Old Gunners and Gooners : Arsene (Arsenal) Wenger Arrives.

July/August 1996.

Inside Hampden Park.

Towards the end of July 1996, Chris K, JC, Soldier Dave and myself went to Glasgow to see Arsenal play Celtic in a pre season friendly.

On the day of the match we visited Hampden Park and Ibrox Park and met Brian Laudrup.
We also visited the Rangers club shop but as Dave was a Catholic, and also had family in Glasgow, he refused to enter it with us, in case he was spotted. JC was also a Catholic but nothing ever bothered him.
Like I said before, Religion and Sport don't mix.

Outside Ibrox Park.

Inside Ibrox.

Glasgow Rangers Club Badge.

Dave definitely wasn’t going in there!!!

Me With Brian Laudrup.

A few bevvies in Billy McNeills pub.

Me - JC - Chris K behind the bar in McNeill's.

Celtic match ticket.

Before the Celtic game we went in a little pub that was straight out of the 1930’s.

Dark wood panelling, tobacco stained walls, no music, a big old clock on the wall that obviously hadn’t worked for years and a landlady who resembled the ex boxer, Joe Bugner.

I can still recall our conversations with her, to this day.

Landlady, on hearing our accents - What are youse doing in Glasgow?

JC - We’ve come to see the match, love.

Landlady - What match would that be?

Me - The one that all those people wearing green and white hooped shirts, passing the window, are going to.

Landlady - What do youse all want to drink?

Chris K - I’ll have a bottle of “Becks” please.

Landlady - A bottle of what?

Me to Chris K - Have a look around, you ain’t in Covent Garden, you idiot.

Chris K - Sorry, I’ll have half a pint of lager then.

JC - I’ll have half a pint of lager as well please.

Landlady to me - And what do youse want?

Me - A pint of lager please.

Landlady - A whole pint? Are you sure you can manage that?

She gave me such a look, that I thought I was back at school.

After a while, the bar began filling up with the Celtic equivalent of the older Rangers fans who’d terrorised Highbury in 1967.

We decided to leave, before Chris K came out with another classic remark.

Outside Celtic Park.

Inside Celtic Park.

Paolo Di Canio inspired Celtic to a 2-1 victory.

A few days later Arsenal beat Rangers 3-0 in a Testimonial match for Richard Gough.

We’d left Glasgow on the morning after the Celtic game and by chance I was sitting immediately behind David Dein and his daughter on the plane going back to London.

Once the plane was airborne, I introduced myself to David Dein and told him that I was already despondent about the team and the season hadn’t even started yet.

He told me that there were 2 players coming in soon, one was a decent player and the other would become a legend.
He wouldn’t give me any names at the time.

David Dein with his new mate.

These players were Rémi Garde and the future legend, Patrick Vieira.

Now I might be cynical, but I don’t think these players were on Bruce Rioch’s radar.
Maybe, Bergkamp as well?

So, I can only assume that Arsene Wenger was already pulling the strings, but couldn’t go public due to his contract in Japan, which didn’t expire until October.

Days later, Arsenal played in a tournament in Florence and lost to Fiorentina 2-0 and Benfica 3-1.

Bruce Rioch was sacked on the 12th of August.
On the 13th August, Arsenal played at Northampton in a Testimonial game for Dave Bowen.

I’d arranged to meet my mate Spandau and his sons at Northampton and related the story of meeting David Dein on the plane.
Laughingly, Spandau said, I suppose you’re his friend now?

Moment’s later, Peter Hill-Wood and David Dein come strolling across the car park, surrounded by camera crews and reporters pestering them, for the name of the next manager, or who they’d like.

They were both trying to ignore everyone and so I nudged Spandau and said, watch this.
I then approached David Dein and held my hand out saying, Hi David.
He shook my hand and replied, Hi Eddie, nice to see you again.
Spandau was totally gobsmacked. “ Fucking, hi Eddie” was all he kept saying out loud to himself.
Naturally, I was in hysterics.

Poor old Spandau, he never forgot that moment.

His sons have never forgotten the sight of me walking around the pitch to go home, just after kickoff either.
I only wanted to add Northampton to my list of stadiums that I’ve seen Arsenal play in.

Peter Hill-Wood & David Dein at Northampton - Decisions, decisions!!

Northampton match ticket.

Season 1996-97.

David Hillier and Paul Dickov left the club in the close season.

Stewart Houston assumed temporary control of the team again but left in September upon learning that a new manger was arriving soon.

Arsenal Fans want Cruyff.

The Arsenal Board want Wenger.

Stewart Houston wants Out.

Rémi Garde Arrives.

The Future Legend - Patrick Vieira Arrives.

Patrick Vieira made his Arsenal debut in September, coming on as a substitute for Ray Parlour, against Sheffield Wednesday.

JC’s classic remark at the time was, looks like we’ve bought a Harlem Globetrotter.

Pat Rice took charge of the team until Arsene Wenger arrived in October.

Arsene Who?

Said Sir Alex Ferguson and many Gooners.

Arsene Wenger said Arsene Wenger.

UEFA Cup.

Arsene watched Arsenal at the UEFA Cup 1st round 2nd Leg 3-2 defeat away at Borussia Monchengladbach but Pat Rice was still in charge.

Stefan Effenberg had already led Borussia with a stunning performance, in a 3-2 victory at Highbury in the 1st Leg.

Stefan Effenberg - What a player.

FA Cup.

Arsenal drew 1-1 with Sunderland at Highbury in the 3rd round.

Arsenal beat Sunderland 2-0 in the replay at Roker Park.

Arsenal then lost to a, George Graham, inspired Leeds team, 1-0, in the 4th round at Highbury.

2 Great Arsenal Managers.

League Cup.

Arsenal drew away at Stoke 1-1 in the 3rd round and then won the replay 5-2.

This was the season that the Premiership clubs never entered until the 3rd round, denying Arsenal Fans, like me, from visiting the lower League Clubs stadiums.

Arsenal would lose 4-2 to Liverpool at Anfield in the 4th round.

League.

Wenger’s reign had already begun, with a 2-0 victory at Blackburn Rovers in the League.

Would it last? - I think we all know the answer.

Another Original North Bank Boy and his son were pleased to see Arsene Wenger arrive.

Wrighty looks happier!!

Thanks to the 3 managers since August, Arsenal were top of the League in November.

A lot of credit for this must go to possibly the greatest back four unit ever seen at Highbury.

Dixon - Bould - Adams - Winterburn.

Ably supported by Martin Keown when necessary.

This allowed Arsene to concentrate on the attacking players he needed for his style of football.

In January, John Hartson joined West Ham and Nicholas Anelka was signed from PSG.

Nicholas Anelka arrives.

Alan Sugar becomes the Arsenal Fans’ most popular Chairman Ever, at the Lane.

Wrighty scores against the Little club.

So does Dennis Bergkamp.

Apparently Arsene Wenger changed the Arsenal players diet.

Was he now feeding them Raw Meat?

Patrick Vieira upsets David O’Leary.

Ian Wright upsets Peter Schmeichel.

Wrighty also broke the nose of, Steve Ogrizovic, the Coventry goalie.

Wrighty managed to get sent off at Forest as well.

Even Dennis Bergkamp gets sent off.

Tony Adams upsets Alan Shearer.

Arsenal finished 3rd in the League after a controversial incident at Highbury, involving Chris Sutton, against Blackburn Rovers.

Arsenal had put the ball out of play due to an injured player requiring assistance.

Blackburn threw the throw in towards David Seaman and Chris Sutton forced a corner by putting him under pressure, when he should’ve left him alone.

Blackburn equalised from the corner and Arsenal Fans and players weren’t happy.

Martin Keown upsets Chris Sutton.

Nigel Winterburn’s Testimonial.

Glasgow Rangers return after 30 years and it’s a calm evening.

Thankfully, all their nutters from 1967, must be about 80 years old now.

I missed the Rangers game, as I’d gone with my wife to see “El Classico”, Barcelona vs Real Madrid and visit my old Glaswegian mates and Charlie Mc in Spain.