Iconic Moments in Football No.27
Forget Sergio Aguero’s last-gasp winner for Manchester City against QPR in 2012, this was by far the best end to a league season!
Manchester City fans maintain that it was better as they had come from 2-1 down and took the title from rivals Manchester United. Even though I may be biased as an Arsenal fan, I feel that this game is much better.
Liverpool had been the dominant force of English football for most of the 1970’s and 80’s and had won the league championship the previous season. Arsenal were an up and coming side who had a young and exciting team. They had raced ahead of Liverpool and had lead the First Division for much of the season but Liverpool had a late resurgence. As Liverpool continued to win games, Arsenal began dropping points and their lead at the top of the table slipped.
Fans and the press thought that Arsenal’s young side had lost their confidence and that Liverpool’s experience team would help them win the league.
The game was due to be played on Sunday 22nd April, the week after Liverpool’s FA Cup Semi-Final against Nottingham Forest. Sadly, 96 Liverpool fans lost their lives at the Semi-Final and all First Division football was postponed for two weeks after the Disaster. Because of this, the game was rearranged and was added on to be the last game of the season, six days after the FA Cup Final.
Arsenal continued to falter and had two home games in the lead up to the match at Anfield. If they won both of them, against Derby County and Wimbledon, the title would surely be going to Highbury.
In the end, Arsenal lost 2-1 to Derby and could only pick up a 2-2 draw against Wimbledon. Players and fans described a strange feeling of deflation and acceptance that this wasn’t to be their season at the final whistle after the Wimbledon game.
Liverpool played the following night at home to already-relegated West Ham United at Anfield. Liverpool put in a top-class performance and won the game comprehensively 5-1.
They then went on to win the FA Cup, beating Merseyside rivals Everton 3-2 after extra time.
And so the scene was set. Arsenal had to go to Anfield and win by two clear goals. Any other score and the title would stay on Merseyside. It was a rarity for a team to win at Anfield and even rarer for anyone to win by two goals.
The first half was a tight and nervy affair. Both sides had efforts at goal but Arsenal didn’t go all-out to score as many thought they would but they didn’t sit back either. Everything was going to plan according to Arsenal manager George Graham and his players recalled that he was delighted with them to keep the score goalless.
Early on in the second half, Arsenal won an indirect free-kick about 25 yards from goal. The ball was lifted in to the box and Alan Smith, the League’s top goalscorer, got the faintest of touches to nod the ball past Bruce Grobbelaar in the Liverpool goal.
Most of the Liverpool players went running over to the referee and linesman, complaining that Smith hadn’t touched the ball and that the goal should not be allowed. The referee went to his linesman and after a quick discussion, confirmed that the goal was given. Arsenal were then in the ascendancy and it Michaelk Thomas had a glorious chance near the end of the game but hit it straight at Grobbelaar.
The game was deep in stoppage time when Liverpool’s John Barnes took possession the ball from Tony Adams in Arsenal’s half.
He dribbled down the right wing and then cut inside to try and get into the Arsenal penalty area. If he had decided to take the ball to the corner flag to waste some valuable seconds, the final whistle would have blown.
Arsenal’s Kevin Richardson took the ball off Barnes and passed it back to goalkeeper John Lukic.
Lukic had spent the game kicking the ball high and long upfield but this time decided to throw the ball over-arm to right back Lee Dixon.
Dixon took a few touches, looked up and hit the ball high down the right wing to striker Alan Smith.
Smith controlled Dixon’s pass well and immediately shifted it forward to Michael Thomas who had started a lung-bursting run through the middle of the pitch.
Thomas took a touch trying to flick it past Liverpool defender Steve Nichol 30 yards from goal. With the aid of a lucky deflection off Nichol’s hip, the ball bounced back to Thomas and then off his stomach before bouncing through towards Liverpool’s goal.
Suddenly Michael Thomas was through on goal with only Bruce Grobbelaar to beat. Liverpool’s defenders closed in and Grobbelaar raced off his line to narrow the angle.
Thomas took a touch and then seemed to take an age to take a shot. He waited and waited until Grobbelaar committed and dived to his right, his left. He then flicked the ball past Grobbelaar and into the net with Steve Nichol and Ray Houghton just about to tackle him.
Arsenal had done it! They were now 2-0 up with seconds to go and surely that was it, the title must be theirs?
Liverpool kicked off and immediately sent everyone forward to try and score but the referee blew the final whistle less than a minute later.
It truly was the greatest ending to a league season and the goal will live long in the memory of those who saw it. The story is passed on to all Arsenal fans who weren’t around to watch it. I was only three years old at the time and really wish that I was old enough to remember it!
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