Football’s Greatest Hat-Tricks No.7
Arsenal manager opened his chequebook in September 1991 and signed Crystal Palace striker Ian Wright for a then-club record £2.5 million.
Wright was told by Graham to expect a long wait on the substitutes bench as the club already had a few striking options in Kevin Campbell, Paul Merson and Alan Smith, winner of the golden boot in the previous season.
Arsenal had also won the league championship the previous season and for many at the time, Wright seemed to be quite a strange signing to make. As it turned out, the former Palace striker would turn out to be one of the best that Graham ever signed as he would become the club’s record goalscorer in September 1997, before leaving the club in 1998 after racking up 185 goals.
Wright scored on his debut for the club away to Leicester City in the League Cup. He kept his place in the starting line-up the following Saturday against Southampton and scored a fantastic hat-trick. From then on, he could do no wrong and quickly became a fan’s favourite.
David Rocastle scored the opening goal of the game at The Dell. Wright grew up on the same estate in Brockley as Rocastle and was delighted to finally play alongside the man he idolised as a youngster.
Wright scored his first of the afternoon after receiving a pass from Anders Limpar. He took a couple of touches as he broke free and fired a low shot past Tim Flowers from the edge of the penalty area.
His second of the afternoon was also set up by Limpar. This time the Swede hit a deft ball over the top of the Southampton defence for Wright to chase. The new Arsenal striker ran through and as Tim Flowers came out to narrow the angle, Wright slid the ball past him into the far corner of the net.
Wright completed his hat-trick after chasing in a rebound. Alan Smith hit a low shot that was well saved by Tim Flowers but Wright came steaming in from the right and thumped the ball into the unguarded net.
We Arsenal fans had a new hero and a new chant was born. “Ian Wright, Wright Wright” would echo around Highbury over the next seven years and we loved every minute he played for us!
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