Arsenal 3-0 Liverpool 1990-91

[@LennyJohnson5]

Alan Smith’s contribution to the history of Arsenal football club should never be forgotten or underestimated - from scoring the goal that kept us hoping at Anfield in ‘89, to scoring the winner against Parma to win the Cup Winners’ Cup. A great striker and link man.

[@CoolDude-jp1kj]

Not on the level of Ian Rush

[@velouris76]

⁠@@CoolDude-jp1kj They were totally different types of strikers, you can’t really compare the two: Smith was a type of striker who “led the line” and was great at holding the ball, with back to goal, and linking up play… Rush was an out and out goal scorer…if you were to compare him with any past Arsenal striker, Ian Wright would be a better comparison… I’d say by the time of this match, (late 1990) Rush was probably a little past his peak, from the years 1983 to 87, he was unstoppable…but from 1990 onwards, though still a threat, he wasn’t quite as prolific in front of goal…

[@rajnirvan3336]

I miss Highbury. Any time that it was this fixture I really enjoyed as it was like the beginning for me starting to properly become a Arsenal fan even from the time in 1987 cup final, loved this season only lost once. The Adidas kits were awesome.

[@TOSILENCE77]

Arsenal was great to go to back then. A top team, good crowd, no tourists. And cheap tickets

[@tiarnan76]

when Highbury died Arsenal died - Wenger the communist scumbag was the driving force behind that

[@pena1197]

@@tiarnan76 Wenger wanted the stadium to be expanded significantly-not to move. Blame the scumbag council of islington for rejecting the proposition

[@craigmullen9046]

All changed after Euro 96 when all seater stadiums came in and clubs decided to treble the prices overnight.

[@Non-Stick_Pan]

Highbury the library as it was known?

[@61Neveragain]

@@Non-Stick_Panmug, only because that rhymed

[@equaliser9043]

Im a Liverpool fan watching all these old clips back. I loved this Liverpool team and quite liked this arsenal team too. A day when it wasn't impossible to get tickets to watch top tier football live. I get a mixture of sadness and joy when I watch this stuff back. But I always watch so joy must triumph.

[@niallyb80]

Brian Moore really was the best commentator

[@tiarnan76]

my favourite Arsenal team of all time....when football had a soul....

[@robertdigby3596]

limpar on his day was a class act

[@forgive7449]

full of englishmen.... even o'leary was born in stoke newington.

[@lucasm3879]

Rocky Rocastle

[@tiarnan76]

@@lucasm3879 remember his volley from the half way line against Southampton?

[@lucasm3879]

@@tiarnan76 I haven't seen that! His chip against Schmeichel at Old Trafford was amazing though. I'm a Man City fan, he played for us for a season, class player.

[@tusharbhuiya5397]

So nostalgic - Arsenal dominated turn of the 90s and the 00s, first overpowering Liverpool and then Man U. Not quite happened this decade! So many legends in this team: one of the best back 5s in history, Davis & Thomas dynamic in the middle, Limpar, Merson and Smith powerful up front. The like of Ian Wright, Kevin Campbell and Stefan Schwarz further strengthened this amazingly consistent and powerful team. Love the kits back then as well. Ah the late 80s and 90s. Life was good before football was bought out like everything else!

[@stevenwalsh2375]

im a everton fan but i always enjoyed how george graham set up his team to be rock solid at the back and they still did have good attackers,arsene wenger could do with learning that

[@goonerruss7583]

too true!

[@nikreece6295]

This was when the great Liverpool team of the 1980s was now very sadly coming towards the end of their golden era...

[@forgive7449]

probably because this was 1991. 😐

[@nikreece6295]

@@forgive7449 ln other words you mean. The 1990s had now arrived

[@jlatirl4316]

Top of the league when Kenny left then fell off a cliff

[@nikreece6295]

@@jlatirl4316 very true

[@marosa1801]

I’d only got into football during the World Cup that year. This was the first time I’d ever watched Arsenal play and I’ve been a Gooner ever since! Despite the boring Arsenal tag under George Graham we were capable of playing good football. I remember us scoring a lot of goals in that season.

[@stealthiscool]

Yeah, 74 league goals, only 3 behind top scorers Liverpool whilst conceding only 18 which is second only to 98/99 in Arsenal history

[@jeannotschumacher1024]

​@@stealthiscoolthe 99 team was for me our best. It could so easily have been a double. Instead manu won the treble.

[@orlandotrustfullandhiscosm4110]

The Arsenal side of 90/91 only lost 1 league game and conceded ONLY 10 HOME GOALS AND ONLY 8 AWAY GOALS! ONLY EIGHT AWAY GOALS! THAT IS RIDICULOUS!

[@jazzman1892]

1-0 too the ARSENAL!

[@forgive7449]

gadaffi loved a clean sheet didn't he 😃

[@CoolDude-jp1kj]

The Liverpool team of 1978-79 were way better

[@orlandotrustfullandhiscosm4110]

@@CoolDude-jp1kj i agree. That Liverpool side 0f 78/79 only conceded 4 home goals in the League that season. Thats a record low only matched by Man Utd in the 94/95 season. But the Liverpool side of 87/88 were the only team to have scored the most and conceded the least both at home and away in the League that season.

[@jamess6787]

Let's face it. Life is better now. But football was much much much better then. Not that fashionable, cheap entertainment for men to stand with their mates and sing on terraces, the average player relied on a testimonial to set him up for life, loyalty to sides, never worried about agents getting inside your best players head to move on, the lure of a little European football as an adventure, and you got your Sunday match on ITV = simpler, more innocent days, when local, or at least British Isles based players really did represent the club/area

[@bbclondon4]

Best comment I have read in ages.

[@IndependentGeorge76]

Better music, drugs and clubbing as well, lets not forget that... No twats on iphones in them either

[@bachittarlehal1779]

James S I agree with you

[@SpeccyHorace]

@TheGooners11 So the non-fatal crush at the same end of Hillsborough involving Tottenham fans at the FA Cup semi final was what, a practice run?

[@stealthiscool]

cohenhaywood10 the Bradford fire was too wasn’t it, Heysel too, you act like it’s the only case of such things happening. Take off your tin foil hat😒

[@robertoday7526]

Great back heel by Merson. And super finish by Alan smith

[@jazzman1892]

yeah nice long ball from DAVE!

[@waz3128]

December holidays. Sunday Evening. Highbury. Packed Terraces. Brian Moore!!

[@LennyJohnson5]

Brian Moore and Jimmy Greaves... a commentating dream team. Great to see the old North Bank too.

[@seanscanlon9067]

Paul Davis and Michael Thomas might give you an argument on that.

[@gjmafc]

I still have the whole of this game recorded on VHS from the TV. When football was for everyone.

[@utubaz89]

different crowd back then to the spectators and tourists that populate the emirates.

[@glengooner74]

I was there stood at the back of the north bank ! Miss these days, miss the terraces

[@jamess6787]

totally agree with you. Too many instagramers and day trippers there now, I miss these days for football. Not life generally, I'm happier now than ever, but just players born in London, playing for Arsenal .... no City or Chelsea buying up silverware they could otherwise not win. Great days.

[@kazmiah3842]

This was my first ever match , I went there as a 12 yr with 2 mates of mine right amongst the Arsenal fans Horrible result but will remember for the rest of life

[@donlogan666]

Fantastic atmosphere, must be gutting to have to play at the emirates now?

[@housinauthority5258]

Yep!

[@stealthiscool]

Yes! Especially considering the timing of it has lead to it doing literally nothing for our onfield success

[@edwinstarr5591]

Brian moore,jimmy greaves,and proper footie nuff sed

[@SamEdwards-qy5im]

RIP Kevin Campbell

[@Dead-Ball-Situation]

This was the beginning of Liverpool's decline. It's kind of sad to watch, even as a non-Liverpool fan, that the board so royally screwed up the club by not investing in good players. You could see they were still a good team but they needed proper reinforcements

[@elywananda]

I have the whole match on VHS somewhere. Arsenal were in complete control. This was the first time Liverpool looked very beatable.

[@no_soy_rubio]

Good old days. What a player Merson was

[@mayhem7427]

Good professional and unbiased commentary

[@hazardous1990]

Backs when English teams had mostly English players in their teams. 👍

[@manpreetbrar838]

VAR cancels first goal not over the line. Var cancels 2nd goal no penalty diving.

[@kazmiah3842]

I was there as 12 year old !! I was Lfc fan , my youth worker called will took me and my mate . He was arsenal fan we we’re Lfc fan , I remember paying at the gates , ( think it was £3 ) on the day . We sat with the arsenal fan , I can just about remember seeing John barnes flying past us a few times The memories Thanks will

[@Retro_Tommy]

LFC set up with about 6 defenders - a tactic which worked well the season before for King Kenny Dalglish, but not on this occasion. I'm pretty sure LFC had won every game up until this game. Arsenal were fantastic, and coming only a few days after the 2-6 against Man Utd in the Rumbelows Cup 1991. It affected Liverpool, and as a Liverpool fan, I remember going into school the next day and getting ribbed about it - despite still being top of the league, I think! Follow me on Twitter @RetroFootballTV

[@rau1seixas]

+Tom Campbell No, they had drawn at Norwich in late October, this was the first league defeat though.

[@anthonydry5265]

Was the beginning of the end...

[@goonervillegonad3662]

R.I.P. Gary Ablett and those not with us.

[@jj9749]

Greatest player of all time, along with his Dad

[@seanscanlon9067]

A bit awkward on the Paul Davis and Michael Thomas thing there.

[@user-lb5dw4iv9b]

Wow look at the intensity and pressing never mind the skills !! love Merson even loose the feet shows hunger and willingness now starting to know what today Arsenal means by that

[@tommylucy4738]

Never had story of Anfield 89 or any of Wengers great teams but only lost 1 game

[@stealthiscool]

And still won the league comfortably despite being deducted 3 points

[@CoolDude-jp1kj]

0 Champions Leagues. Do you gooners remember the 2001 Fa cup final?

[@patrickomalley1667]

You know I watched just before this one the Liverpool 0 Arsenal 2 89 title decider game. There must've been about 20 back passes in that game! I think the second goal actually came directly from a back pass to the keeper. (With the addition of Limpar & Seaman Arsenal were streets ahead in 1991 however.) So although yes the crowds I think contributed to a much better atmosphere. But let's not look at the past with rose tinted glasses too much. Remember this was the year of Hillsborough... Terraces were removed for a reason.( Although they could've kept them safely, they are looking into ways of doing this in Europe now, they do it in GAA(Irish) Football ). The football from around the beginning of the twentieth century to 2010 was IMO miles ahead of late eighties top flight English football WAY more goals per game

[@zzzaaa0990]

You know didley squat dude. Amen.

[@spencerbrack331]

Arguably the best all time Arsenal team with the meanest defence I’ve ever seen plus the magnificent attacking of Limpar, Merson & Thomas to compliment Smith. Back in the days when you barely had a clear chance in front of goal. Such a contrast with the Premier league now where the art of defending is non existent. Also, Limpar’s first season in English football is never fully appreciated outside north London with double figure assists plus 13 goals too and a bloody good shout for goal of the season with the solo goal FA Cup against Leeds.

[@wongyc5585]

George graham side is exciting to watch in spite of budgeted resources.He helps to create a defensive era which lay foundation to arsene wenger

[@2005peasah]

Hey, we were beaten by Manchester United in the league cup, but us Gooners never die.

[@watchtowersociety6995]

8 england capped players in arsenals team...

[@hanklesacks]

Brexit fc back then

[@Chris-kz7us]

When most of the players were British

[@chrisbayes2972]

Remember us getting a bit of a hammering here as a kid. Watching it back now, Liverpool have a few chances, especially in the first half. Was a great Arsenal side, this, though.

[@GavinAdams-i5k]

Fantastic days. Great commentators. When football waz good

[@KirksCORNER1983]

Thanks for the upload!!

[@jonathongates3747]

George ditches the Burberry for the 2nd half!

[@BjørjaBear]

Two proper football clubs. Class the both of them.

[@Excellentfinish]

PAUL MERSON!!!!!!

[@carpediem4290]

What a beautiful third goal...

[@jj9749]

Grobbelaar definitely had a fiver on Arsenal

[@lewisgreen2957]

Michael Thomas was a very good player for Arsenal. He was one of them unsung type professionals which every team needs..

[@seanscanlon9067]

He has cemented his place in Arsenal's history.

[@lucasm3879]

He won two titles with Arsenal and an FA Cup and League Cup with Liverpool, so he had a very good club career. Deserved a few more England caps though.

[@dazza944]

No way would we have won the league championship in 91 if VAR was about 🤣🤣

[@salamwati9281]

Best lineup of Arsenal in my opinion.

[@assistantto007]

To any Gooners watching this in 2022. Keep your faith, the good old days are on their way back 🔴🔴🔴

[@grahamhewitt9881]

Both teams were unbeaten going into this game if I remember rightly?

[@stephentrout7879]

David Burrows played for Liverpool? Only ever saw him in a Coventry shirt.

[@topsalah1819]

Get your eyes checked then

[@kazmiah3842]

I was there as a 12 year old! Support Lfc .

[@aidtom3503]

First goal was not over the line 🤪

[@jasenwright1178]

FA need to allow 'safe standing " sections at the grounds in the UK. With proper barriers and a good safety audit in place -----people standing , shouting and singing --enjoying them selves??

[@markreville6917]

Liverpool were still a brilliant attacking force that season but shaky at the back . Hansen was gone , Hysen was slow and shaky, Gillespie was just slow and the full backs only average. Kenny departed shortly afterward .

[@chrismiller9867]

Lovely diving from Limpar, before they made it a booking you could make a career out of it. I’d have given him a second penalty for comedy value alone.

[@seanscanlon9067]

He did make a meal of it but there was contact both times and if anything, it looked like he conned himself out of the second one.

[@courseworkdue]

05.25 is a stonewall penalty in any era 😂

[@forumknight]

over the line??...not even close

[@mcthing76]

Terrible dive by Limpar at 5:05, embarrassing. Good to see it again

[@nahmate7331]

Definite pen.

[@factnotifaction8019]

Limpar would be worth 100 million now

[@user-dh9bd5st6t]

back to when most of english society were arsenal fans, now they don`t but the world does.

[@73reider]

I'm no Liverpool fan but that Limpar belongs with dennis wise in that irritating little rat category.....

[@dazza944]

Limpar wouldn’t have won any penalties with VAR 🤣

[@patrickomalley1667]

You know I watched just before this one the Liverpool 0 Arsenal 2 89 title decider game. There must've been about 20 back passes in that game! I think the second goal actually came directly from a back pass to the keeper. (With the addition of Limpar & Seaman Arsenal were streets ahead in 1991 however.) So although yes the crowds I think contributed to a much better atmosphere. But let's not look at the past with rose tinted glasses too much. Remember this was the year of Hillsborough... Terraces were removed for a reason.( Although they could've kept them safely, they are looking into ways of doing this in Europe now, they do it in GAA(Irish) Football ). The football from around the beginning of the twentieth century to 2010 was IMO miles ahead of late eighties top flight English football WAY more goals per game