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1990–91 Arsenal F.C. season

English football club season

English football club season

FieldValue
clubArsenal
season1990–91
managerGeorge Graham
chairmanPeter Hill-Wood
stadiumHighbury
league[First Division](1990-91-football-league)
league result**[1st](1990-91-football-league-first-division)**
cup1FA Cup
cup1 result[Semi-finals](1990-91-fa-cup)
cup2League Cup
cup2 result[Fourth round](1990-91-football-league-cup)
league topscorer
Alan Smith (22)
season topscorer
Alan Smith (27)
highest attendance42,393 vs. Queens Park Rangers
(23 April 1991)
lowest attendance22,890 vs. Chester City
(9 October 1990)
average attendance36,865
pattern_la1_arsenal9091h
pattern_b1_arsenal9091h
pattern_ra1_arsenal9091h
pattern_sh1_arsenal9091h
pattern_so1_arsenal9091hl
body1ff0000
socks1ff0000
pattern_la2_arsenal8889a
pattern_b2_arsenal8889a
pattern_ra2_arsenal8889a
pattern_sh2_arsenal8889a
pattern_so2_arsenal8889al
leftarm2101C35
body2F5D618
rightarm2101C35
shorts2101C35
socks2F5D618
prevseason[1989–90](1989-90-arsenal-f-c-season)
nextseason[1991–92](1991-92-arsenal-f-c-season)

Alan Smith (22) Alan Smith (27) (23 April 1991) (9 October 1990) The 1990–91 season was Arsenal Football Club's 95th season of competitive football and 65th consecutive season in the top flight of English football, the Football League First Division. Arsenal finished the season as league champions for the second time in three seasons, losing just one of their 38 league games. They reached the semifinals of the FA Cup, losing to Tottenham. Alan Smith was the top scorer in both the league and all competitions, winning the golden boot for the second time.

Arsenal began the season with a 17-game unbeaten streak in all competitions, though it was not without drama. On 20 October, Arsenal faced Manchester United in the league. Although they won 1-0, the match resulted in a brawl after which Arsenal were deducted two points. Arsenal's unbeaten streak in all competitions came to an end with a 6-2 home loss to Manchester United in the League Cup. Arsenal didn't lose in the league until a 2-1 loss to Chelsea, their only loss of the season. Arsenal chased Liverpool for the league title for most of the season before winning the championship with two games to spare after Liverpool lost to Nottingham Forest on May the 6th.

Manager George Graham brought in several important new signings for the season, including goalkeeper David Seaman, winger Anders Limpar, and defender Andy Linighan.

Season summary

The season began with two major signings at Highbury. After more than a year of trying, Arsenal finally landed goalkeeper David Seaman from Queens Park Rangers before the start of the season. Seaman would go on to keep 29 clean sheets in 50 matches. Arsenal's previous first choice goalkeeper John Lukic was sold to newly promoted Leeds United. Swedish winger Anders Limpar was signed from Italian side Cremonese, quickly prompting the departure of two other players in the same position – Brian Marwood and Martin Hayes. Manager George Graham also strengthened his defence with a move for Norwich defender Andy Linighan, although Linighan was not a regular player in his first season at Highbury. Making their debuts this season were midfielder David Hillier and striker Andy Cole. Although Cole made just one appearance for Arsenal this season as a substitute, Hillier played 22 games in all competitions and picked up a league title medal.

The season began with a 3–0 away win over Wimbledon, followed by a 2–1 home win over Luton Town. This good form continued and by the end of October, Arsenal were unbeaten in the league, along with defending champions Liverpool and North London rivals Tottenham in what was beginning to look like a very exciting title race. Tottenham soon fell away in the league, however, and so for much of the season it appeared likely that it would be a two horse race for the title between Arsenal and Liverpool.

On 20 October, Arsenal travelled to Old Trafford for a league match with Manchester United, which they won 1–0, but the match was marred by a 21-player brawl which resulted in Arsenal being deducted two points and their opponents one point. Both clubs were fined £50,000.

Arsenal's League Cup hopes ended on 28 November when they lost 6–2 at home to Manchester United in the fourth round, ending their 17-game undefeated streak in all competitions. Four days later however, Arsenal beat Liverpool 3–0 in the league at Highbury, ending the visiting side's unbeaten start to the league campaign, although they did not overtake Kenny Dalglish's men and go top of the league until the new year.

On 19 December, the club was stunned when captain Tony Adams was jailed for four months for following a car crash. Adams was released after two months behind bars, during which Arsenal suffered their only league defeat of the season – a 2–1 defeat at Chelsea in their 24th game.

Before the end of the February, the title race was thrown into fresh uncertainty when Kenny Dalglish suddenly announced his resignation as manager of Liverpool, who were the only remaining serious threat to Arsenal's lead of the First Division. Ronnie Moran was placed in temporary charge until the arrival of Graeme Souness two months later, but by then Arsenal were looking all set for the league title.

Arsenal had also been in contention for the double for the FA Cup, which would have made them the only team in English football to have won the double twice, but these hopes ended in the semi-final at Wembley, where they beaten 3–1 by Tottenham, who went on to win the trophy for a then-record eighth time.

Confirmation of Arsenal's league title triumph finally came just before their penultimate game of the season, on 6 May, when Liverpool lost to Nottingham Forest. Later that day, Arsenal triumphed 3–1 at home to Manchester United in a match where top scorer Alan Smith scored a hat-trick. Anders Limpar then scored a hat-trick in Arsenal's final fixture, a 6–1 victory over Coventry City at Highbury.

Throughout the season, Arsenal had lost only one game and conceded just 18 goals in the league. Alan Smith was Arsenal's top scorer and won the golden boot for the second time in three years. The league victory also granted Arsenal entrance to European competition for the 1991/92 season, following the end of the five-year ban of English sides in European competition.

Pre-season and friendlies

DateOpponentsVenueResultScore
F–AScorersAttendance9 May 199022 July 199024 July 199026 July 19903 August 199010 August 199011 August 199017 August 199013 October 199027 April 199113 May 199117 May 1991
KOR South KoreaNW2–1Smith, Dixon?
SWE Varbergs BoISAW2–0Merson, Rocastle?
SWE Västra FrölundaAW4–0Linighan, Smith, Merson (2)?
SWE IFK VärnamoAD2–2Merson, Limpar?
Wolverhampton WanderersAW1–0Smith?
Aston VillaNW2–0Limpar, Campbell?
ITA SampdoriaNL0–1?
Brighton & Hove AlbionAD2–2Rocastle, Smith?
Tottenham HotspurHL2–5Smith, Merson14,806
LiverpoolHL1–3Campbell18,224
BarnetAW4–2Adams, Campbell, Merson, Groves7,724
LiverpoolND1–1Winterburn60,000

Source:

Football League First Division

Main article: 1990–91 Football League First Division

DateOpponentsVenueResultScore
F–AScorersAttendanceRef25 August 199029 August 19901 September 19908 September 199015 September 199022 September 199029 September 19906 October 199020 October 199027 October 19903 November 199010 November 199017 November 199024 November 19902 December 19908 December 199015 December 199023 December 199026 December 199029 December 19901 January 199112 January 199119 January 19912 February 199123 February 19913 March 199117 March 199120 March 199123 March 199130 March 19913 April 19916 April 19919 April 199117 April 199123 April 19914 May 19916 May 199111 May 1991
WimbledonAW3–0Merson 57', Smith 59', Groves 90'13,733
Luton TownHW2–1Merson 37', Thomas 69'32,723
Tottenham HotspurHD0–040,009
EvertonAD1–1Groves 58'29,919
ChelseaHW4–1Limpar 52', Dixon 58' (pen.), Merson 62', Rocastle 73'40,475
Nottingham ForestAW2–0Limpar 28', Rocastle 83'26,013
Leeds UnitedAD2–2Limpar 39', 50' (2)30,085
Norwich CityHW2–0Davis 26', 31' (2)36,737
Manchester UnitedAW1–0Limpar 42'47,232
SunderlandHW1–0Dixon 75' (pen.)38,485
Coventry CityAW2–0Limpar 83', 88' (2)15,336
Crystal PalaceAD0–028,282
SouthamptonHW4–0Merson 21', Limpar 33', Smith 37', 59' (2)36,229
Queens Park RangersAW3–1Merson 78', Smith 84', Campbell 86'18,555
LiverpoolHW3–0Merson 21', Dixon 47' (pen.), Smith 88'40,419
Luton TownAD1–1Smith 44'12,506
WimbledonHD2–2Merson 31', Adams 35'30,164
Aston VillaAD0–022,687
Derby CountyHW3–0Smith 4', 77' (2), Merson 26'25,558
Sheffield UnitedHW4–1Dixon 50' (pen.), Thomas 70', Smith 84', 86' (2)37,810
Manchester CityAW1–0Smith 59'30,579
Tottenham HotspurAD0–034,753
EvertonHW1–0Merson 47'35,349
ChelseaAL1–2Smith 89'29,094
Crystal PalaceHW4–0O'Leary 3', Merson 41', Smith 60', Campbell 61'42,162
LiverpoolAW1–0Merson 66'37,221
Leeds UnitedHW2–0Campbell 77', 86' (2)26,218
Nottingham ForestHD1–1Campbell 32'34,152
Norwich CityAD0–020,131
Derby CountyAW2–0Smith 7', 84' (2)18,397
Aston VillaHW5–0Campbell 37', 84' (2), Davis 55', Smith 59', 61' (2)41,868
Sheffield UnitedAW2–0Campbell 10', Smith 73'26,920
SouthamptonAD1–1Smith 74'21,200
Manchester CityHD2–2Campbell 5', Merson 14'38,412
Queens Park RangersHW2–0Dixon 58' (pen.), Merson 72'42,393
SunderlandAD0–022,606
Manchester UnitedHW3–1Smith 19', 41, 58' (pen.) (3)40,229
Coventry CityHW6–1Peake, 13' o.g., Limpar 31', 79', 86' (3), Smith 77', Groves 90'41,039

Classification

Round by round

Football League Cup

Arsenal entered the Football League Cup in the second round, where they were drawn against Chester City in a two-legged tie.

RoundDateOpponentsVenueResultScoreScorersAttendanceRefSecond round
first legSecond round
second legThird roundFourth round
25 September 1990Chester CityAW1–0Merson 59'4,135
9 October 1990Chester CityHW5–0Groves 10', 26' (2), Smith 41', Adams 67', Merson 83'22,902
30 October 1990Manchester CityAW2–1Groves 50', Adams 64'26,825
28 November 1990Manchester UnitedHL2–6Smith 48', 68' (2)40,884

Colour key: Green = Arsenal win; Yellow = draw; Red = opponents win. Arsenal score ordered first.

FA Cup

RoundDateOpponentsVenueResultScoreScorersAttendanceRefThird roundFourth roundFourth round
replayFourth round
second replayFourth round
third replayFifth roundSixth roundSemi-final
5 January 1991SunderlandHW2–1Smith 18', Limpar 45'
27 January 1991Leeds UnitedHD0–0
30 January 1991Leeds UnitedAD1–1Limpar 60'
13 February 1991Leeds UnitedHD0–0
16 February 1991Leeds UnitedAW2–1Merson 17', Dixon 43'
27 February 1991Shrewsbury TownAW1–0Thomas 59'
9 March 1991Cambridge UnitedHW2–1Campbell 19', Adams 61'
14 April 1991Tottenham HotspurNL1–3Smith 45'77,893

Colour key: Green = Arsenal win; Yellow = draw; Red = opponents win. Arsenal score ordered first.

Squad statistics

Arsenal used a total of 19 players during the 1990–91 season and there were nine different goalscorers. There were also two squad members who did not make a first-team appearance in the campaign. Seaman, Winterburn, Dixon and Bould started in all 38 league matches. The team scored a total of 86 goals in all competitions. The top goalscorer was Smith, with 28 goals – 22 of which were scored in the league.

;Key No. = Squad number

Pos = Playing position

Nat. = Nationality

Apps = Appearances GK = Goalkeeper

DF = Defender

MF = Midfielder

FW = Forward

Numbers in parentheses denote appearances as substitute. Players with name struck through and marked left the club during the playing season.

Pos.Nat.NameLeagueFA CupLeague CupTotalAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsDavid SeamanNigel WinterburnLee DixonTony AdamsSteve BouldAndy LinighanDavid O'LearyColin PatesDavid RocastleDavid HillierAnders LimparPaul DavisMichael ThomasPerry GrovesSigurður JónssonPaul MersonAlan SmithKevin CampbellAndy Cole
GKENG3808040500
DFENG3808040500
DFENG3858140506
DFENG3013142374
DFENG3808040500
DFENG7 (3)03 (1)00010 (4)0
DFIRE11 (10)15 (1)0(1)016 (12)1
DFENG(1)00000(1)0
MFENG13 (3)2(1)02015 (4)2
MFENG9 (7)03 (1)02014 (8)0
MFSWE32 (2)11522039 (2)13
MFENG36 (1)36 (1)04046 (2)3
MFENG27 (4)2814037 (4)3
MFENG13 (19)33 (1)04020 (20)0
MFISL20000020
FWENG36 (1)13814248 (1)16
FWENG35 (2)22824347 (2)27
FWENG15 (7)94 (2)1(4)019 (13)10
FWENG(1)00000(1)0

Source:

References

References

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  2. Soar, Phil. (2011). "Arsenal: the official illustrated history, 1886-2011". Hamlyn.
  3. (5 February 2014). "Total Recall: 1990/91".
  4. Smith, Joshua. (2 September 2023). "'He was pretending to be knocked out!' - the 20-man brawl that sparked Manchester United vs Arsenal rivalry".
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  7. "Arsenal Continue Winning Ways Against Luton – aclfarsenal.co.uk".
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