ARSENAL V LEICESTER 15/5/2004 ARSENAL GET THE CHAMPIONSHIP TROPHY WENGAR. (Photo by David Ashdown/Getty Images)
Arsenal and the final day: 5 of the best matches in club history
by Kenneth Daly
The Arsenal 1971 legends that won the league at Tottenham on show today. 🏆 pic.twitter.com/bPOxv4sRSG
— Football Daily (@footballdaily) May 8, 2022
2. Tottenham 0-1 Arsenal (1970/71)
Although Sp*rs were the first English team in the 20th century to win the Double, Arsenal followed suit in 1971 and even completed the feat in their rivals’ own backyard.
The 1970/71 campaign featured a tight championship battle between England’s top two sides (sound familiar?) and saw the Gunners travel to White Hart Lane on the final day needing a goalless draw or victory to claim their eighth domestic crown.
It was a tense affair as the hosts were desperate to spoil any north London party and Arsenal had to focus primarily on keeping a clean sheet. Then, just three minutes from time, the late Ray Kennedy rose highest at the back post to put us in front and fine goalkeeping from Bob Wilson ensured we held on for both local and national bragging rights.
Those two points meant we pipped Leeds United to the title, and a brilliant year was rounded off five days later under the Wembley arch.
3. Arsenal 3-2 Burnley (1952/53)
If you thought the 2012 or 2019 title races were decided by fine margins, wait until you hear about 1953.
Defeat at Preston on the final Saturday of the season had moved Arsenal down to second position, and the Lilywhites’ subsequent win against relegated Derby County meant Tom Whittaker’s men needed to beat sixth-placed Burnley on the last day to remain in title contention.
After a dramatic clash which saw them go behind in just three minutes, the Gunners eventually prevailed 3-2 at Highbury and the scoreline left the top two with identical league records. Therefore, goal average was employed as a tiebreaker (goals scored divided by goals conceded) and a margin of 0.099 earned Arsenal the trophy.
And we think VAR interventions add drama to Premier League proceedings!
Continued on the next slide…
#OTD</a> in 1989 "It's up for grabs now…" <a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/05/27/arsenal-5-best-final-day-game-club-history/2/"https://twitter.com/hashtag/Anfield89?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%22>#Anfield89</a></p>
<p>Arsenal beat Liverpool 2-0 at Anfield to win the 1st Division title</p>
<p>Michael Thomas scored the dramatic winner with virtually the last kick of the game</p>
<p>🎙from Brian Moore <a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/05/27/arsenal-5-best-final-day-game-club-history/2/"https://t.co/Hgv2JfIyc1">pic.twitter.com/Hgv2JfIyc1
<p>— 80s&90sFootball ⚽ 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 🇺🇦 (@80s90sfootball) <a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/05/27/arsenal-5-best-final-day-game-club-history/2/"https://twitter.com/80s90sfootball/status/1661969988696129538?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%22>May 26, 2023</a></p></blockquote>
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<h2><strong>1. Liverpool 0-2 Arsenal (1988/89)</strong></h2>
<p>Football certainly did exist before 1992, and the First Division era produced its own ‘Agueroooooo’ finale in 1989 which will be forever etched in the collective Arsenal memory.</p>
<p>The circumstances surrounding Anfield ’89 are well known to any Gooner worth their salt: Arsenal had slipped up in their two preceding home fixtures, Liverpool were the reigning champions and George Graham’s side needed to win by at least two goals to leapfrog them into first place – a prospect few anticipated when the clock ticked into additional time.</p>
<p>However, leapfrog them they did as John Lukic started a quick attack in the last minute and a long ball forward soon found a composed Alan Smith, whose pass to Michael Thomas enabled a cool finish and secured our first league title in 18 years.</p>
<p>An incredible climax that was worthy of the prize.</p>
<p><em>Continued on the next slide…</em></p>
<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background: #c01f2f" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/05/27/arsenal-5-best-final-day-game-club-history/2/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> #2 and #3 best final day matches </a>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">The Arsenal 1971 legends that won the league at Tottenham on show today. 🏆 <a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/05/27/arsenal-5-best-final-day-game-club-history/2/"https://t.co/bPOxv4sRSG">pic.twitter.com/bPOxv4sRSG
<p>— Football Daily (@footballdaily) <a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/05/27/arsenal-5-best-final-day-game-club-history/2/"https://twitter.com/footballdaily/status/1523303511072849921?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%22>May 8, 2022</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src=https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/05/27/arsenal-5-best-final-day-game-club-history/2/"https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p></div>
<h2><strong>2. Tottenham 0-1 Arsenal (1970/71)</strong></h2>
<p>Although Sp*rs were the first English team in the 20th century to win the Double, Arsenal followed suit in 1971 and even completed the feat in their rivals’ own backyard.</p>
<p>The 1970/71 campaign featured a tight championship battle between England’s top two sides (sound familiar?) and saw the Gunners travel to White Hart Lane on the final day needing a goalless draw or victory to claim their eighth domestic crown.</p>
<p>It was a tense affair as the hosts were desperate to spoil any north London party and Arsenal had to focus primarily on keeping a clean sheet. Then, just three minutes from time, the late Ray Kennedy rose highest at the back post to put us in front and fine goalkeeping from Bob Wilson ensured we held on for both local and national bragging rights.</p>
<p>Those two points meant we pipped Leeds United to the title, and a brilliant year was rounded off five days later under the Wembley arch.</p>
<h2><strong>3. Arsenal 3-2 Burnley (1952/53)</strong></h2>
<p>If you thought the 2012 or 2019 title races were decided by fine margins, wait until you hear about 1953.</p>
<p>Defeat at Preston on the final Saturday of the season had moved Arsenal down to second position, and the Lilywhites’ subsequent win against relegated Derby County meant Tom Whittaker’s men needed to beat sixth-placed Burnley on the last day to remain in title contention.</p>
<p>After a dramatic clash which saw them go behind in just three minutes, the Gunners eventually prevailed 3-2 at Highbury and the scoreline left the top two with identical league records. Therefore, goal average was employed as a tiebreaker (goals scored divided by goals conceded) and a margin of 0.099 earned Arsenal the trophy.</p>
<p>And we think VAR interventions add drama to Premier League proceedings!</p>
<p><em>Continued on the next slide…</em></p>
<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background: #c01f2f" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/05/27/arsenal-5-best-final-day-game-club-history/2/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> #4 best final day match </a>
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<img decoding="async" class="size-full wp-image-134747" src=https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/05/27/arsenal-5-best-final-day-game-club-history/2/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_850,w_1600/https%3A%2F%2Fpaininthearsenal.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2017%2F07%2F1129748796.jpeg" alt="" width="1600" height="850" srcset="https://paininthearsenal.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/1129748796.jpeg 1600w, https://paininthearsenal.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/1129748796-768x408.jpeg 768w, https://paininthearsenal.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/1129748796-1536x816.jpeg 1536w" sizes="(max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px"><p class="wp-caption-text">The Invincibles turned it around against Leicester. (Photo by David Ashdown/Getty Images)</p>
</div>
<h2><strong>4. Arsenal 2-1 Leicester (2003/04)</strong></h2>
<p>While title business had long been wrapped up, invincibility remained in sight and Arsenal looked certain to get the job done against Championship-bound Leicester City.</p>
<p>The script would be ultimately fulfilled, but it was not without some nervy moments as former Gunner Paul Dickov put the visitors in front midway through the first half to momentarily spoil the carnival atmosphere.</p>
<p>However, normal service resumed later when a clumsy challenge on Ashley Cole allowed Thierry Henry to slot home from the penalty spot before captain Patrick Vieira rounded Ian Walker in goal to seal a historic victory and kickstart wild celebrations among the home support.</p>
<p>A fine performance to secure a remarkable achievement that stands above everything else.</p>
<p><em>Continued on the next slide…</em></p>
<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background: #c01f2f" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/05/27/arsenal-5-best-final-day-game-club-history/2/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> #5 best final day match </a>
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<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-134746" src=https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/05/27/arsenal-5-best-final-day-game-club-history/2/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_1094,w_1600/https%3A%2F%2Fpaininthearsenal.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2017%2F07%2F169055146.jpeg" alt="" width="1600" height="1094" srcset="https://paininthearsenal.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/169055146.jpeg 1600w, https://paininthearsenal.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/169055146-768x525.jpeg 768w, https://paininthearsenal.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/169055146-1536x1050.jpeg 1536w" sizes="(max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px"><p class="wp-caption-text">Laurent Koscielny secured Arsenal a top-four berth in 2012/13. (Photo credit should read Ian MacNicol/AFP via Getty Images)</p>
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<h2><strong>5. Newcastle 0-1 Arsenal (2012/13)</strong></h2>
<p>From title talk to a Champions League contest, and another ‘1 nil to the Arsenal’ that came at Tottenham’s expense.</p>
<p>Many thought the 2-1 NLD defeat in March would disrupt the Gunners’ momentum and hand the initiative to Sp*rs for a top-four finish. But instead, Wenger’s side embarked on a 10-game unbeaten domestic run and collected 26 points along the way – three of which came courtesy of Laurent Koscielny on Tyneside.</p>
<p>His acrobatic effort just after the break put Arsenal ahead at St. James’ Park and resulted in a tense finish as Newcastle searched for parity late on, while Gareth Bale’s wonder strike against Sunderland meant the Frenchman’s goal was critical in securing our 16th consecutive Champions League qualification.</p>
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<p>Not quite a championship decider, but anything that annoys our neighbours is always welcome.</p><!—pageview_candidate—>">
