Arsenal On This Day

Arsenal On This Day, 23rd February 1983

Yogi's Warrior — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 00:01:51 +0000

The second leg of the Football League Cup semi-final at Old Trafford came a fortnight after a 2-4 home defeat in the first. There was a painful familiarity about losing to United in this season; they would end Arsenal’s FA Cup run in the Semi Final, winning 2-1 at Villa Park.

Arsenal On This Day, 22nd February 1992

Yogi's Warrior — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 00:01:43 +0000

Patrick Barclay observation about Wright’s late equaliser is absolutely spot on. A friend at the time observed that it felt like winning the game so undeserved was the goal.

(Click to enlarge image)

Arsenal On This Day, 21st February 1995

Yogi's Warrior — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 00:01:07 +0000

The end of era had been on the cards for some time. On this day in 1995, it finally came. Looking back, I find the reasons for it so utterly baffling, especially for someone who was so well aware and immersed in the history of the club. I know Graham was merely the one who was caught – more accurately, hung out to dry – and this was (is) the culture of football. We will never know if it was purely avarice that led him down this path and to be honest, it would take breathtaking honesty for Graham to ever fully explain it.

On the pitch, the success of the early years was not as forthcoming as the promise. The cup runs, yes, were there but Arsenal were further from winning the title than at any time in the preceding decade or more. Would he have been able to reinvent the Arsenal squad given time and funds? A great imponderable. This is how the day’s events were covered.

Arsenal On This Day, 20th February 1988

Yogi's Warrior — Mon, 20 Feb 2012 00:01:56 +0000

For years there was animosity between Arsenal and Manchester United, fracas seemingly as usual as the yellow cards to either Vieira or Keane. This FA Cup tie from 1988 was the start of it all with tempers simmering and grudges held, following Nigel Winterburn’s choice words into the ears of Brian McClair’s late penalty miss.

Arsenal On This Day, 19th February 1936

Yogi's Warrior — Sun, 19 Feb 2012 00:01:41 +0000

A cup replay comfortably negotiated at Highbury with more information forthcoming about the attendance and the gate receipts that we get these days. So much for transparency.

It was not unusual from the dawn of the professional game through to the Second World War to get this sort of information. Indeed for the early part of the twentieth century, newspapers routinely printed the crowd and gate receipts as part of the results section. How times change.

Arsenal On This Day, 18th February 1978

Yogi's Warrior — Sat, 18 Feb 2012 00:01:07 +0000

A routine cup win over Third Division opposition. They would have their revenge on Terry Neill with spectacular consequences five years later…

Arsenal On This Day, 17th February 1958

Yogi's Warrior — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 00:01:35 +0000

Football and television has always had an uneasy relationship. The demands of the broadcasters now reflect their growing dominance of the sport’s finances. Back in the day, well, it seems that the police viewed the camera and sound crews as more of a hooligan problem.

Arsenal On This Day, 16th February 1971

Yogi's Warrior — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 00:01:33 +0000

Back to the double-winning season of 1970-71, this the FA Cup fifth round tie at Maine Road.

Arsenal On This Day, 15th February 2003

Yogi's Warrior — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 00:01:25 +0000

This FA Cup tie has become more widely remembered for that dressing room scene which led to that cut on the forehead. As much as Ryan Giggs goal at Villa Park is replayed, we should never forget his match-turning miss in this one.

Arsenal On This Day, 14th February 1970

Yogi's Warrior — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 00:01:31 +0000

Reserve team football seems to place Premier League clubs in a quandry. Goodness alone knows why since it all used to work pretty well with the Football Combination for Southern clubs whilst their Midlands and Northern peers had the Central League.

Were it to exist today in a similar spirit, this match report from 1970 might not be such a curio. As it is, few other reserve matches received such fulsome attention from the national press.