1989...

There's probably a few of you out there who remember a certain side who used to absolutely dominate English football in the 1980's. You might even say they dominated Europe to a certain extent, what with 4 European Cup wins between 77-84. That's right, those scouse gits, Liverpool...*spits*. Hard to believe today but Liverpool were a side to be feared and admired while full of stars, the predecessors to Manure's 90's dominance *spit spit*.

Let me take you back to the season of 1988-89. Arsenal had been going nowhere special for a few years, and hadn't won the League title for some 18 years. That season however, George Graham had welded them into a tight unit, as Tony Adams (then Arsenal captain) put it in his biography: "We probably weren't the most talented team, but we were probably the most organised and disciplined..." Liverpool were coming to the end of their dominace but weren't yet aware how bitter the taste would be to their season-end...

The latter stages of 1988-89 were overshadowed by events at Hillsborough. I remember being frozen in shock as events unfolded live on TV. Football carried on, though it was undoubtedly influenced by the disaster. In fact, the Liverpool v Arsenal game that was going to decide the title was postponed until the end of May, partly because of the disaster, partly due to fixture congestion. Arsenal had looked like they were going to walk the title but with just a couple of games left a home defeat to Derby had let Liverpool back in.

Now, in the deciding game of the season, the very last game of the season, Arsenal had to go to Anfield, a place pretty much regraded as a fortress, and win by two clear goals. Mission impossible. Public sympathy was also with Liverpool, since it had been their fans killed at Hillsborough. OK, so double mission impossible.

The game was of immense interest and was shown live on TV. I remember watching nervously as the game unfolded and willed Arsenal on non-stop. I had Liverpool supporting mates at work and knew I'd never hear the last of it if Liverpool won. I had also never witnessed an Arsenal title-winning team and had feasted on the pictures of 1970-71 way too often - it was time for my own special memories, a memory that could warm the cockles on dark, cold nights (OK, I didn't know then that I was headed for Israel...).

0-0 at half-time was still OK. Nervy but still OK. The second half was still young when Smith headed in a goal for Arsenal. But wait...the ref had to consult his linesman...but he eventually gave it! YES!!! Arsenal continued attacking almost incessantly, but Liverpool were doing enough to hold on. Even though they were going to lose 1-0 on the night, it was still enough for them to win the title. Bastards! The 90 minute mark came and went and Liverpool players and fans had started believing it was theirs...

...when suddenly in the final seconds, a pass from Dixon found Smith who found Mickey Thomas, the ball bobbled and fell nicely for him, and yes, there it was, a sweet chip over Grobbelaar! FANTASTIC! PANDEMONIUM! The legendary Brian Moore declared "It's up for grabs now..." as an overjoyed Thomas flipped over in pure, spastic delight. The enormity of coming to a place like Anfield and stealing a 2-0 win was just too much...This surely was one of the most dramatic finishes to a season that there will ever be. Just what football should be all about...

Me, I had a great time at work the following day. I was also resigned to the fact that this Arsenal team could actually win things and I'd have to stick with them no matter what. The next year saw me head through Europe and arrive in Israel, but thousands of miles wasn't about to break the allegiance...

2 comments

  1. Anonymous // 2:07 PM  

    Funnily enough I made Aliya in Feb of 89, and it was the first Trophy winning experience I'd missed since Anderlect in 1970.
    I had a friend who had a dodgy cable in Ramat-Gan watched it unbelievably like everyone else.
    Got totally rat faced, and ended up in the ugly fountain in Dizengof with the passing Israeli's not having a clue what was going on!!!

  2. Anonymous // 2:31 PM  
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