The Official History Part II - The Wenger Revolution

Arsenal FC
Arsenal FC
  • 2 days ago
see more Gunners-Game :
https://www.soccerland.sports-classics.stream/england-club.html
Transcript
00:00:00I think everybody thought that they were underachieving for the size of a club like Arsenal.
00:00:15They just probably needed a bit of fresh blood and I was young, probably very, very ambitious.
00:00:24Luckily for me at Arsenal it all came off, it all worked very well.
00:00:27George was very, very fair with every single player, he would give you a chance.
00:00:30If you messed up then he would punish you.
00:00:32He wouldn't have any thoughts of dropping the best player on the team.
00:00:35It was a very exciting time at Ivory because George Graham just arrived and a new era is starting.
00:00:42It's a great feeling.
00:00:44So a new beginning for the Gunners and George certainly had plenty of reasons to be cheerful about the team he'd inherited from Don Howe.
00:00:51Yes, there's a nice balance about the side just now.
00:00:53We've got experienced players at the back like Viv Anderson, Kenny Sampson, who are obviously helping the younger players.
00:01:04Young Adam's at the back, he's fitted in lovely with those.
00:01:07Wonderful trainer.
00:01:09I think he's a natural leader.
00:01:11A great learner.
00:01:13And I think eventually he's going to captain Arsenal and I think eventually he will captain England.
00:01:19Then you've got young David Rochastle.
00:01:21Very exciting.
00:01:23So much raw talent.
00:01:25When he actually keeps on learning, I think he's going to be a very exciting player, not only for Arsenal but probably for England.
00:01:32And then you've got front, you've got young Niall Quinn.
00:01:35Another one from the Irish connection.
00:01:37And young Niall is coming for a bit of criticism because of his ungainliness.
00:01:42But a lovely attitude in training.
00:01:45Wants to learn.
00:01:47And I've got a lot of time for him.
00:01:49And then young Martin Hayes, who's obviously nearly finished up going to Huddersfield a couple of months ago.
00:01:54Martin's come back to prove something to me.
00:01:57He's got Arsenal at heart.
00:01:59He wants to do very well.
00:02:00And as long as he keeps producing the goods and tries to prove me wrong, I'm very, very pleased with him.
00:02:05There were a bunch of wonderful, talented young players.
00:02:08And I just thought now was the time to maybe blood some of them.
00:02:14And along with my purchase and buys from the lower divisions, with a wonderful combination.
00:02:20Sanson.
00:02:24And Quinn's there.
00:02:25And Adams is there.
00:02:27And it's a goal to Arsenal.
00:02:29They scored anyway.
00:02:37Oh, look at that.
00:02:38That's super football by Arsenal.
00:02:40And Hayes on to a pass by Nicklaus.
00:02:42Martin Hayes is going through for Arsenal.
00:02:44And brought down was a yes.
00:02:51Paul Davis.
00:02:52It's there.
00:02:532-0 to Arsenal.
00:02:58Martin Hayes is in there.
00:03:00And it's Nicklaus.
00:03:01But same Nicklaus.
00:03:02Goal for Arsenal.
00:03:04What a start.
00:03:05Charlie Nicklaus.
00:03:10Hayes.
00:03:11Nicklaus.
00:03:13Hayes again.
00:03:14Hayes is through.
00:03:16Oh, that's a lovely goal.
00:03:18And Martin Hayes.
00:03:20No wonder he's smiling.
00:03:23In his first season, George Graham led Arsenal to the League Cup final.
00:03:27The highlight of the run to Wembley, a 2-1 win over Tottenham at White Hart Lane.
00:03:31And a nail-biting semi-final replay.
00:03:34I was so committed to trying to get that bit of silverware.
00:03:37And, of course, we were facing Liverpool, who were dynamic.
00:03:40I was sweating a little bit, I have to say.
00:03:42I was petrified.
00:03:43I was worried in case Rush would score first.
00:03:45And we would face the usual.
00:03:46Rush would score, then Liverpool would win.
00:03:50Rush.
00:03:51Mulvey.
00:03:53That's a great ball.
00:03:54This is Steve McMahon.
00:03:55O'Leary coming across.
00:03:56He's led Rush.
00:04:02It's such a familiar sight.
00:04:05And Arsenal now will be desperately trying to get out of their mind
00:04:08that infernal statistic.
00:04:11Every time Ian Rush scored, they never lost a game.
00:04:13The records are there to be broken, and we broke that one that day.
00:04:16But we were aware of it on the day.
00:04:18I remember myself on the day thinking,
00:04:19they started well, Liverpool, and they scored.
00:04:21And I think Ian Rush has scored as well.
00:04:23We were in for one then.
00:04:24But we got down, worked hard, and they turned it around.
00:04:30Look at them boys.
00:04:31You'd think it was just out of 100 metres.
00:04:32Davis.
00:04:33Hit the wall.
00:04:35Sansom.
00:04:37Anderson.
00:04:38Adams.
00:04:39Nicholas.
00:04:40Off the post.
00:04:41Anderson.
00:04:42Yes, it's got in.
00:04:44It's Charlie.
00:04:45Charlie Nicholas has done it.
00:04:46The first goal, I actually missed a peach of a chance just before it,
00:04:49and I had the post.
00:04:50And I came back out and put it back in to the area again.
00:04:54And tap in.
00:04:55And I just remember Tony Adams just about half strangling me
00:04:58in the celebration.
00:04:59I didn't even get a chance to celebrate.
00:05:01I was on the run.
00:05:02And of course, I wasn't the quickest.
00:05:03So Tony Adams had kind of wrapped his arms around my throat.
00:05:05And I just remember thinking, we're back in the game.
00:05:08Sansom.
00:05:12Groves.
00:05:14He's away from Gillespie.
00:05:16Nicholas.
00:05:17And Roe Castle in the area.
00:05:18Nicholas.
00:05:19Yes!
00:05:20Good deflection, I think.
00:05:24Seven minutes to go.
00:05:25He's the Bonnie Prince this afternoon.
00:05:28Sometimes it's just fate.
00:05:29I'm a realist.
00:05:30And it's fate.
00:05:31And I didn't stab the second goal at all.
00:05:33Well, I tried to play it near post.
00:05:35And I hit Ronnie Whelan's heel.
00:05:36And deflected by Groble, I reckon, in the far post.
00:05:38But the Little Woods Cup was a fantastic success for me.
00:05:41You know, I walked up the steps.
00:05:42And I was captain on the day.
00:05:44And lifted the trophy.
00:05:45So it was pretty special.
00:05:46Got a lot of stick for wearing those hats.
00:05:48You just won a cup finally, beating Liverpool at Wembley.
00:05:51And someone gives you a hat, and you immediately put it on.
00:05:54That was the start of an upward swing in Arsenal's fortunes.
00:05:57We knew we were on our way.
00:05:59We were a young team.
00:06:00Full of outstanding young players who come through the Arsenal system.
00:06:04And plus the young players that are brought from the lower divisions
00:06:08who are hungry.
00:06:09No one hungrier than beanpole striker Alan Smith.
00:06:12Who, when leaving Leicester City, rejected Manchester United.
00:06:15And chose instead to join a side that was full of potential.
00:06:19And they looked like a team that was going places.
00:06:21Ken Fire, the managing director, came up to Leicester.
00:06:23Then took me back to London to discuss terms the next day.
00:06:27The one thing he always reminds me of is the fact I stopped at Mr. Fire's house.
00:06:31And I got locked in the toilet in the morning.
00:06:33Had a dodgy handle on the bathroom.
00:06:35And I went in. I couldn't get out.
00:06:37And I was politely trying to knock.
00:06:39Didn't want to scream. Let me out.
00:06:41But to this day, he always reminds me of that.
00:06:44But I signed.
00:06:46And in hindsight, it was a fantastic decision.
00:06:49Alan Smith, to me, is a bit of an unsung hero at Arsenal.
00:06:52Finished up top goalscorer with a golden boot twice.
00:06:55And I thought he was underrated by a lot of people in the game.
00:06:58But I thought he had a great all-round game.
00:07:00He was a demanding manager.
00:07:02But once he'd seen your best performance,
00:07:04he wanted to see that every day of the week and every Saturday, really.
00:07:16Nigel Winterburn came along a couple of months afterwards.
00:07:19Lee Dixon, Steve Ball.
00:07:21He was building that defence, which went on to become legendary.
00:07:25He had the likes of David Roecastle, bless him, who's now passed away.
00:07:30On the right, who's an absolutely fantastic player.
00:07:33Mickey Thomas in midfield, who could run all day.
00:07:35Paul Davies. All these lads that come through the youth set-up.
00:07:38So there was a lot of players who had Arsenal in the heart.
00:07:42And George managed, with the ones that came in,
00:07:45to put that in their heart as well.
00:07:47We were all fighting for the badge.
00:07:49We had a tremendous togetherness and team spirit
00:07:52and never-say-die attitude, which was instilled in us as Arsenal players.
00:07:56Arsenal reached a second consecutive League Cup final,
00:07:59but went down to an injury-time defeat against Luton Town.
00:08:03A blow, but the wider picture showed that Arsenal were
00:08:06gradually developing into championship contenders.
00:08:09Our expectations weren't as high as perhaps other people were thinking.
00:08:14I think the fact that we were playing together for the first time
00:08:17was a bit of a novelty.
00:08:19Obviously some of the players, including myself,
00:08:21had never played in the First Division before, as it was.
00:08:25So, yeah, we thought we would do all right,
00:08:27but we never really thought we'd reach the heights that we did.
00:08:30Thomas as well!
00:08:32Arsenal ahead.
00:08:39Real nip and tuck.
00:08:43Roecastle playing it in.
00:08:45Smith's got it in there!
00:08:50Michael Smith, nicely done from Arwood.
00:08:52Played down for Merson!
00:08:54And it's another one!
00:08:562-0.
00:09:05Santana, brilliant finish.
00:09:16Struck out, fabulous goal by Roecastle.
00:09:21Thomas in this for Arsenal.
00:09:23Merson.
00:09:25Oh, that was great work by Butterworth,
00:09:27but still the danger from Winterburn.
00:09:29Yes!
00:09:30Nigel Winterburn gives Arsenal the lead.
00:09:35Smith.
00:09:36What a great effort!
00:09:38Oh, my word, what a goal!
00:09:40A goal of sheer quality by Alan Smith.
00:09:44It wasn't even a half chance.
00:09:50All given away by Cottenade to Smith,
00:09:52and now Roecastle and Thomas is in support as well.
00:09:54Roecastle finds Thomas.
00:09:56That's three.
00:10:02Merson.
00:10:07Oh!
00:10:08Missed it up completely and it breaks for Smith.
00:10:12What a strange goal, but they all count,
00:10:14and it's Smith's second.
00:10:16Arsenal on the rampage now with Roecastle here.
00:10:19Yes!
00:10:20It's another!
00:10:21Two in a minute!
00:10:24With three games to go,
00:10:25we only had to win one or two home matches
00:10:28and then play Liverpool away,
00:10:29and the championship could have been won
00:10:31before we went to Liverpool.
00:10:33When you're going to win the major trophy
00:10:35for the first time for so many years,
00:10:37yeah, you do get hiccups along the way,
00:10:39and that's a test.
00:10:40You know, tests are there to be met,
00:10:43and you think, right, are we going to collapse?
00:10:45Are we going to stick our chin up and our chest out?
00:10:49But we faltered, and then we had to go up to Anfield,
00:10:52having to win 2-0, you know,
00:10:54against arguably the best team in the country.
00:10:56Arsenal had to go to an emotionally charged Anfield
00:10:59and face a Liverpool side
00:11:01in search of their second double in three years.
00:11:03With the Kop in full voice,
00:11:05it looked like mission impossible for the Gunners.
00:11:07They were the ones who could be excused for feeling alone.
00:11:12The owners very much on Arsenal,
00:11:14but a 1-0 Wimbledon-style win is no good to them.
00:11:17They've got to win, and they've got to win well.
00:11:19With no-one outside London, or sometimes in London as well,
00:11:22they expect us to win.
00:11:23I think a lot of us deep down, I'm perfectly honest,
00:11:26we thought, well, we're never going to do it,
00:11:28because Liverpool were a great side,
00:11:30and we were still a young team
00:11:32that had perhaps thrown the championship away.
00:11:35In that respect, I suppose the pressure was taking all of us,
00:11:38and George was quite relaxed.
00:11:40His team talk before the game was classic,
00:11:43because he said he could just keep it tight for the first half,
00:11:46you know, nil-nil at half-time,
00:11:48nick an early goal in the second half
00:11:50and then win it in the last few minutes.
00:11:52That would be great, and we all sort of laughed,
00:11:54and it was just ironic the way it happened,
00:11:56and I can still hear his words now, saying that before the game.
00:11:59Ten is Steve Boult.
00:12:00Now, a bit of a surprise on a night
00:12:02when you imagine that Arsenal must really attack,
00:12:05that a third centre-back, Steve, has been included.
00:12:08It was well planned.
00:12:09I mean, the actual players were surprised
00:12:11when I changed from a regular 4-4-2 to a 3-5-2.
00:12:15So we decided to play with three,
00:12:17Tony Adams, Stevie Boult and David O'Leary,
00:12:20and then Lee Dixon could really push tight in John Barnes
00:12:24and Nigel Winterburn tight in Ray Houghton.
00:12:26And it worked a treat.
00:12:28You know, I thought it worked superbly,
00:12:30and you take these chances being a manager.
00:12:33If it works and comes off, you're a hero,
00:12:35and if it doesn't, you're a villain.
00:12:37Well, Boult is up there again.
00:12:39It's Merson on the far side that they're aiming for,
00:12:42but it was Boult's header here for Roecastle,
00:12:44tangling with Whelan.
00:12:45Michael Thomas getting to the by-line.
00:12:47This could be danger for Liverpool here.
00:12:49And it's flicked just wide!
00:12:51The header by Boult eluded Robbie Larfe,
00:12:54and Arsenal within a whisker of getting the goal
00:12:57they so desperately wanted early in this game.
00:12:59By half-time, it was still 0-0,
00:13:01and George was still thinking there'd be chances to come.
00:13:04You know, it's down to taking them, and you can do this.
00:13:07And that's what happened.
00:13:08It's all going according to plan, lads.
00:13:10All we need to do is get a goal, you know, whenever,
00:13:13and then we've only got to get one more,
00:13:15so just make sure you keep a clean sheet.
00:13:17Winterburn and Richardson behind it.
00:13:20Adams has made a darting little run in there.
00:13:22And Smith!
00:13:25And Arsenal have scored.
00:13:27The Liverpool players are surrounding the referee,
00:13:31asking him to speak to a linesman.
00:13:35I've spoken to some of the Liverpool lads since,
00:13:38Steve Nicol and Ronnie Whelan,
00:13:39and I always say, well, what were you appealing about?
00:13:42And they said, well, we thought it was either offside
00:13:45or you didn't touch it,
00:13:46so we just thought we'd try our luck, you know.
00:13:49One of the most frequently asked questions people ask me is,
00:13:53did you touch it?
00:13:54And I always say, yeah, I did, I got a good touch.
00:13:56It was just the fact that the flight of the ball
00:13:59didn't change all that much.
00:14:00I just helped it on its way.
00:14:02It was quite tense when they surrounded the ref
00:14:04and the ref went over to the linesman.
00:14:06And, you know, it was quite intimidating
00:14:08because you had the likes of Ronnie Whelan
00:14:10bawling in their ear and trying to influence them.
00:14:12So when the ref pointed to the centre circle,
00:14:16that was, you know, a great moment of relief.
00:14:19Ronnie Whelan looking on there.
00:14:21The goal's been given.
00:14:23And what a game we have now.
00:14:30On to Alan Smith.
00:14:32Abnett's there with him.
00:14:35Merson.
00:14:37Richard's turn.
00:14:39A chance here to Merse!
00:14:41And Gravelaar was able to grab it.
00:14:45There are the signals.
00:14:46Get forward, get forward.
00:14:49I think the great story from it
00:14:51is when Steve McMahon is putting one finger up
00:14:53and I can remember that,
00:14:54and I'm sure the lads at play that night,
00:14:56and there's only one minute to go.
00:14:58We've lost it.
00:14:59That, for the lads, must have been,
00:15:00God, when they scored that goal.
00:15:02I still watch it, and I'm disappointed I wasn't there,
00:15:04but I'm pleased for them lads that were actually in the team.
00:15:07Arsenal come streaming forward now
00:15:09in surely what will be their last attack.
00:15:12A good ball by Dixon, finding Smith,
00:15:15for Thomas, charging through the midfield!
00:15:17Thomas, it's up for grabs now!
00:15:20Thomas!
00:15:22Right at the end.
00:15:24An unbelievable climax to the league season.
00:15:31I remember it like it was yesterday.
00:15:33John Lukic threw it to Lee Dixon, right-back position.
00:15:36And then it went Lee Dixon, Alan Smith,
00:15:38Alan Smith, Mickey Thomas.
00:15:40I went for Bruce Gravelaar to make a decision.
00:15:42I could see Alan Hanson and Steve Staunton closing in,
00:15:46and I'm thinking, Mickey, you've got to shoot, you've got to shoot.
00:15:49They're going to get a tackling.
00:15:51But he just released the ball in the nick of time.
00:15:53You can't really describe how you feel at that moment in time.
00:15:57It's just an elation.
00:16:00It's an out-of-body experience, you just go crazy.
00:16:04The ball went in the net, and I just started crying on the pitch.
00:16:07And I just thought, we've done it.
00:16:09And then, before I knew it, Liverpool were kicking off again.
00:16:13And I just kept thinking, well, if they come down my side now,
00:16:16I've had it, because I couldn't see.
00:16:18I was tears rolling down my eyes.
00:16:20And I'm wiping the tears out of my eyes thinking,
00:16:22luckily they went down the other side.
00:16:24And then, literally seconds, they blew the whistle
00:16:27and started crying again.
00:16:30It's at the final whistle.
00:16:32Arsenal, the champions.
00:16:34A momentous occasion, this, for Arsenal.
00:16:37Coming here, requiring a two-goal lead.
00:16:41And snatched it in the most dramatic fashion
00:16:44in the last minute of the game.
00:16:47All director's decorum went out of the window.
00:16:49I sort of jumped out, catapulted myself out of my seat
00:16:52and punched the air, said, yes!
00:16:55And then I suddenly came down into my seat again
00:16:58and Peter would turn round to me, took out his cigar,
00:17:01and he said, never in any doubt.
00:17:03The third time, obviously, it was an elation.
00:17:06It was just like pandemonium, we just went crazy.
00:17:09The first day, I was crying with emotion, I couldn't believe it.
00:17:11I had my dad and my brother there,
00:17:13and it was great to share with them.
00:17:15It was my son's birthday.
00:17:17It was just a fantastic day.
00:17:19I'd waited so long to get my first championship medal.
00:17:23Everybody said it was impossible here tonight,
00:17:25but you kept going until the 91st minute.
00:17:27Yeah, that's the way it goes.
00:17:28We had that bit of luck, didn't we?
00:17:30We got the late goal and there's no way
00:17:32it was going to come back scoring that late.
00:17:34The lads were really fired up and I'm very pleased.
00:17:39We were all fairly young.
00:17:41For us, it was our first big trophy,
00:17:43our first big moment in football,
00:17:45but I think we all agreed then
00:17:47that things will never get better than that.
00:17:49Impossible, really, for anything more dramatic to happen.
00:17:53If there's one thing I'm proud of in my managerial career,
00:17:58it was giving the Arsenal supporters wonderful memories.
00:18:01Probably the best is the Anfield 2-0 victory.
00:18:05Nothing really can come close to Anfield 89.
00:18:08As long as football is written about, spoken about,
00:18:11it will always be there,
00:18:12because it was just one of those very special occasions.
00:18:15I mean, you live for those sort of occasions.
00:18:18King of all he surveyed,
00:18:20but there was no resting on laurels for George Graham.
00:18:23After missing out in 1990, he brought in some fresh faces,
00:18:27the two most influential being jet-heeled
00:18:29Swedish international winger Anders Limpar
00:18:32and an up-and-coming goalkeeper from Queen's Park Rangers
00:18:35who boasted a very safe pair of hands.
00:18:38The man is a colossus, really.
00:18:40For 13 years, he's been a fantastic man for the club.
00:18:43As soon as he came, he fit in straight away.
00:18:45He didn't have the ponytail, but he had this crazy laugh,
00:18:48you know, everybody knows him for.
00:18:50But he was a great guy.
00:18:52Limpar was very important.
00:18:54I thought for the first half of the season
00:18:56he was probably the most exciting player in the English league.
00:18:59He had flair, he was quick over five yards,
00:19:02two good feet and a magnificent shot.
00:19:05And on his day, without question,
00:19:07one of the most exciting talents in English football.
00:19:10George's Arsenal team looked to have the perfect blend
00:19:13of flair and solidity.
00:19:15And there was a team unity that always shone through,
00:19:18whatever the circumstances.
00:19:20A couple of minutes to go to half-time.
00:19:24And Limpar made a long run to get himself involved
00:19:27and Keith Hackett has given the goal.
00:19:31Arsenal have stolen a goal here
00:19:34and the player that they're calling their new match winner,
00:19:37he's caught out seely.
00:19:41Limpar's goal was not the main headline,
00:19:43although he was at the heart of the other central event.
00:19:46This unpunished kick on him by Dennis Irwin
00:19:49sparking a brawl that would ultimately cost the Gunners two points.
00:19:52I can remember how it started.
00:19:54Nigel piled into McClare, a bit of a bad tackle, to be fair.
00:19:57He reacted on Nigel and then all hell broke loose, you know.
00:20:01But I kind of stood there on the edge and watched it all go on.
00:20:06It wasn't a 22-man brawl, there were a couple of us watching.
00:20:09It wasn't a brawl, because no-one threw any punches.
00:20:12That was the funny thing about it, not one person threw a punch.
00:20:15And then all of a sudden we got docked points.
00:20:18And since this day, nobody else has been docked points.
00:20:21We were handicapped, we were fancy to win the title,
00:20:24and I thought, let's make it more interesting,
00:20:26let's handicap Arsenal more.
00:20:28I think there was a feeling throughout the club
00:20:30that those two points weren't going to make the difference,
00:20:34and we were going to respond in the right way, and we never looked back.
00:20:39Vixen from right to left to Limpar.
00:20:43And Southall...
00:20:45Groves scores!
00:20:51WHISTLE BLOWS
00:20:57Merson, oh, what a lovely backheel.
00:20:59Smith with a shot, a fantastic goal!
00:21:023-0!
00:21:07Ron Perrins, my David Seaman.
00:21:12Campbell, great save, Merson!
00:21:15It's 2-0.
00:21:21Now Alan Smith.
00:21:26Campbell.
00:21:28That's the inspiration we've been looking for,
00:21:31and Kevin Campbell has provided it.
00:21:36The Gunners received a timely boost
00:21:38when Tony Adams returned to the side after a short prison sentence.
00:21:42He was back to lead the team in the crunch title match at Anfield.
00:21:47Beautifully, finding Peter Beardsley.
00:21:49Barnes has made a great break for Liverpool!
00:21:51Oh, wonderful goalkeeping!
00:21:57Barnes.
00:21:59Great save again!
00:22:04Merson.
00:22:06Ooh, that's a good ball.
00:22:08Smith playing him back in now for Paul Merson.
00:22:11It's a goal for Arsenal, and Merson has scored it.
00:22:17Arsenal's record for the season made impressive reading,
00:22:20with just one defeat and only 18 goals conceded.
00:22:23The title was wrapped up with two games to spare,
00:22:26after closest rivals Liverpool slipped up in an early kick-off
00:22:29on bank holiday Monday.
00:22:31It meant the game that evening at Highbury against Manchester United
00:22:34became a championship party, and Alan Smith in particular celebrated...
00:22:38If we go on like this until Thomas here,
00:22:40it's going to be very difficult to get any sense out of everybody
00:22:44in here tonight.
00:23:03Graham's champions of 1991 had the meanest defence,
00:23:07and now they had one of the hottest strikers in the country.
00:23:10New signing Ian Wright was to become a Highbury legend
00:23:13with his own unique style.
00:23:15We needed a goal scorer.
00:23:17Badly, we were relying on Alan Smith a bit too much.
00:23:20And Ian Wright was just a goal machine.
00:23:22You know, great character, wonderful in training.
00:23:26I got on great with him, I love coaching him,
00:23:29even though I didn't teach him that much,
00:23:31because I think he's just a one-off, he's just a natural.
00:23:34And he went on to become a big favourite with the Arsenal fans.
00:23:37Here he grows, battles to win it off Barlow,
00:23:40and it's a good-looking cross, and he's there!
00:23:42Wright has equalised!
00:23:47Mercer.
00:23:49Ian Wright!
00:23:51It's in!
00:23:54It was true, basically, that if you've stopped Ian Wright scoring,
00:23:57you've stopped the team.
00:23:59Because far too few players apart from him, myself included,
00:24:03weren't chipping in with goals.
00:24:06We weren't playing with width then,
00:24:09and we were playing quite a straight game in straight lines,
00:24:12and we were pretty average in midfield, I have to say.
00:24:16We didn't have much creativity.
00:24:18I was probably looking around to tinker with the team,
00:24:21and we were definitely short of midfield players, I know that,
00:24:24and I was looking all over Europe to add to it.
00:24:27So without winning the championship so quickly again,
00:24:31we still did well in the Cups.
00:24:33It was always a good cut team, and I don't think we scored many goals,
00:24:37but we always seemed to keep clean sheets,
00:24:39and it was very important that we'd done that.
00:24:42I don't know why, but we didn't have a very good record in the league,
00:24:46but in the Cups we always seemed to do well.
00:24:48In 93, we won the double, both Cups.
00:24:51Arsenal took up near-permanent residency at Wembley that season.
00:24:55Even the FA Cup semi-final against Tottenham was staged there.
00:24:59Tony Adams, powerful header, settled the game.
00:25:03Ironically, Sheffield Wednesday would be the opponents
00:25:06in both league and FA Cup finals.
00:25:09Sheridan playing it now for King.
00:25:11Knocked through the middle now.
00:25:13Parks with the shot!
00:25:15And a goal for Wednesday!
00:25:23Davis chipping that one through.
00:25:27Merson with the shot. It's in!
00:25:33It's 1-1.
00:25:37It's gone past Anderson.
00:25:39What sort of cross can he put in?
00:25:41It's a goal for Arsenal by Moro!
00:25:47Bad mistake by Sheffield Wednesday.
00:25:49Punished to the ball by Arsenal.
00:25:53It's victory for Arsenal.
00:25:58Smith for Wright, he's dropped it.
00:26:00It's Wright for Arsenal.
00:26:03It's a goal for Arsenal.
00:26:06Ian Wright, yet again.
00:26:10Wright jumping with Linnegan, here's Hurst.
00:26:15This is Parks.
00:26:17Good ball in, Wright!
00:26:19What is it? It's in!
00:26:251-1.
00:26:27Unique goal at the end of extra time.
00:26:30Added on for stoppages, Merson to take it.
00:26:33Campbell at the near post with Smith,
00:26:35Adams and Linnegan forward.
00:26:38Linnegan's there! It's in!
00:26:40It's there!
00:26:44Andy Linnegan has scored!
00:26:48At the end of extra time.
00:26:50Indeed, it's stoppage time.
00:26:53Arsenal complete a unique double.
00:26:56The League Cup and the FA Cup in the same season.
00:27:01To win both, yeah, it was a wonderful achievement
00:27:04because I'd already won both as a player.
00:27:06So I won both as a player and both as a manager,
00:27:09so it was a little bit of satisfaction.
00:27:11I was 20 years at the club,
00:27:13just gone the 2nd of May, 93,
00:27:16and to bow out at Wembley winning the FA Cup was brilliant.
00:27:19I don't know why, but I ended up coming down the steps at the end
00:27:22and there was film clips of me bringing the cup down,
00:27:25so I thought, it's probably right,
00:27:27but I don't know how it was that I did end up
00:27:30coming down with the cup at the end.
00:27:32That's a great memory.
00:27:33You walk around the pitch,
00:27:35and every time you walk around Wembley and you win,
00:27:37you should be really happy and delighted
00:27:39because they don't come around very often.
00:27:42But I was delighted but sad
00:27:44because as I was getting near that tunnel at the far end,
00:27:47I knew once I went down that tunnel
00:27:49that I'd never put an Arsenal jersey on again.
00:27:51It was mixed feelings there,
00:27:53but I thought to myself, what a way to finish.
00:27:56The following season, Arsenal were on the trophy trail again,
00:27:59but this time in Europe in the Cup Winners' Cup.
00:28:02They beat some of the continent's finest teams en route to the final,
00:28:05Kevin Campbell's goal seeing off the challenge of Paris Saint-Germain,
00:28:08but for the final itself,
00:28:10they would be without their star player and top scorer.
00:28:13Now Wright trying to get away from Politea and from Roche,
00:28:17but Roche, who's just back from injury, goes down and...
00:28:23Well, is this going to be a yellow card for Ian Wright?
00:28:26I think it is, and that would mean he's out of the final.
00:28:30And it would be far from plain sailing in Copenhagen,
00:28:33the venue for the final against crack Italian side Parma.
00:28:38We weren't fancied against Parma because we had injuries, suspensions.
00:28:42Ian Wright was suspended, Martin Keown failed the late fitness test.
00:28:46It was quite a week inside.
00:28:48They had Zola, Thomas Brolin, Asprilla.
00:28:51They had the whole of Italy's defence, I think.
00:28:54But for 20 minutes, we were right under the cosh.
00:28:57But once we scored, we knew we were going to win.
00:28:59We knew we were going to win.
00:29:02Smith.
00:29:05Dixon.
00:29:08Straight to Smith.
00:29:10He scores!
00:29:13A score on the way!
00:29:15It's Alan Smith.
00:29:17It was a left-foot volley from just on the edge,
00:29:20and I was just unsighted for a moment.
00:29:23And once the keeper had made his dive and he'd landed,
00:29:25and I saw that the ball was over in the other corner,
00:29:27so it had hit the inside of the post and gone in,
00:29:30and it was a great moment. It really was.
00:29:32It was just constant pressure for 90 minutes.
00:29:35But we shut them out, and not many teams did that against Parma.
00:29:39One of the most wonderful nights in the rich history
00:29:43of one of England's most famous football names.
00:29:48Tony Adams lifts his fifth trophy
00:29:51as maybe the best Primary captain of them all.
00:29:57Only the second Arsenal skipper ever to lift a European Club Cup.
00:30:05Tony Adams always looks at that performance that night and says,
00:30:08you know, that was the peak of that back four.
00:30:10They were absolutely superb. Steve Bowl, in particular, was majestic.
00:30:19That was when the 1-0 to the Arsenal was born,
00:30:22because if we scored, we wouldn't let a goal in.
00:30:26The defence then was at its peak.
00:30:28Why are they so effective?
00:30:30Because George Graham worked on...
00:30:32When he first came to Arsenal, he used to work on the back four.
00:30:35What he was saying was, the back four players can play till they're 40,
00:30:39but the midfield players, they play till they're 30.
00:30:42So we'd be burnt out doing all that running.
00:30:44Not a truer word said there.
00:30:46I think they all stayed there for over ten years.
00:30:49Each of them, you know, including David Seaman.
00:30:53I mean, it's a wonderful achievement, and they should be proud of it.
00:30:57Each one of them were winners, outstanding individuals,
00:31:01desperate to win, and seemed to go on forever at one stage.
00:31:05And I'm sure they'll be remembered at this club forever more.
00:31:09Their biggest asset was their ambition and their desire.
00:31:12They wanted to be good players, you know.
00:31:15So it was very easy to sort of make them five individuals,
00:31:18make them into a unit,
00:31:20and I don't think you'll probably see a unit as good as that again in English football.
00:31:24In February 1995, George Graham's reign as manager came to an end
00:31:28after financial irregularities came to light,
00:31:31leaving Stuart Houston in caretaker charge.
00:31:37We've had some good times over the last few years,
00:31:40and he's been a magnificent manager for us.
00:31:42I think the important thing now is to get on with football.
00:31:45We're still in a very big cup for Arsenal.
00:31:47If the supporters can, like, kind of put the managerial kind of thing
00:31:50to the back of their mind and get behind the team,
00:31:53that's what the players kind of want, get behind the team,
00:31:56and try and put another trophy on the side.
00:31:58That trophy was the Cup Winners' Cup,
00:32:00as Arsenal travelled to Paris to try and become the first team ever
00:32:03to win it two years in succession.
00:32:05Their opponents were from Spain, Real Zaragoza.
00:32:08Go on, go on, guys!
00:32:10Push in!
00:32:12Short with Pardesa.
00:32:14Naeem again.
00:32:16Aguado. Oh, what a save by Seaman!
00:32:20Well, is there no end to this man's heroics
00:32:23in this Cup Winners' Cup run?
00:32:25He had a little bit of luck, but, my goodness, he earned it.
00:32:28Terrific save from Aguado's header.
00:32:31And the player has won the Cup Winners' Cup for Real Zaragoza
00:32:36with a most extraordinary goal.
00:32:39I was so upset, you know, I've been crying and things,
00:32:42but it just hurts me so much to lose, you know,
00:32:45and it's the first time I've lost a game.
00:32:48There's not a great deal I can say, you know,
00:32:50without crying or whatever, you know, it just hurts.
00:32:53Have you got a cat you can keep when you get home?
00:32:56No, no, no, I've got a dog. I'm sure she'll be all right.
00:33:11It's a transition period, and it's a transition period
00:33:15It's a transition period, and it's a period of change.
00:33:18You have to work with the players, get to know the players,
00:33:21understand the players, find out their strengths and weaknesses,
00:33:25but impose your own style of play within the club.
00:33:29That's why I was appointed.
00:33:32The summer of 1995 saw former Bolton manager Bruce Rioc
00:33:36take over at Highbury.
00:33:38His first moves in the transfer market were encouraging ones.
00:33:41Former England skipper David Platt arrived from Sampdoria in Italy,
00:33:44and Dutch master Dennis Bergkamp came from Inter Milan.
00:33:47Both were to have a decisive impact.
00:33:49Bruce made two important signings, particularly with Dennis Bergkamp,
00:33:52which was one of the first overseas players to come in,
00:33:55and his contribution to the club, I mean, with his skill,
00:33:59his technique, really gave the club a bit of extra class.
00:34:03I came from Italy where it was quite slow, of course, quite tactical,
00:34:08and here it's more an attacking game, so everything went quite fast,
00:34:13and it took me a little while to adapt.
00:34:38David Platt!
00:34:45Hartson, Merson wants it back, he gets it back.
00:34:48Bergkamp is free!
00:34:50And Arsenal have scored a magnificent goal here at White Hart Lane.
00:34:56Jensen.
00:34:58Wright.
00:35:00It was a good turn, four players around him,
00:35:03and he's still scored.
00:35:05That captain's armband may be providing extra inspiration.
00:35:09He cared a lot about the players,
00:35:11but he tried to be a manager who'd go and put his arm around people and things like that.
00:35:16The one thing he did want to do, he always wanted to play football, regardless.
00:35:20He wanted to come, it wasn't going to be like long ball stuff,
00:35:23and get up and chase it, none of that type of thing.
00:35:26He wanted people to actually get the ball down and play.
00:35:29Riok had helped restore pride at Highbury,
00:35:31and he also guided the team to a UEFA Cup position
00:35:34after some last-day drama coming against his former club, Bolton Wanderers.
00:35:39After all this, are Arsenal going to miss out on the final day?
00:35:44The chance of going back into Europe?
00:35:49Platt!
00:35:51The goal is given, but will it be enough?
00:35:57Platt, Bolton looking weary now.
00:36:00Bergkamp!
00:36:02Well, if that takes Arsenal into the UEFA Cup, it was the perfect goal.
00:36:09They've been playing all season for this, to get into Europe,
00:36:13and finally we got it.
00:36:15It's such a relief and such a great feeling at that moment,
00:36:19that you're finally there, it's brilliant.
00:36:22That's what Dennis was going to do anyway.
00:36:24What's all the bother?
00:36:27Well, what can I say?
00:36:29We said to Dennis, give us a sign.
00:36:31No, we said to Dennis when he signed,
00:36:33don't care what you do, just get us the win on the last game of the season,
00:36:36get us in Europe, and he did it.
00:36:38And he missed it.
00:36:39He's the Messiah.
00:36:40We just said, give us a sign, and he said, that's the sign.
00:36:44Some great goals and moments to treasure,
00:36:46but the club knew there was someone eminently suitable
00:36:49for the top job at Highbury.
00:36:51The French Revolution was about to begin.
00:36:53When George Graham had left,
00:36:55we had the hiatus period where Stuart Houston took over.
00:36:58And I remember Arsene Wenger had come over
00:37:02and was actually staying at my house,
00:37:04and he'd come to see a game.
00:37:08And I felt that he would have been the right man for Arsenal.
00:37:11I discussed it with the board, and of course,
00:37:13it was decided that perhaps it was a bit too much of a gamble at the time
00:37:16when we decided that we wanted a change after Bruce Riok.
00:37:20I was perhaps a little bit more forceful than I'd been before with the board
00:37:23and said, look, this man is special.
00:37:25He deserves an opportunity and a chance.
00:37:27Big history, big tradition, big club and big support.
00:37:32And all that together, of course, makes usually a job attractive,
00:37:37especially when you're a manager.
00:37:39And I felt as well that I could maybe bring a different touch
00:37:44to a traditional English club, and that the marriage could work.
00:37:50But there were plenty of doubters who predicted a swift divorce,
00:37:53suggesting that the Arsenal board were embarking on a dangerous liaison.
00:37:57It was very difficult because he was unknown.
00:38:00I had the good fortune of knowing him and seeing him at close quarters,
00:38:04and he was highly respected,
00:38:06and he was there for the best part of eight years in Monaco,
00:38:08because every time I used to go to Monaco,
00:38:10I'd see him, he'd invite me to the games,
00:38:12I'd see how he handled the players, how he handled the press.
00:38:15I always remember Mr Dean, we had a meeting, all the players,
00:38:18and he said, well, we've got a new manager now, it's Arsene Wenger.
00:38:22Everybody looked at each other thinking, we've never heard of that name.
00:38:25I immediately thought, it's my geography teacher.
00:38:29He just looked like my geography teacher at secondary school,
00:38:32and I thought, OK, fine.
00:38:34And everybody said, Arsene who?
00:38:37I think you've only got to meet him to realise
00:38:39that he's a fairly exceptional character as well.
00:38:43He'd come into the club and it was like a breath of fresh air, really.
00:38:46Everything changed, the attitude changed in training,
00:38:49a little bit of diet before games and things like that,
00:38:53and he turned the club around, really.
00:38:56There was a lot of scepticism, don't forget it.
00:38:58I was top of the betting list to be out before December,
00:39:02so in some way it motivated me even harder and more
00:39:07to show the level to work here.
00:39:10Straight away we stretched differently on the first day,
00:39:13we trained differently on the first day,
00:39:15we stretched after training, we stretched before we got in our cars to go home.
00:39:19He would have come home and stretched us at home if he could have done,
00:39:22but it was just totally different.
00:39:24A lot of the older players were really open-minded
00:39:27because I think we realised that he could do us a lot of good
00:39:30and extend our careers, which is what he did.
00:39:36Trying to search out Hartson, who won it.
00:39:39A magnificent goal by the irrepressible Ian Wright.
00:39:45Arsene Wengen now down to watch the second half from the dugout.
00:39:48Speaks five languages, has a degree in economics
00:39:51and a diploma in business studies.
00:39:53Just your average premiership manager.
00:39:55I thought it was a team of quality with a very short period of life
00:40:02because I had eight players, around 30 or over 30.
00:40:06I had David Platt, Paul Merson was 29 already,
00:40:10and Ian Wright up front who was a major figure as well
00:40:13in a club who was already 32, so it was not easy.
00:40:17AC Milan's 20-year-old Patrick Vieira was a virtual unknown in this country,
00:40:21but Wengen recognised his potential.
00:40:24He likes to win and he's ready to fight to win
00:40:27and that's why maybe he's been so well accepted by the fans also
00:40:30because he has shown from the first game on that he wants to win the games
00:40:34and it just doesn't come to show that he has some skill.
00:40:38Vieira, that's a good run from him
00:40:40and it's a useful pass too because it's put Ian Wright in for the opening goal.
00:40:45Good cracker from the captain.
00:40:50And Vieira, stretching away here.
00:40:56And it's Lee Dixon, the goalkeeper's positioning was a little strange
00:40:59and Dixon had plenty to weigh, Matt.
00:41:04Second round for support.
00:41:07He's got it from Merson.
00:41:11Paul Merson with an absolute beauty for Arsenal.
00:41:17Already signs of Arsenal looking more positive
00:41:20in these early minutes of the second half.
00:41:22Bergkamp dragging the ball back.
00:41:25Still Bergkamp.
00:41:27Well, it's an exquisite goal
00:41:30from a player who is really in peak form at the moment.
00:41:40Winterburn with the corner.
00:41:44It drops for Vieira.
00:41:47Arsenal finished a very healthy third in Wenger's first season
00:41:51but the manager wanted more.
00:41:53Teenager Nicolas Anelka came from PSG as a raw recruit
00:41:57while the more experienced Manu Petit and Marc Overmars
00:42:00further strengthened an impressive squad.
00:42:02Everyone was hopeful of success as the 1997-98 season began.
00:42:07There's a lot of great determination.
00:42:09The lads are all into battle
00:42:11and that's exactly what happened in 1991.
00:42:13If I could get a premiership medal,
00:42:15I think I might cry for something like a week or something
00:42:18and carry it around with me
00:42:20just in case people don't realise I've got one.
00:42:22It was a seat record, it's equal.
00:42:25No one more than Ian Wright himself.
00:42:28He is now Arsenal's all-time greatest goalscorer.
00:42:34Everywhere I was going on the street,
00:42:35people were saying,
00:42:36are you going to do it this week?
00:42:38I really would have liked to have done it here at Highbury.
00:42:40We've had some fantastic times.
00:42:42The fans have been great to me from day one.
00:42:45I know everybody's heard it before
00:42:46but I have to say they've been fantastic
00:42:49and I think they even sucked the goals in for me today.
00:42:51It's brilliant.
00:42:53Wrighty was an outstanding individual.
00:42:55I thoroughly enjoyed playing with Ian.
00:42:57It was a pleasure really.
00:42:59He's such personality.
00:43:01It was a laugh a minute.
00:43:02He was a volatile individual
00:43:04but once he got in the penalty box
00:43:05he was so relaxed in front of goal.
00:43:07Probably the best out-and-out finisher I've worked with.
00:43:10I think it's pure talent.
00:43:11I know he worked hard for it
00:43:14to achieve those goals.
00:43:17Dennis Bergkamp provided a few spectacular moments himself
00:43:20in what turned out to be one of the greatest seasons
00:43:22in Arsenal's history.
00:43:24His moments of inspiration lit up English stadiums
00:43:27never more so than when scoring the goal of...
00:43:30Bergkamp.
00:43:32Arsenal.
00:43:34Sending out very heartwarming signals here
00:43:37to their supporters.
00:43:38They've got another one.
00:43:40Marc Overmars.
00:43:44Vieira.
00:43:46Winterberg.
00:43:49Oh, what a goal!
00:43:53Nigel Winterberg
00:43:55may well have won it here at Stamford Bridge for Arsenal.
00:43:59Rijksheide down for Overmars
00:44:01who's got such acceleration.
00:44:07Shooting into the crowd
00:44:08but it spins away for Nicolas Anelka.
00:44:11Oh, what a goal!
00:44:13What a goal!
00:44:15From the 18-year-old
00:44:16who's first for the club
00:44:18the deputy for Dennis Bergkamp.
00:44:21Bergkamp.
00:44:27Sent towards him
00:44:28as she would have it.
00:44:30Manchester United came in November
00:44:32but the critical game of the campaign
00:44:34was a high noon showdown at Old Trafford in March.
00:44:37The Gunners had clawed back
00:44:38a mighty Manchester United lead in the league
00:44:41and victory here would put Arsenal in pole position.
00:44:44Overmars.
00:44:45And that means a problem for Manchester United.
00:44:47Marc Overmars still going.
00:44:50Well, he's been betrayed, hasn't he?
00:44:57They've got to come to the edge of the goal area
00:44:59and get to it and pick.
00:45:00And Andy Cole goes on
00:45:01straight from the goalkeeper.
00:45:03That has finally delivered.
00:45:05I think it was very decisive.
00:45:06I mean, if you look,
00:45:07we hadn't won there for a number of years
00:45:09before the belief started to come into the team.
00:45:11You get the belief then.
00:45:13You know the fans knew.
00:45:15I mean, we all saw their reaction, of course.
00:45:18The fans knew that that was it.
00:45:20We could do it.
00:45:21You know now we have won it, basically.
00:45:24Because when we came out in the dressing room on that day,
00:45:28I felt personally that nobody can take it away from us now.
00:45:32The players were convinced they will win it
00:45:34and I felt it will be very difficult
00:45:36to take it away from us.
00:45:44Winterberg.
00:45:46There's only one player who can chase this
00:45:48and how he can chase it.
00:45:49It's Anelka.
00:45:50Could it be four for Arsenal?
00:45:52It can!
00:45:57And Seaman comes out
00:45:59and keeps the ball in play, does he?
00:46:03No flag.
00:46:06And no flagging from the Gunners.
00:46:08Here's Nicolas Anelka.
00:46:12Overmars now for two.
00:46:13This demand, look at this!
00:46:15He's finally got a goal for Arsenal.
00:46:19And Seaman claims that he started it all.
00:46:25Arsenal, the cream of the crop.
00:46:29What an extraordinary way to win the title
00:46:33against the toughest straight wins.
00:46:36They've absolutely roared to the title.
00:46:39They've collected 48 points out of 54.
00:46:44At Christmas, no one would...
00:46:46And this is a very special team
00:46:48managed by a very special man.
00:46:55You're looking at the pick of the Premiership,
00:46:59the pride of the Premiership,
00:47:01Arsenal Football Club.
00:47:03We've got a good squad.
00:47:04The squad has gone on to help win the Championship
00:47:06and that's what it's all about.
00:47:08Team effort, great team effort.
00:47:10Everybody said Arsenal didn't have a chance to come back
00:47:15and we worked so very hard.
00:47:17I think it's a very great performance
00:47:19for all the players, for everybody who supports Arsenal.
00:47:27When we looked at the table,
00:47:2913 points behind Man United,
00:47:31I think we had to do something unbelievable.
00:47:34And as you say, 10 straight wins
00:47:37is a good start.
00:47:39And obviously the 10th one's won us the title.
00:47:45We've done it in style as well, which is nice.
00:47:47It's all the critics we've always had all over the years
00:47:50and I think we've done it the right way.
00:47:52Arsenal now had the chance of the double
00:47:54as they took on Newcastle in the FA Cup final.
00:47:57In 1932 and 1952,
00:47:59the Geordies enjoyed good fortune
00:48:01against the Gunners at Wembley,
00:48:03but in 1998 it was to be a case
00:48:05of third time lucky for Arsenal.
00:48:35There's no flag.
00:48:37And it's a no-go.
00:48:39No catching him.
00:48:41Maybe no catching Arsenal now.
00:48:45Stoppage time.
00:48:49It's a dream double for Arsenal.
00:48:52The 1998 double side was a great team.
00:48:55I think everybody knew their jobs.
00:48:57The main reason that we had that stability in the team
00:49:00was that we more or less played every game the same team.
00:49:03We were very lucky.
00:49:05We didn't get many suspensions, injuries.
00:49:07I think everybody knew their job
00:49:09and it was exciting times for us.
00:49:12That was probably one of my best moments in my career,
00:49:15winning that double,
00:49:17especially at Wembley, winning the FA Cup.
00:49:20The presentation from the Duchess of Kent.
00:49:25Simply awesome.
00:49:27Tony Adams and his team.
00:49:29They have done the double.
00:49:31They are Arsenal!
00:49:35The double, just doing it in such style.
00:49:37Above all else, we played football
00:49:40which Arsenal fans had not seen before.
00:49:43The quality, the speed.
00:49:45It was a big, big thing for me
00:49:47because I could show that the foreign manager
00:49:49can win the championship.
00:49:51And the fact that it was me, of course,
00:49:53I was very proud to achieve that.
00:49:55And to do the double, if you look at the history in England,
00:49:58has not been done too many times.
00:50:00Of course, very pleased and very happy.
00:50:14After the double success of 1998,
00:50:17English football became a head-to-head contest
00:50:20between Arsenal and Manchester United.
00:50:22Always fierce rivals, the games were intense occasions
00:50:25with the managers as much as the players
00:50:27competing for supremacy.
00:50:29And in these matches,
00:50:31the Gunners boss enjoyed some great moments.
00:50:33Adams comes forward.
00:50:35Keown comes forward.
00:50:41In towards Adams!
00:50:44Arsenal have a lead that they thoroughly deserve.
00:50:47They've begun brightly here
00:50:49and now they've scored.
00:50:54Giggs.
00:50:57Game very open at the moment.
00:50:59And we don't want a half-team now, Martin Giggs.
00:51:02Now offside, Nicolas Anelka.
00:51:05Schmeichel there again, Anelka there again!
00:51:092-0 to Arsenal.
00:51:11And Nicolas Anelka, a very, very happy young man.
00:51:21Overmars.
00:51:24He knows where Parler is.
00:51:25He had a look to see where Bergkamp was trying to get.
00:51:30Overmars again.
00:51:33Hughes.
00:51:34Oh, it's a bit lucky.
00:51:35He didn't aim for Jungberg,
00:51:37but he's found him.
00:51:38And what a way to start your Arsenal career.
00:51:43Arsenal just missed out on another title,
00:51:46the only team in the country
00:51:47coming close to threatening United.
00:51:49Arsenal fans could take comfort
00:51:51from the knowledge that their side
00:51:52was playing the Premiership's most attractive football.
00:51:55And in the summer of 1999,
00:51:56their dazzling squad was strengthened
00:51:58by the signing of Thierry Henry from Juventus.
00:52:01He's a great striker,
00:52:02maybe one of the top three in the world.
00:52:05He was a winger when he came here
00:52:07and I moved him into the central attack
00:52:11and at the start, of course,
00:52:13he wasn't convinced he could score goals,
00:52:15but he scored a few things.
00:52:17Probably the most complete player I've ever played with.
00:52:20He's got skills, he's got pace, he's got strength.
00:52:23He's got everything you need now in the game
00:52:25and that's what makes him a great player now.
00:52:27It makes it look so easy as well.
00:52:29He's still got a future in front of him.
00:52:32Melchior.
00:52:33It's a finely judged challenge by Tony Adams.
00:52:37On from a bird cap for Henry.
00:52:41Desailly.
00:52:43It's brushed aside by Henry!
00:52:45And you don't see that happen very often.
00:52:49Thierry Henry, though, was not the only scorer
00:52:51in a season of impressive strikes,
00:52:53particularly in the UEFA Cup,
00:52:55where Arsenal went all the way to the final.
00:52:58Winterburn.
00:52:59Oh!
00:53:00Well, that is Nigel Winterburn's first goal in Europe
00:53:04and it's fabulous!
00:53:10O'Connell.
00:53:13Oh!
00:53:15Wonderful finish.
00:53:16Smiles all around Heiberich.
00:53:19Canu.
00:53:23Here's Parler.
00:53:24It's Ben Nagelsson!
00:53:30Petit.
00:53:33And over Mars.
00:53:35He's given the green light here.
00:53:37He's got Canu with him
00:53:39and Arsenal are surely in the final now.
00:53:44Unselfish work from Marc over Mars
00:53:47and now those Arsenal fans can start making their plans
00:53:51for Copenhagen.
00:53:59Here's Parler.
00:54:04It's a bit of a miskick by Bergkamp.
00:54:06Over Mars.
00:54:07Had a look to see what was on in the centre,
00:54:09went for goal himself
00:54:11and Tafferell, my goodness, needed to stop that.
00:54:17Arie.
00:54:19Now the turn of foot from the Frenchman.
00:54:21Pockejone!
00:54:22What a chance!
00:54:29Parler.
00:54:30Worked it wide well this time.
00:54:32It's Arie!
00:54:34Tafferell has kept it out somehow.
00:54:37Brilliant ball from Parler.
00:54:40Not tonight for Thierry Henry.
00:54:43Popescu can win it here for Galatasaray.
00:54:45He's done it!
00:54:47Defeat on penalties again in a European final
00:54:50and little consolation in a second consecutive runners-up spot
00:54:53in the Premiership.
00:54:54United still held the upper hand over a season
00:54:57but nonetheless there were moments against them to cherish.
00:55:02Henry.
00:55:04What a goal!
00:55:09Inspiration for Arsenal
00:55:12from Thierry Henry.
00:55:14Have a look at...
00:55:16Meschi losing out.
00:55:17Thierry won it.
00:55:18Ljungberg into Thierry Henry.
00:55:20He's got round Westerveld.
00:55:21It's Henry!
00:55:23What a chance now.
00:55:24He's claiming handball against Honsa at the near post.
00:55:31Oh, that wasn't...
00:55:32That's not the best of its best clearance.
00:55:36Here it is.
00:55:37Ljungberg making the break perfectly timed.
00:55:39Round the goalkeeper.
00:55:40Freddie Ljungberg!
00:55:42The first goal of the Cardiff Cup final
00:55:45is scored by Arsenal's Frederick Ljungberg.
00:55:50McAllister takes.
00:55:53Still not clear.
00:55:54Barber trying to reach it.
00:55:55Owen!
00:56:00Owen stretching his legs and getting away from Dixon
00:56:03and getting his shot away.
00:56:04That's it!
00:56:05It's just absolutely fantastic.
00:56:07He has won the Cup for Liverpool all by himself.
00:56:15More Cup final heartache for Arsenal
00:56:18and yet again so close to the honours their play deserved.
00:56:21But despite the players' disappointment
00:56:23they were determined to come back even stronger.
00:56:25All credit to everybody at the club
00:56:27who kept believing and kept going
00:56:29because it's very difficult to keep people together
00:56:32when you don't win trophies.
00:56:33And we lost Anelka, we lost Overmars, we lost Petit,
00:56:37all from the 98 team.
00:56:39And it was very important that we won something this year
00:56:43otherwise potentially we were going to lose people again.
00:56:45But the big story of summer 2001
00:56:48was the signing of Sol Campbell from Spurs.
00:56:50The England centre-half adding strength and stability to a side
00:56:54ready to turn potential into achievement.
00:56:57I wanted to instil that belief again into the team
00:57:00that of course we could fight to change some things
00:57:03and come back with a stronger challenge this time
00:57:06and I think it was the right thing to do.
00:57:09Throughout the season Arsenal's football was simply breathtaking.
00:57:13The team was a delight to watch, full of flair and flamboyance
00:57:17with a steely edge which made them no pushovers for anyone.
00:57:20The Arsenal faithful had the hottest tickets in town
00:57:23and no-one enjoyed the football more
00:57:25than one of the club's all-time greats,
00:57:27now the academy director Liam Brady.
00:57:30I'd love to play with Vieira alongside me and Henri up front.
00:57:34I think I would have enjoyed that.
00:57:37Henri, if you can deliver the ball in the right area
00:57:40at the right time, he's unstoppable.
00:57:43Ashley Cole, who we're very proud of from youth development,
00:57:47he's turning into a world-class full-back.
00:57:49Strength of Sol Campbell.
00:57:51Perez, great invention, great creativity.
00:57:54Of course, Dennis, I suppose he's reaching the end
00:57:57of a very beautiful dinner.
00:57:59We're on the suite with Dennis, aren't we?
00:58:01But he still comes up with the goods regularly
00:58:04and he's been a great player to watch for someone like myself
00:58:07and I'm sure for all the Arsenal fans.
00:58:17Wiltor, Bergkamp, lovely.
00:58:20Perez and surely Wiltor for 2-0.
00:58:32Perez, Bergkamp, Ulrich.
00:58:35Perez must be now!
00:58:37Jeffers!
00:58:43And here come Arsenal.
00:58:47And Perez!
00:58:49Well, that's a shot to Salomon and to Spurs.
00:58:58There's a mistake here by Gary Neville.
00:59:00Perez.
00:59:02Youngberg.
00:59:04Freddie Youngberg against Manchester United again.
00:59:14And Arsenal on the move here.
00:59:16Lloren!
00:59:19Lloren!
00:59:24Wiltor makes a run ahead of it.
00:59:26Bergkamp suddenly changed pace through the centre.
00:59:29It's Bergkamp!
00:59:31That's magnificent!
00:59:35The move, and then this!
00:59:39Which left Dabby's ass totally stranded.
00:59:44Youngberg.
00:59:47Martin trying to get back against Perez,
00:59:50who's left him and left Schmeichel.
00:59:54That is an outstanding goal
00:59:58from a magnificent player
01:00:01enjoying the season of his life.
01:00:04Romain Perez.
01:00:10Perfect.
01:00:13Perez's sensational form was one of the season's many highlights,
01:00:17but a knee injury robbed him of his part in the run-in,
01:00:20including the FA Cup triumph over Chelsea at the Millennium Stadium.
01:00:24Martial Banks still battling on the manpholet
01:00:27despite his injury.
01:00:31Gudjonsson.
01:00:33Oh, it was dipping in!
01:00:35Until David Seaman did his stuff.
01:00:39Adams.
01:00:43It's good work by Wiltor.
01:00:45And Ray Parler takes it on.
01:00:49Parler!
01:00:52It's a vintage FA Cup goal for Arsenal!
01:00:55It was one of them games where, you know,
01:00:57it was a lot of tackles and not flowing football, really,
01:01:01and I seemed to get the ball.
01:01:03I always remember I got the ball halfway line, kept running.
01:01:06To be quite honest, I looked round and no-one was about to pass it to me
01:01:09because everyone was feeling a little bit jaded.
01:01:12I think I looked round and I thought, you know, why not?
01:01:15And I had a go and it seemed to go in.
01:01:17It was a great moment in my career, scoring in an FA Cup final,
01:01:21and I was very proud.
01:01:24Edip.
01:01:26Arsenal know what can happen if you don't get a second goal.
01:01:30Remember last year, Youngberg, he's got the better of Terry.
01:01:34Freddie Youngberg!
01:01:37Arsenal have produced two absolute stunners!
01:01:42As soon as Freddie started running, I thought, he's got to hit this.
01:01:46I could see Cudicini start diving and I thought,
01:01:49he's going to get nowhere near this.
01:01:51As he dived, he realised it was in because he went, oh, in mid-air.
01:01:55So I thought, right, I'm off.
01:01:58I thought he'd run the way Ray ran, but he didn't, he ran the other way,
01:02:01so I ran off on my own, sort of celebrating.
01:02:03But it was good fun.
01:02:04I think I've had more comments about that than when I played in 98.
01:02:13This year, Arsenal get their hands on the FA Cup.
01:02:20Another pivotal day in the story of Arsenal.
01:02:23The title and the club's third double
01:02:25rested on a potentially epic showdown at Old Trafford.
01:02:29As usual, the game was not just about the players.
01:02:32The two managers were by now renowned for their psychological battles,
01:02:36which both seemed to relish.
01:02:39I think it's part of the ingredient of good preparation for the game
01:02:43to get everybody excited, so I enjoy it and I think everybody loves it here.
01:02:48It's always a little game, a little gamble going on,
01:02:51and everybody's used to it now,
01:02:53and I think if it wasn't happening, people would miss it.
01:02:56It was a great game at Old Trafford.
01:02:58We just felt it was going to be our year
01:03:00and we weren't going to settle for second-best.
01:03:06Pass for Kanu to play from the start.
01:03:08Ray Parler back on the right.
01:03:10And Wilton!
01:03:12What a chance, and what a block.
01:03:16Parler, mistake by Silvestre.
01:03:20Arsenal have scored yet again in the Premiership,
01:03:23and this could be the most crucial goal of all.
01:03:30Well, beating United any time, anywhere, is always rather gratifying,
01:03:35but that was a tremendous performance
01:03:37because we always have a pretty strong battle against United,
01:03:40and winning there was about as good as it gets.
01:03:46They can't believe it, they're near and dear.
01:03:49Supporters and players awake.
01:03:52Paul Dirkin looks at his watch.
01:03:55History in the making for the club from Highbury.
01:03:58Taken the title away from Manchester United,
01:04:01and they have done it here at Old Trafford.
01:04:04It does not get more conclusive.
01:04:11Arsene Wenger's team, every bit as good as the manager's words.
01:04:15He had no doubts.
01:04:17That year has been special as well
01:04:19because then they won it on the day at Old Trafford.
01:04:22And, of course, it was fantastic.
01:04:25And on that year, things have never been highlighted enough.
01:04:30We played the whole season without losing in away games.
01:04:33In modern football, that is something amazing,
01:04:36and it has never been highlighted enough.
01:04:39We need to be a special team to achieve that.
01:04:43Tony Adams sets forward.
01:04:46Arsenal, in the end, very conclusive champions.
01:04:49The Premiership and the FA Cup
01:04:52will be proudly on show side-by-side at Highbury.
01:05:00The scourge of second place has ended
01:05:02three years in a row in the Premiership,
01:05:04and, of course, in the FA Cup a year ago.
01:05:07Runners-up in that UEFA Cup two years ago.
01:05:10But this Arsenal side have graduated with a double first.
01:05:15They have played splendid football
01:05:17to become the most successful side in the land
01:05:20in the season 2001-2002.
01:05:24And with the shirt off, Robert Pires.
01:05:27It was cruelly cut short, but a breathtaking season.
01:05:31The Footballer of the Year.
01:05:34And they pay homage as teammates.
01:05:38Oh, that's wonderful.
01:05:39I've never seen anything like that before.
01:05:42Oh, that's wonderful.
01:05:43I've never seen anything like that before.
01:05:45I mean, I thought it was a great season.
01:05:47That just typifies what these players, these teammates...
01:05:51Nothing will feel better for Robert Pires.
01:05:55And here is the orchestrator of this awesome season.
01:06:00Arsene of Arsenal.
01:06:03It's firework time.
01:06:05And they have provided so many fireworks throughout the season.
01:06:09Arsenal Football Club.
01:06:11Amidst the joy and celebrations,
01:06:13Arsenal legend Tony Adams decided to bow out at the top.
01:06:17Had there ever been a more influential captain?
01:06:20He was hugely inspirational because he was already...
01:06:23He's a boy who was a pure Arsenal player.
01:06:25He had a strong personality and a strong influence within the club.
01:06:29Tony used to spur us on because he used to get the rave reviews
01:06:33every week about how good he played.
01:06:35And we used to just take the mickey out of him,
01:06:37well, he's not really that good to play with.
01:06:39But it can't be a coincidence that he's been at the top of his trade
01:06:43for how long he was captain in his country
01:06:46and captain of such a great club because he is a top-class defender.
01:06:50Tony Adams, where do you start with Tony?
01:06:52He's an outstanding leader, an outstanding player,
01:06:55knew his role in the team very well.
01:06:57But, you know, first and foremost, he's a winner
01:07:00and he was a big Arsenal man.
01:07:02He set certain standards at the club
01:07:04and he wanted everybody else to maintain those standards.
01:07:07The trophies just kept on coming for Arsenal in 2002.
01:07:10Thierry Henry picked up the golden boot after hitting 24 Premiership goals.
01:07:15Well done.
01:07:16And unsurprisingly, Arsene Wenger was named Manager of the Year.
01:07:19In the eyes of Arsenal fans, he's one of the greatest ever.
01:07:22Arsene Wenger has transformed the club, there's no doubt.
01:07:25I call him a miracle worker and he's done just that.
01:07:28He's worked miracles for the club.
01:07:30He has delivered everything he's promised.
01:07:32He's restructured the whole of the playing side of the business.
01:07:36It's very solid, we've got a lot of good youngsters coming through.
01:07:39He has been able to find world-class players.
01:07:43In the main, they were relatively unknown.
01:07:46Now they're world-class stars and that's down to Arsenal.
01:07:49Who's won two doubles?
01:07:51Who came close to winning three doubles?
01:07:53And we've always been challenging for cups or championships.
01:07:57It's fantastic what the man's done, absolutely fantastic.
01:08:01There's a calmness.
01:08:02There's no ranting and raving from the sideline.
01:08:04That's not the style.
01:08:06It creates a certain environment.
01:08:08You're comfortable to talk when you want to talk.
01:08:10You're comfortable to pass the ball when you want to pass the ball.
01:08:13And people take that into their game every week.
01:08:16He is very conscious of the way the club has operated for more years
01:08:20than we've all been born.
01:08:22And I think he's also secretly very proud of being involved with us.
01:08:26And we're certainly proud to have him.
01:08:28I'm very proud of it because I think it's the responsibility
01:08:31of a manager as well to work for imminent results
01:08:37and quality of the championship and the cups.
01:08:41But as well, another, maybe a darker or less in the spotlight job
01:08:46is to push the club to a higher level where it was when you arrived.
01:08:52And I think that's what we have.
01:08:55Arsene Wenger has raised the standards at Highbury higher than ever.
01:08:59Premiership eluded Arsenal.
01:09:01The players didn't finish the season empty-handed
01:09:03as the FA Cup provided more great moments to savour.
01:09:10Edou, two up with him.
01:09:13Wiltord, good chance for Arsenal.
01:09:15There's still that Wiltord.
01:09:17And Arsenal go two-nil up.
01:09:20And Wiltord, whose goal here
01:09:23ensured Arsenal won the Cup and League double last season,
01:09:27is on the mark at Old Trafford again.
01:09:32Page again.
01:09:33The chance to hook it in.
01:09:35And it's not gone in.
01:09:37How did it stay out of Saba?
01:09:39Can't believe it.
01:09:40He can't believe it.
01:09:46Parler.
01:09:47He's been on the periphery of the game so far, which is unlike him.
01:09:50All right.
01:09:51The Bergkamp, they put it together right here.
01:09:53It's Freddie Youngberg.
01:09:54It's Robert Perez.
01:09:56It's one-nil Arsenal.
01:10:01This could go anywhere.
01:10:02Off Lindeqvam and off Nürnberg.
01:10:05Unfortunately for Southampton, unfortunately for Arsenal,
01:10:07it dropped straight to Robert Perez.
01:10:10Pretty good finish.
01:10:13Certainly with David Seaman involved,
01:10:14you can say the FA Cup is in safe hands.
01:10:17It is heading back to Highbury.
01:10:23There are moments, magic moments,
01:10:25where everybody's on the same wavelength
01:10:27and the communication, the connections within the teamwork
01:10:30where everybody's together, everybody moves together,
01:10:33and you play that kind of football
01:10:35we would dream to play for 90 minutes.
01:10:37It never happens for 90 minutes, even in the best games.
01:10:40But you live for these moments and they make you happy.
01:10:44The players seem to enjoy playing.
01:10:46I can remember there's been instances in the dressing room
01:10:49whenever they've come and said,
01:10:51listen, regardless, we keep playing the same way
01:10:54as we want to play and don't go hoofing the ball along
01:10:57and all of that kind of thing.
01:10:59We play our way and that's it.
01:11:01And it's a joy to watch them. It really is.
01:11:04They're just phenomenal, aren't they?
01:11:05I just love watching them.
01:11:06To me, it's a pleasure watching people that can play football
01:11:08and they play with such panache.
01:11:10From one end to the other in a matter of seven or eight seconds,
01:11:13it's just amazing.
01:11:14We've played some breathtaking football
01:11:17and it's been a real pleasure.
01:11:19I wouldn't have liked to have been on the other side,
01:11:21but it's been a real pleasure to sit and watch it.
01:11:24There are times where, for 20 minutes,
01:11:27they're one of the best teams I've ever seen play,
01:11:30any time in my football life.
01:11:32But there's 20-minute spells.
01:11:34Now with Arsenal, you go, jeez, look at that.
01:11:38In my charge at Arsenal, we were a domestic club side.
01:11:41They're now a world club side
01:11:43and they've got world-class players in the team.
01:11:46And the football they play is very, very exciting.
01:11:49It's exciting to watch.
01:11:51When they're on the forum, it's as good as anything you'd see
01:11:55in the world, never mind Europe.
01:11:57This must be the best Arsenal team that we've ever seen.
01:12:01I can't remember the 30s when Herbert Chapman was involved,
01:12:05but we have a world-class team now,
01:12:07probably four or five world-class players in the team.
01:12:10And they play such wonderful football,
01:12:12and I think if you're an Arsenal fan at the moment,
01:12:15you're very, very lucky.
01:12:16I would like to win everything and to play the best football ever
01:12:20and to keep everybody happy.
01:12:22So you would want to achieve perfection.
01:12:40THEY SING IN LATIN
01:13:10EXPLOSION
01:13:40MUSIC FADES
01:14:10MUSIC FADES