finishing, cancelled out by a late John Barnes equaliser five minutes from time.

The following year however saw the title back at Highbury, with Arsenal destroying Liverpool at Highbury with a 3-0 win with goals from Paul Merson, a Lee Dixon penalty and Alan Smith, just days after losing 6-2 at home to Man Utd in the League Cup. Arsenal were to go one better the following season, inflicting a 4-0 thrashing on Liverpool at Highbury on Easter Monday 1992, with goals from David Hillier, two for Ian Wright and a wonder goal from Anders Limpar scoring from his own half long before David Beckham. During this period Arsenal were to enjoy many victories over Liverpool to the extent that – as seen here from this newsreel footage – even the great 1930s Arsenal side would try their luck against Liverpool’s 1991 side (this no doubt, must have been the final straw for Kenny Dalglish who shocked the football world with his resignation that year).

Arsenal’s last win over Liverpool before the millennium however, came in March 1994 with a 1-0 victory secured by a Paul Merson goal. Among the more notable Highbury fixtures during Arsenal’s winless period was the 1-2 defeat in March 1997 where Robbie Fowler owned up to a dive, but to no avail. In January 1999, watching on at Arsenal’s goalless draw with Liverpool at Highbury was their new £2 million fifteen year old star Jermaine Pennant, who later went on to play in the 2007 Champions League Final for Liverpool. Liverpool took all three points at Highbury again the following year with a 1-0 win, with Titi Camera scoring for Liverpool in February 2000,

The baron spell for Arsenal was to end in August 2000, as the Gunners finally bagged a 2-0 win over Liverpool, with goals from Lauren and a last minute strike for Thierry Henry, however it would also be a controversial game in which Arsenal’s Patrick Vieira and Liverpool’s Gary McAllister and Dietmar Harmann would receive their marching orders. Liverpool would however finish the season with a League Cup, FA Cup and UEFA Cup treble, the second leg of which was bagged against Arsenal at Cardiff. The following year however, the Cup belonged to Arsenal who got their revenge on Liverpool who they eliminated in the fourth round at Highbury in a 1-0 win with a first half goal from Dennis Bergkamp.

Jamie Carragher was also sent off as a result of throwing a coin back into the crowd, which was originally thrown at him by one of the Highbury crowd. This game followed on from the league fixture between the two sides at Highbury a fortnight earlier, which ended in a 1-1 draw with goals from Freddie Ljungberg and John Arne Riise. The league fixture the following season at Highbury took place during the interim period between Christmas and New Year in 2002 and ended in the exact same score line with goals from the penalty spot for both Danny Murphy and Thierry Henry. The following season, on Good Friday 2004 however was to be one of Henry’s finest moments in an Arsenal shirt, bagging a spectacular hat-trick in a 4-2 win for Arsenal after a week which saw them eliminated from both the FA Cup and Champions League.

May 2005 would be remembered by many Liverpool fans for the winning the last of their five European Cups, however that same month Arsenal would inflict a 3-1 defeat on the Merseysiders with goals from Robert Pires, Jose Antonio Reyes and Cesc Fabregas. The final meeting between the two sides at Highbury in March 2006, resulted in a 2-1 win for Arsenal, with Thierry Henry scoring a sublime first and gifted a second by a misplaced Steve Gerrard back pass. The first game at Arsenal’s new ground took place exactly three months on, with a thumping 3-0 victory for Arsenal with goals from Flamini, Toure and Gallas. Seventeen months later, In of April 2008 between two legs of a Champions League Quarter Final (in which Liverpool would ultimately triumph) came the Merseysiders’ next League visit to Arsenal which ended in a 1-1 with Nicklas Bendtner cancelling out Peter Crouch’s opener. The same score prevailed just ahead of Christmas that year when a rare Robbie Keane goal for Liverpool cancelled out a Robin Van Persie equaliser.

The only trophy win of significance for Arsenal in the late noughties – in the 2009 FA Youth Cup final - came as a result of a two legged final with Liverpool. The home leg ended with a stupendous 4-1 win for Arsenal in front of an incredible 33,000 in attendance. Giles Sunu opened the scoring for Arsenal, followed by a Jack Wilshere penalty. Liverpool hit back with a great volley from Kacaniklic, however Arsenal extended their lead with goals from Sanchez Watt and rounded off with a header from Jay Emmanuel-Thomas. Later that calendar year, the Arsenal youth theme continued with a 2-1 victory over Liverpool in the League Cup with a tremendous goal from Fran Merida and the winner from Nicklas Bendtner. Though sadly, from this particular crop of Arsenal youngsters, only Jack Wilshere and Francis Coquelin remain within the side.

In the 2009/10 season Arsenal would also take all three points against Liverpool at home in a 1-0 win, with a goal from Abou Diaby. The following season Arsenal’s weak title run-in in 2010/11 effectively ended with Robin Van Persie’s last minute penalty cancelled out within seconds after Lucas was brought down in the area by Emmanuel Eboue and Dirk Kuyt converted the subsequent spot kick, leading to an amusing touchline altercation between Wenger and Dalglish. Arsene’s gloom was to follow into the start of next season, with Samir Nasri’s last game before exiting to Man City, Emmanuel Frimpong’s sending off, an Aaron Ramsey own goal and a goal for Liverpool’s new signing Luis Suarez leading to a 0-2 defeat to Liverpool in August 2011.

Suarez would be on the scoresheet again the following season, with Arsenal facing another home defeat to Liverpool after going two down after Jordan Henderson extended Liverpool’s lead further. Arsenal however would turn the game round with goals from Olivier Giroud and Theo Walcott. Arsenal would be back to winning ways the following season with a comprehensive 2-0 victory over Liverpool in November 2013 with two wonder strikes from Santi Carzola and Aaron Ramsey. Arsenal went into the game as early pacesetters in the League, however their challenge crumbled after a 1-5 defeat at Anfield just as Liverpool’s ultimately ill-fated challenge was coming together.

Arsenal’s revenge would come eight days later with a 2-1 win in the 5th Round of the FA Cup with goals from Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Lukas Podolski. Vengeance however would be complete the following season on Easter Saturday this year with a 4-1 win for Arsenal, with goals from Hector Bellerin, Mesut Ozil, Olivier Giroud and a wonder goal for Alexis Sanchez. As you’re well aware, after Liverpool had lost Luis Suarez to Barcelona in the summer of 2014, their sights were firmly on Alexis Sanchez as a replacement. However the Mersey Twittersphere went into meltdown after Alexis turned Liverpool down to join Arsenal with one particularly funny tweet being @Mark15Thomas’s hilarious: ‘If Sanchez would rather go to Arsenal than us then I dont want him, dont need players with no ambition’. While the Merseysiders had the glory of finishing 6th and trophy-less, Sanchez went on to suffer an unambitious season of FA Cup and Copa America success – ‘If only I’d joined Liverpool instead’ Alexis must have thought to himself!

*Follow me on Twitter@robert_exley


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60
comments

  1. mbg

    Aug 24, 2015, 22:02 #74531

    Ron, good call, it could have been a lot different if Chelskie hadn't over ruled the special one.

  2. mbg

    Aug 24, 2015, 20:49 #74528

    Brenda, a good Irish name.

  3. Stating the bleeding obvious

    Aug 24, 2015, 20:31 #74526

    I don't think defensively we are playing very well. Oh dear

  4. Badarse

    Aug 24, 2015, 18:40 #74520

    Evening gentlefolk. Off to watch a dire game of football, in a dire stadium, within the framework of other dire arenas, to a backdrop of dire players existing alongside all other dire players from around the planet. What tosh! If nobody can play the bloody game well enough then what does that say? Humanity has caught a plague of incompetence? A plague of narrow minded negativity if they read this site, more like. As stated previously cricket isn't my game but it sorely confused me throughout the years to hear 'we', or 'they' were next to useless. Even I knew there were only about four or five serious nations who played the game back then, and would take other non-playing nations pants down. So at worst they'd be the 4th or 5th best?!!? These old, past it, armchair critics never cease to amaze me with their blinkered and bigoted approaches. Enjoy the evening, or as my Dad would say, 'Eat, drink and be merry, for tomorrow may never come.

  5. goonercolesyboy

    Aug 24, 2015, 17:06 #74517

    Get it off your chest, the mug from Northern Ireland. It is of course your daily dose written on this blog. Be interesting to hear what you have to say in two years time, eh?

  6. mbg

    Aug 24, 2015, 16:25 #74515

    I see TOF doesn't fell sorry or have any sympathy for Liverpool losing their two best players (Suarez Sterling)because they blocked and refused to sell him Suarez, really? well what do you think were they supposed to do arsene? just roll over for you? sell him to you just because of who you think you are? the great arsene wenger, maybe you thought they should just have gifted him to you for nothing such is your imaginary self importance and reputation, in case you don't already know old man the days of other managers, owners, directors, and fans respecting you and taking you seriously are long gone.

  7. jjetplane

    Aug 24, 2015, 14:32 #74513

    Looks like Sagna and Nasri are enjoying themselves at the top but yes to add Benzema to Giroud would be pointless and with all the apparent zip of having a dozen men playing behind a Giroud type he then reverts to join them in flicking the ball here and there still leaving an absence of anyone running at the goal in an Aguero manner. Will the German and Kosc hold out this season? Don't believe they have it in them. Benteke may be a different player from the knackered nag who turned up at Wembley so could be an interesting night if he gets the creative support.

  8. Ron

    Aug 24, 2015, 13:53 #74510

    Ha. Youre onto him JJ. He most certainly is alluding to the tonguemeister Mr Giroud being effectively the same as Mr Aguero. The Westlower spin casually ignores the number of times KA pulls his trigger in matches, often as a result of him creating his own position to do so and of course, him being the one genuinely world class performer in whats a pretty humdrum PL. Having said all of this, i cant see why they clamour for a striker. The Club desperately needs two quality central defenders before its needs anything else in my view. Forget strikers and DM s. That can come later as i see it.

  9. jjetplane

    Aug 24, 2015, 13:28 #74507

    So WESTIE you are saying Giroud is as good as Aguero. Nice one Dr Spin. CORnISH nowhere near that on saturday and awful news for Worthing Fc who are kicking up a storm. Terribly sad day. Just to reiterate that ye little Cherries put 4 past a well prepared Hammers who also were seen off by the Foxes. And then were the boutique boys of Holloway. You have to laugh.

  10. Ron

    Aug 24, 2015, 11:18 #74504

    Agree Westie. Cd even be a 0-0.

  11. Westlower

    Aug 24, 2015, 8:23 #74502

    I was at a Duxford air show in 1996 when a Lightning plane crashed killing the pilot & damaging other planes on the ground. It's a frightening experience, helplessly watching, when you realise the pilot can't pull out of a nose dive. On a lighter note I was reading that arguably the best striker in the PL Aguero has averaged one goal from every six shots in his 4 years playing at Citeh. It just shows how hard it is to be a consistent goal scorer. Score prediction Arsenal 1 - Liverpool 1.

  12. Made Up Stat

    Aug 24, 2015, 8:10 #74501

    Couldn't keep away then, eh Jamieson? Sorry, - I mean Thaddeus.

  13. A Cornish Gooner

    Aug 23, 2015, 22:02 #74500

    jj Sad to read of the death of the two Worthing players. Coincidence them being in the same 9th tier league. If you'd been away to Worthing on Saturday you could have been on the A27 maybe?

  14. jjetplane

    Aug 23, 2015, 20:38 #74498

    Love it RON and Benny boy always looks a tad unfit so the PL should do wonders for his BMass though Sunday afternoon kickarounds will see him injured and looking for the roast dinners. Benny Hill without the milkman's swiftness but what a pair him and Olly would make. I hope he comes! ... Yak Yak .... Ironies of ironies with Nasri and Sagna on a roll. Why did they leave .... Thaddeus?

  15. Ron

    Aug 23, 2015, 19:38 #74497

    Never fear JJ. Benzema's coming. There must be truth in these rumours. I know as ive seen a pic of him with his tongue out after a miss. He s in mate. That'll clinch it for Wenger!

  16. Thaddeus

    Aug 23, 2015, 18:21 #74496

    Chelsea looked all over the place today and were lucky to sneak home,Pedro is another Barca player pushing 30 on a downward spiral who will struggle in the Premiership and would hardly feature at the Emirates.City do look the better of the other sides though with many of Wengers rejects and weak squad players I can't see them lasting the distance.Liverpool should be given a footballing lesson tomorrow as like our other rivals they've taken to buying up players who would be nothing more than bench warmers at Arsenal..

  17. mbg

    Aug 23, 2015, 17:47 #74495

    Bard, doesn't surprise any of us i'm sure, this excuse for a manager comes out with the biggest load of shyte at times, sorry ALL the time, so Ozil is committed and fully focused now, (you couldn't make it up)so that makes everything all right then, no doubt since Lord wenger has spoken it does (to some anyway) I suppose we're going to win the league now.

  18. Bard

    Aug 23, 2015, 17:30 #74494

    Patience JJ. even the Roman empire came to an end. All dictatorships end in bloodshed and Wenger's will be no different. Even if we we sign Messi or Ronaldo in this window he still wont win the title but the pressure and expectations will ramp up.

  19. jjetplane

    Aug 23, 2015, 15:00 #74493

    The difference is of course Chelski will fight tooth and nail to get back up the tree whereas Arsene the Comfortable thinks cruise control, CL money and FA Cup blips are all that is needed. The audience he has created at the club are like any west end theatre crowd who are happy enough to while away the hours with Billy Eliot. From a footballing viewpoint nothing could be shallower. Contrast The Cherries who put 4 past the Hammers who were also beat by the Foxes who could still turn up at the Theatre of Tattoos and Smirks and score 2 with no reply. Come on you Baggggies .... The PL is dying as witnessed by most of yesterday's fayre bar the Cherries who do not see the game like the Holloway Doom and Gloom squad. Saw a 1-1 game myself but it was a properly contested match and full of good football. Couple a boys in our team would put Walcott to shame. Not that his whole career is nothing but take and no give. Truly shameful. Best move I ever made was discontinuing my support while Wenger is in charge. We are the real Arsenal - he is nothing but an opportunist as Mr Exley's fab articles remind us of what football really is about.

  20. Thaddeus

    Aug 23, 2015, 14:51 #74492

    Wenger is so right when he says a lot of the weaker fans these days are only interested in the news that follows a signing.He's also 100% correct when he says that none of the players signed by our rivals this season are good enough for Arsenal..

  21. Bard

    Aug 23, 2015, 14:14 #74491

    Thaddeus/ Jamie youre right whats Pedro ever won, nothing but a few la ligas and CLs. A nothing player when you put him up against Wally or Ramsey etc al. Ridiculous post.

  22. Bob

    Aug 23, 2015, 13:55 #74490

    Thaddeus, that is absolute tosh. Our rivals do not rest on their laurels like Wenger. I see this week he claimed there are no strikers available for him to sign. Mourinho found a guy called Pedro, debut today, scored already. United are about to sign Neymar. Wenger is allowed to cruise along by a board without true ambition.

  23. jjetplane

    Aug 23, 2015, 13:38 #74489

    There's only one Thadderson?!/One Thadderson ... Come on you Baggiesssssss!

  24. jeff write

    Aug 23, 2015, 12:07 #74488

    The Listeners, By Walter De La Mare... is the work that dead duck bizarrely plagiarized his post from ... a bit of cut and paste and a couple of words here and there inserted by the oaf ... obviously the old PMT is kicking in again for him ... quack...quack...quack...

  25. jjetplane

    Aug 23, 2015, 11:41 #74487

    Get a life Mousedropping .....

  26. Bard

    Aug 23, 2015, 9:02 #74486

    Just read an interview with the great one who, without a hint of irony, tells us that Ozil is now fully focused and committed where as last year he wasnt sure, Really ? We spent £40m+ and £140000 a week on wages, build a midfield around him but he's not sure he's committed ! I wonder what Shankly, Paisley etc al would have thought of that ? @Mandrake Youre jeff complex is becoming worryingly all consuming.

  27. Ozzie

    Aug 23, 2015, 8:18 #74485

    You're a good sport Hiccup. Neither team are a patch on some of the past ones. Never mind, we have something in common - a win this weekend :)

  28. mbg

    Aug 22, 2015, 17:21 #74483

    Ron, 78670 good post, Oh how we were all conned back then, (little did we know) thankfully not any more, but some still are, and are quite happy to be.

  29. mbg

    Aug 22, 2015, 17:03 #74482

    Tony Evans, he wouldn't even take them on a free.

  30. jjetplane

    Aug 22, 2015, 14:13 #74480

    Thank you Thadderson ......

  31. 80's Gooner

    Aug 22, 2015, 11:24 #74479

    Talking of Kevin Richardson (very underrated) his first few games for Arsenal (at the start of the 87-88 season) he played wide left & chipped in with a few goals. Michael Thomas played at right back & was our penalty taker

  32. Seven Kings Gooner

    Aug 22, 2015, 11:12 #74478

    Ron your post 78670 strikes a real cord with me and I suspect many. We have all worked at some time in our lives for chancers who live of others and seem to get to very top on sheer spin and let's face it nothing but bull sh*t. The great thing about growing older is you can spot em a mile off, like you can spot a proper player by just one look at them. You are so right about AW and Tony Adams, Adams was the boss on match days, he set the pace and the tone of the day's encounter. That 91 team with Adams (although missing for quite a few games) and GG as manager were champions from the moment the season started and they could play if needed. Whatever people think of LVG he knows he must get Utd back to top again and quickly and he knows if he fails he is out - that is what creates real exciting football. When two teams meet, managed by driven managers who have prepared their teams to very edge and over in some cases, it is then you find out about your players and who has the courage and clear headed approach to prevail. I hope in my life time I do see an Arsenal side once again start frightening the opposition and we have a manager, who ensures his/her players are playing up to that very edge. We are bottom of the top team's league in World football and we need to start winning titles and a CL to realize our true potential - no excuses!

  33. 80's Gooner

    Aug 22, 2015, 11:12 #74477

    Great memories from December 88 & 90. I recall these were Sunday 3.00 pm kick offs screened live on ITV's Big Match in the days when the pubs used to shut at 2.30 on a Sunday. Those were the days, boozer, roast, football, Bulls eye. They were terrific contests back then, especially 1990 where we had been docked points & just got conceded 6 at home to man u as opposed to Liverpool who up to that point had not been beaten & were the defending champions watching those clips again reminded me just how good Merson was when he was on his game

  34. Smithy

    Aug 22, 2015, 7:56 #74475

    I agree with you Ron. I like any side to have a nasty side- what does busquets and puyal do for their sides? Anything it takes to win the game, Chellini also. We are far too nice under arsene, when we play the dark arts clubs like chavski and stoke we need to fight fire with fire, but we send in the smiling pygmies offering hugs and smiles. Two memories of recent years both involving grimmandi - taking out David's in the emirates friendly opener and several games where he man marked a player out of the game. His sole focus was to disrupt and annoy the player. I believe he did this instinctively and wasn't due to any coaching from arsene. The only player currently with the possibility of a bit of nastiness is Gabriel - hope he doesn't lose it under arsene!

  35. Hiccup

    Aug 22, 2015, 7:52 #74474

    Morning Ozzie! Another 3 day Test on the cards? You've got today and that's it before we hit another monsoon season over here. It looks like you guys have turned a corner. I would recommend you stick with what you've got, talk Clarke out of retiring, and you'll be on the cusp of great things. Alternatively, you could show some ambition, and look to rectify the holes that need plugging. Decisions, decisions, decisions.

  36. Ozzie

    Aug 22, 2015, 7:52 #74473

    Sorry I cant contribute to the memories but enjoy reading the articles and various posts. A win this weekend would be a huge fillip. COYG

  37. Cyril

    Aug 22, 2015, 1:17 #74471

    Ron, let me make this very clear. Nobody and let me say nobody sings "one arsene Wenger". And when a few do we look around quizzical. That game went a long time ago. I wish I could and I used too but it's like the early years of Blair.. And then we realised...

  38. John F

    Aug 22, 2015, 0:06 #74470

    Mixed in with a few good memories is some dire times for us in the early/mid eighties starting with my idol Brady leaving and being replaced by Peter Nicholas.The West Ham fans blasting out your going to get the sack to Terry Neil at Upton park.Walsall at home,freezing my balls off on a York terrace to see Stevie Williams give away a penalty.I always remember a poor game playing Leicester at home in front of a paltry crowd when a small pocket of city fans in the west stand started singing Engleberts song please release me let me go as I don't love you anymore I think the rest of Highbury knew how they felt.But then 86/87 happened it seemed like a breath of fresh air.Top of the league at one time,the best atmosphere I have ever been in the semi at White Hart Lane, all ending for me in the Littlewoods cup win against Liverpool in which the classy Stevie Williams had a great game.It was only the league cup but it seemed to signal an end to what went on before and better times ahead.The next year against Luton when Nigel missed the pen it reverted back to oh well it is only league cup.

  39. Ozzie

    Aug 21, 2015, 23:59 #74469

    Ah.....hiccup......burp

  40. Ron

    Aug 21, 2015, 21:56 #74468

    The thing is Smithy that back then the team itself and the players in that team didnt tolerate free loaders or players who cdt play the game like yr Denilsons et al, the players would have bombed them out but didnt need to as GG didnt preach or accept 'easy street is ok' mentality. Now, youve got a Coach who has done for yrs and still does. People say he doesnt and point to the yrs when he had Adams, Wright and Co as evidence for it. The truth is that those guys were stronger and more ****ded into the Arsenal culture then than Wenger. He knew it, knew he cdt shift them quickly and lived off them. Made a name for himself that he probably wdt have done had he have started from scratch relying on his own dubious coaching skills. Since age crept up on the stalwarts he inherited and him easing them out of the Club gathered energy, hes imbued the Club with his french cafe culture. its why we ve been light touches and push overs for teams who play at the edge of the rules for 10 years. For yrs he screamed 'foul' at Utd as Fergie beat his teams to pulp from 2002 onwards once the tougher characters had gone. What he meant was 'im sulking as those nasty Utd blokes wont tip their caps to my culture and philosophy' . Its why in my view Wengers a fraud who got lucky for a short period. You frequently see his type who scale the heights as executives in big companies. They live off others. The fools at the top take to them as they talk a great game and make a few apparent beneficial but peripheral changes. Once their exposed theyre off like a shot to f--k some other unsuspecting Company up till theyre exposed again, then they move on again ..... and on it goes. AFC need to get shot of him asap but the Board there are so removed from football or ensconsed in their own non football interests that they dont recognize it or they do, but the comfort he brings to the party is seen as adequate. Wenger himself must privately laugh his nuts off at them and even more so as the sheep sing 'theres only one Arsene Wenger'. Thank heavens there is only one, otherwise the Board could blindly appoint another.

  41. Smithy

    Aug 21, 2015, 21:18 #74467

    Great shouts on Kevin Richardson and Bryan mar wood- not brilliantly gifted players but both had the attitude to succeed with all that they had.we need a few more like them - the Ox is an example of a lad with the right attitude. Shame we had a few like denielson and Diaby who represent those who just pick up the wages.

  42. Ron

    Aug 21, 2015, 20:56 #74466

    Hi Cyril - Absolutely. Marwood was a gem. His short time at his best, he was very, very good wasnt he.

  43. Tony Evans

    Aug 21, 2015, 19:31 #74465

    Ron, SKG, Cyril - Yes KR and BM were terrific players for us. Tough no nonsense types, proper pro's that we are so in need of now but Wenger wouldn't sign in a million years.

  44. Cyril

    Aug 21, 2015, 18:06 #74463

    Ron, a must mention and one of the great arsenal songs - "Brian, Brian Marwood on the wing."Up there with with the best left sided players for Arsenal. His assists in our title year with balls into smiffy needs a mention. We took to him immediately. Injuries and then Messrs Limpar put paid to him. So pleased he got his medal in 89. Only GG could of bought him etc .... Love George, love Marwood. Robert this stuff Is really good!

  45. Wear Your Colours

    Aug 21, 2015, 17:45 #74462

    Some great memories. Charlie's brace at Wembley; Limpars chip at Highbury bring back memories of GG's era. The clip I liked best was to see Abou's barnstroming header against them in 2008. Let's hope we put a few goals past them like that on Monday night. COYG!

  46. Seven Kings Gooner

    Aug 21, 2015, 17:43 #74461

    Ron : make you right about KR performance 26/05/89 he was superb - never panicked, just did his job and held the shape of the team while we pushed on in the final twenty minutes. KR is also one of a long list of players who left us and went to Villa and had good careers, Johnny McCleod, Alex Cropley, Martin Keown Jimmy Rimmer and of course Phillipe Senderos and many others.

  47. Ron

    Aug 21, 2015, 17:12 #74460

    SKG - Great comment re Kev Richardson. He was a tremendous player. The type that Wengers needed for years but wont buy as he doesn't fit the 'philosophy'. The type that any good team has. The type that any title winning team has to have. He was our best performer on the 26th May 1989 in my view though never gets the plaudits for his night that night. im betting Hansen has never spoken to him since as he went fwd too often that night as an old man who had been out of the game for weeks on end. KR went past him so often like he wasn't there. Others too. Loved KR as i loved Steve Williams before him. A team cannot be successful here without such players, though Wenger thinks it can be done. He stands alone in thinking it.

  48. Seven Kings Gooner

    Aug 21, 2015, 16:56 #74459

    Another great post Robert - George Graham signed some real top players in his first few years and blended them in brilliantly with Adams, Rocastle, Merson, Thomas etc. One of his best IMO was Kevin Richardson - a champion with Everton he gave us real experience in that midfield as was a tough SOB. Unfortunately KR never got on with GG and he left us too soon, having won the league with 2 different clubs he nearly repeated the trick with Ron Atkinson's Villa. A fine player and brilliant reader of the game.

  49. Bard

    Aug 21, 2015, 16:05 #74458

    Tony/Ron yes I thought that bit about the youth players was fascinating. The youth development of 'home growns' is one of the enduring Wenger myths. He has only ever brought through 3 in his whole tenure ( defined as being the club before 16. His view is that they are moreorless done and dusted by then) Cole, Jack and Chesney. It would be interesting to see what the youth development has cost the club for very little return. Reading about Rush reminds me of that famous quote from when he was with Juve, he said being in Italy was like being in a foreign country !!

  50. Ron

    Aug 21, 2015, 15:50 #74457

    I think only Cole has actually 'made it' under Wenger Tony.Lets remember too that Wenger was ready to flog him off too!

  51. Tony Evans

    Aug 21, 2015, 14:44 #74456

    Hi Ron - you are so right to mention the number and quality of the home-grown players, that came up through the ranks, featuring in Robert's clips. In direct contrast to today of course with this myth that Wenger has nurtured and brought on young talent to grace the first team. Jack apart I can't think of many youth team players who have made it at Arsenal during Wenger's reign, and serious doubts remain about him! I suppose though football has changed so much since the mid eighties Arsenal are certainly not alone in not giving first team opportunities to their youth team starlets.

  52. Ron

    Aug 21, 2015, 13:40 #74455

    Another nice post Robert. The trouble is you keep on reminding us of a time when football was a game of substance, played by physically inclined players at stadia that had feel, soul and lots of passion on and off the pitch! Was at that 3 - 0 and was in line with Smithy, a third of the way back up our beloved North Bank as he rammed that past Grobbo. Its easy to forget the number and quality of youth players too that we brought through the ranks. Lads who grew up dreaming and striving to be footballers no doubt, unlike today. Some of the clips are testament to the fact that punters and fans today deny i.e.. great team inclined football wasn't invented by Barcelona. One things for sure, the paying punters or the players wont be embroiled in such an enthralling, high octane, skilled and passionate encounter on Monday night. Sterility will rule the proceedings. Football has lost so much, especially in the last 16/17 years. Those yrs 97 - 2001/02 were pretty good, on and off the pitch for fans and players i always think in fairness.

  53. Tony Evans

    Aug 21, 2015, 13:23 #74454

    Great stuff as usual, Robert. Enjoyed remembering the '87 League Cup Final victory with El Pel setting up Charlie Nick for his scuffed winner that dribbled, ever so slowly, over the line. Important victory that though as it ended another barren spell, trophy wise, and marked the beginning of GGs wonderful era.

  54. mbg

    Aug 21, 2015, 13:20 #74453

    Another good read Robert, it's no surprise the FL and TV companies were fighting over money away back then too. Sunu, Watt, Thomas, Merida, where did they all go? or what happened to them, as if we don't know, so much for project youth, then we had the next batch the bendy's and eboue's etc, etc and still no further on today. Sad.

  55. Badarse

    Aug 21, 2015, 12:39 #74452

    Dead right 24601. Remember it well. Anders crossed the halfway line in front of the tunnel looked up and guided the ball into the North Bank net. He was a glorious talent and would make a mark today. Funny again that we share a respect for roughly the same players...and marmite...and Tit Bits and Reveille...and the Goons...and black piano keys, and also with dislikes, as in Simon Cowell...Mourhino...spaghetti hoops...Frosties...and blue Arsenal 3rd kits.

  56. Charlie George Orwell

    Aug 21, 2015, 12:38 #74451

    Remember the 1-2 loss in the opening game in '87 because I was just so impressed how Liverpool were so much better than us. I think maybe I was still euphoric over the 87 League Cup win and thought without Rush, we were in with a big shout in winning the League. It probably sounds a bit daft to some, but for me, I can't overstate the psychological impact it had when Rush scored. That was it - Liverpool never lost. I wonder if players thought the same? I remember screaming with eyes filled with tears of joy: 'Ciao Rushy, Ciao!' as he walked off the Wembley pitch. I was 27 years old.

  57. danny

    Aug 21, 2015, 12:25 #74448

    Sod's law I purchased tickets for the match on Monday for me and my son who is a JG and for around £80 for the 2 tickets and I have won 2 more tickets to the same match through being randomly selected at a face value £84 for each ticket. Which I will give to my partner and youngest son who is also a JG , it just goes to show how much it would cost a family of 4 to go and watch the match even without the rail fare which I got quite cheap on trainline.com. I used to be a ST holder at Highbury before I had kids and my 1st ST was £290 in the 90's as a family unit we have been priced out of the game so the boys have to take in turns to go which is a shame as it should be a game that it affordable for a working class family . So im very grateful for the tickets ive won and we can go to a competitive match as family although in different areas of the clockend.

  58. Westlower

    Aug 21, 2015, 11:54 #74447

    Google 'Anders Limper 40 yarder vs Liverpool' and you'll see Anders collect the ball in his own half on the ring of the centre circle, dribble into Liverpool's half, drifting to the right and let fly on the outer ring of the centre circle, approx 40 yards. The difference between Anders magnificent goal, only bettered by Jon Sammels screamer v Man U, was that Anders intended to score. Beckham hit a speculative punt & got lucky.

  59. AFC14

    Aug 21, 2015, 10:38 #74445

    Your right..2-0 win v Lpool in 1985 was shown live here in Scandinavia. But we missed Charlie`s opening goal due to problem With signals from England. Was hard to take after waiting weeks for the match..

  60. Badarse

    Aug 21, 2015, 10:00 #74443

    Thanks once again Robert, these articles are so interesting and very informative...Ah Anders, you were a magnificent footballer, and as for you Highbury...'All my crying, feel I'm dying, dying. Take me back, to my old home...'