Old & New Looking Good.

                                          Season 1997-98.

Now that Arsene Wenger had seen the squad over the last 7 months, he realised that many changes were required to build the team he wanted, playing the way he wanted.

Out went - Paul Merson - Eddie McGoldrick - Andy Linighan - Steve Morrow - Matthew Rose - Paul Read - Lee Harper - Adrian Clarke - Glen Helder & Chris Kiwomya.

In came - Marc Overmars - Emmanuel Petit - Giles Grimandi - Luis Boamorte - Alex Manninger - Alberto Mendez - Jason Crowe - Matthew Upson.

Petit & Overmars. 

Giles Grimandi. 

Luis Boamorte. 

JC and myself went to Leeds to see Arsenal draw the first game of the season 1-1. 

This has since been recorded as the hottest day ever for an Arsenal match. 

Hot Ticket. 

Even Hotter Stadium. 

So, I have the unenviable claim for attending Arsenal’s extreme weather record away games. 

Hottest - Leeds (1997). 

Coldest - Oldham/Glasgow Rangers. 

(1991)

Wettest - Barnsley (1995).  

Postponed due to Snow - Sunderland (1965).

Midday Referee Inspection. 

Postponed due to Fog - Man United (1961)

15 minutes before kickoff. 

Arsenal also drew away at Leicester 3-3 with a superlative hat trick from Dennis Bergkamp. 

Hotter still - Bergkamp’s Hat-trick. 

Not to be outdone, Ian Wright scored his Record breaking 179th goal for Arsenal. 

179 Not Out. 

Dennis Bergkamp then inspired Arsenal to the top of the League, with a 4-0 victory against West Ham at Highbury. 

We are top of the League. 

Dennis & Gooners Celebrate. 

Arsenal then go to Chelsea and win 3-2 thanks to a rare Nigel Winterburn screamer from 25 yards. 

Nigel’s Left Foot. 

UEFA Cup. 

In the UEFA Cup Arsenal were surprisingly knocked out by PAOK Salonica in the 1st round, losing the 1st Leg 1-0 in Greece and then only drawing 1-1 in the 2nd Leg at Highbury. 

Vizas scores for PAOK at Highbury. 

League (Coca Cola) Cup. 

Arsenal beat Birmingham 4-1 at Highbury. 

Alex Manninger and 5 other youngsters made their debuts in this game. 

A policy that Arsene Wenger would adopt in the future. 

In January, Arsenal beat Chelsea 2-1 at Highbury in the semifinal 1st Leg. 

Overmars scores the first goal. 

Chelsea appointed Gianluca Vialli as manager for the 2nd Leg at Stamford Bridge. 

Mark Hughes appointed himself as an assassin in the first 20 minutes, kicking each one of the Arsenal back four in turn. 

This tactic worked and Arsenal were rattled, losing 3-1.

 

Hughes & Adams discuss tactics. 

 

Match ticket. 

Vialli brings himself on. 

That’s two trophies we won’t win, what about the other two?

League. 

In November I travelled with JC to Pride Park to watch Arsenal lose 3-0 to Derby. 

Memorable only for JC parking at his Brother in laws house, near the ground. 

As Arsenal were getting slaughtered, we left the stadium early to avoid the traffic. 

When we got to the car, a mate of the brother in law had blocked our car in with his careless parking. 

Steam kettle time, not JC this time, me. 

We were now stuck until this idiot decides to come back. To make matters worse, he didn’t come back until about 40 minutes after the game finished. 

JC went out to give him a piece of his mind and his brother in law wouldn’t let me out of the front room. 

He later said, he thought we were going to kill his mate. 

Imagine, Arsenal get hammered and we can’t get off home. 

You’ve all been there!!!

Derby ticket. 

Pride Park. 

Arsenal then beat Man Utd at Highbury with David Platt scoring the winner. 

David Platt scores against Man Utd. 

Arsenal then lose at Highbury to Liverpool 1-0. 

Not really, what we want to hear. 

Rumours then start emerging that Arsenal are thinking of moving to Wembley. 

New Home for Arsenal?

Definitely, what we don’t want to hear!!

The Media and many Arsenal Fans were now asking if David Seaman, Tony Adams and Ian Wright were still top class players. 

In the next post we will see their response to this criticism. 

Next Post - Saturday 13/6/2020. 

Cometh the Hour - Cometh the Men. 

Comments/Questions - oldgunnersandgooners@gmail.com