đŸŽ„ It's 30 years since the most dramatic day in Arsenal's history | OneFootball

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Dan Burke·26 May 2019

đŸŽ„ It's 30 years since the most dramatic day in Arsenal's history

Article image:đŸŽ„ It's 30 years since the most dramatic day in Arsenal's history

26 May 1989 is a date that will never be forgotten by the Arsenal fans who were around to witness it.

On the final day of the 1988/89 Football League season, the Gunners travelled to face Liverpool at Anfield in a dramatic showdown for the First Division title.


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Liverpool began the day three points ahead of second-placed Arsenal and with a superior goal difference of +39 to Arsenal’s +35. That meant a victory for Arsenal by two clear goals would see George Graham’s side win the title on goals scored.

At half-time the score was 0-0 but seven minutes after the restart, Alan Smith (now of Sky Sports commentary fame) headed the visitors in front.

But the score remained 1-0 to Arsenal heading into injury time meaning, despite their efforts, Liverpool were moments away from being crowned champions.

And then, with just one minute and 18 seconds remaining, Michael Thomas came to Arsenal’s rescue.

Thomas’s dramatic late, late goal made it 2-0 and that was how it finished, meaning Arsenal won the title by virtue of having scored eight more goals than Liverpool over the course of the season.

They lifted the trophy on the Anfield pitch immediately after the final whistle, and it was a match which is said to be have been watched by as many as 12 million viewers on British television alone.

Prior to Sergio AgĂŒero’s title winning goal for Manchester City in 2012, this game was considered the undisputed most dramatic final day in the history of English football and formed the centrepiece of Nick Hornby’s best-selling novel ‘Fever Pitch’, which was made into a movie in 1997.

In 2017, a documentary – ’89’ – was released about that incredible night, featuring interviews with the likes of Graham, Lee Dixon, Tony Adams and, of course, Thomas himself.

“It’s up for grabs now!”