Arsenal.com Anfield ’89 feature

Where did those twenty years go?

26th May 1989 was the moment that has come to define Arsenal’s modern era – a league title that propelled us forward as a club. It was also the most impossibly close finish to a league season – the goal required to win the title coming in the last minute of the last game against the other team challenging for it. Sky would wet themselves if they had such a scenario now. It would have ‘Fireworks Friday’.

It was also our first league title in 18 years – which puts our current five title-less years into some perspective.

Unfortunately, I’m not one of those people with a fabulous Anfield ’89 story to tell. I didn’t hitch-hike up the M1 or arrive in the ground just as Smudger knocked in the first. I wasn’t celebrating down in N5 or watching it on a black and white set at 3am in some far off land.

I was just watching it at my Mum and Dad’s house on the portable telly. I think they had some people round (it was a Friday night) and when Thomas’ goal went in, going ballistic and hurtling round the house as I did, I think they must thought I needed sectioning.

Even now, listening to Brian Moore’s ITV commentary makes the hairs on the back of my neck stand up. It’s unbelievable.

More coverage here (7m 15s in)
BBC radio commentary here
News coverage here

And understandably, Arsenal.com have gone large on it too.

John Lukic, David O’Leary, Lee Dixon, Steve Bould (Perry Groves), Tony Adams, Nigel Winterburn, David Rocastle, Michael Thomas, Kevin Richardson, Paul Merson (Martin Hayes), Alan Smith.

Legends, all.