1990–91 Arsenal F.C. season

The 1990–91 season was the 93rd season of competitive football played by Arsenal.

Arsenal
1990–91 season
ChairmanPeter Hill-Wood
ManagerGeorge Graham
StadiumHighbury
First Division1st
FA CupSemi-finals
League CupFourth round
Top goalscorerLeague:
Alan Smith (22)
All:
Alan Smith (27)
Highest home attendance42,393 vs. Queens Park Rangers
(23 April 1991)
Lowest home attendance22,890 vs. Chester City
(9 October 1990)
Average home league attendance36,865[1]

Arsenal finished the season as league champions for the second time in three seasons, losing just one of their 38 league games.

The season began with two major signings at Highbury. After more than a year of trying, Arsenal finally landed goalkeeper David Seaman from QPR before the start of the season. 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.

Arsenal's League Cup hopes ended on 28 November when they lost 6–2 at home to Manchester United in the fourth round. 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.

Confirmation of Arsenal's league title triumph finally came in their penultimate game of the season, on 6 May, when they 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.

Arsenal had also been in contention for the double, 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 record eighth time.

Pre-season and friendlies
DateOpponents VenueResultScore
F–A		Scorers Attendance
9 May 1990 South KoreaN W2–1Smith, Dixon ?
22 July 1990 Varbergs BoISA W2–0Merson, Rocastle ?
24 July 1990 Västra FrölundaA W4–0Linighan, Smith, Merson (2) ?
26 July 1990 IFK VärnamoA D2–2Merson, Limpar ?
3 August 1990 Wolverhampton WanderersA W1–0Smith ?
10 August 1990 Aston VillaN W2–0Limpar, Campbell ?
11 August 1990 SampdoriaN L0–1 ?
17 August 1990 Brighton & Hove AlbionA D2–2Rocastle, Smith ?
13 October 1990 Tottenham HotspurH L2–5Smith, Merson 14,806
27 April 1991 LiverpoolH L1–3Campbell 18,224
13 May 1991 BarnetA W4–2Adams, Campbell, Merson, Groves 7,724
17 May 1991 LiverpoolN D1–1Winterburn 60,000

Source: [1]

Football League First Division
Main article: 1990–91 Football League First Division
DateOpponents VenueResultScore
F–A		Scorers Attendance Ref
25 August 1990 WimbledonA W3–0Merson 57', Smith 59', Groves 90' 13,733 [2]
29 August 1990 Luton TownH W2–1Merson 37', Thomas 69' 32,723 [3]
1 September 1990 Tottenham HotspurH D0–0 40,009 [4]
8 September 1990 EvertonA D1–1Groves 58' 29,919 [5]
15 September 1990 ChelseaH W4–1Limpar 52', Dixon 58' (pen.), Merson 62', Rocastle 73' 40,475 [6]
22 September 1990 Nottingham ForestA W2–0Limpar 28', Rocastle 83' 26,013 [7]
29 September 1990 Leeds UnitedA D2–2Limpar 39', 50' (2) 30,085 [8]
6 October 1990 Norwich CityH W2–0Davis 26', 31' (2) 36,737 [9]
20 October 1990 Manchester UnitedA W1–0Limpar 42' 47,232 [10]
27 October 1990 SunderlandH W1–0Dixon 75' (pen.) 38,485 [11]
3 November 1990 Coventry CityA W2–0Limpar 83', 88' (2) 15,336 [12]
10 November 1990 Crystal PalaceA D0–0 28,282 [13]
17 November 1990 SouthamptonH W4–0Merson 21', Limpar 33', Smith 37', 59' (2) 36,229 [14]
24 November 1990 Queens Park RangersA W3–1Merson 78', Smith 84', Campbell 86' 18,555 [15]
2 December 1990 LiverpoolH W3–0Merson 21', Dixon 47' (pen.), Smith 88' 40,419 [16]
8 December 1990 Luton TownA D1–1Smith 44' 12,506 [17]
15 December 1990 WimbledonH D2–2Merson 31', Adams 35' 30,164 [18]
23 December 1990 Aston VillaA D0–0 22,687 [19]
26 December 1990 Derby CountyH W3–0Smith 4', 77' (2), Merson 26' 25,558 [20]
29 December 1990 Sheffield UnitedH W4–1Dixon 50' (pen.), Thomas 70', Smith 84', 86' (2) 37,810 [21]
1 January 1991 Manchester CityA W1–0Smith 59' 30,579 [22]
12 January 1991 Tottenham HotspurA D0–0 34,753 [23]
19 January 1991 EvertonH W1–0Merson 47' 35,349 [24]
2 February 1991 ChelseaA L1–2Smith 89' 29,094 [25]
23 February 1991 Crystal PalaceH W4–0O'Leary 3', Merson 41', Smith 60', Campbell 61' 42,162 [26]
3 March 1991 LiverpoolA W1–0Merson 66' 37,221 [27]
17 March 1991 Leeds UnitedH W2–0Campbell 77', 86' (2) 26,218 [28]
20 March 1991 Nottingham ForestH D1–1Campbell 32' 34,152 [29]
23 March 1991 Norwich CityA D0–0 20,131 [30]
30 March 1991 Derby CountyA W2–0Smith 7', 84' (2) 18,397 [31]
3 April 1991 Aston VillaH W5–0Campbell 37', 84' (2), Davis 55', Smith 59', 61' (2) 41,868 [32]
6 April 1991 Sheffield UnitedA W2–0Campbell 10', Smith 73' 26,920 [33]
9 April 1991 SouthamptonA D1–1Smith 74' 21,200 [34]
17 April 1991 Manchester CityH D2–2Campbell 5', Merson 14' 38,412 [35]
23 April 1991 Queens Park RangersH W2–0Dixon 58' (pen.), Merson 72' 42,393 [36]
4 May 1991 SunderlandA D0–0 22,606 [37]
6 May 1991 Manchester UnitedH W3–1Smith 19', 41, 58' (pen.) (3) 40,229 [38]
11 May 1991 Coventry CityH W6–1Peake, 13' o.g., Limpar 31', 79', 86' (3), Smith 77', Groves 90' 41,039 [39]

Classification

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification or relegation
1 Arsenal (C) 38 24 13 1 74 18 +56 83[lower-alpha 1] Qualification for the European Cup first round
2 Liverpool 38 23 7 8 77 40 +37 76 Qualification for the UEFA Cup first round
3 Crystal Palace 38 20 9 9 50 41 +9 69
4 Leeds United 38 19 7 12 65 47 +18 64
5 Manchester City 38 17 11 10 64 53 +11 62
Source: World Football
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Goals scored
(C) Champions
Notes:
  1. Arsenal deducted two points; Manchester United deducted one point due to a brawl in a game between both teams.

Round by round
Round1234567891011121314151617181920212223242526272829303132333435363738
ResultWWDDWWDWWWWDWWWDDDWWWDWLWWWDDWWWDDWDWW
Position11352222222222222222221111112111111111
Source: [40]
W = Win; D = Draw; L = Loss

Football League Cup
See also: 1990–91 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.

Round DateOpponentsVenue ResultScoreScorers Attendance Ref
Second round
first leg		 25 September 1990Chester CityA W1–0Merson 59' 4,135 [41]
Second round
second leg		 9 October 1990Chester CityH W5–0Groves 10', 26' (2), Smith 41', Adams 67', Merson 83' 22,902 [42]
Third round 30 October 1990Manchester CityA W2–1Groves 50', Adams 64' 26,825 [43]
Fourth round 28 November 1990Manchester UnitedH L2–6Smith 48', 68' (2) 40,884 [44]

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

FA Cup
See also: 1990–91 FA Cup
Round DateOpponentsVenue ResultScoreScorers Attendance Ref
Third round 5 January 1991SunderlandH W2–1Smith, Limpar
Fourth round 27 January 1991Leeds UnitedH D0–0
Fourth round
replay		 30 January 1991Leeds UnitedA D1–1Limpar [45]
Fourth round
second replay		 13 February 1991Leeds UnitedH D0–0
Fourth round
third replay		 16 February 1991Leeds UnitedA W2–1Dixon, Merson
Fifth round 27 February 1991Shrewsbury TownA W1–0Thomas
Sixth round 9 March 1991Cambridge UnitedH W2–1Adams, Campbell
Semi-final 14 April 1991Tottenham HotspurN L1–3Smith 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

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

Pos. Nat. Name League FA Cup League Cup Total
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
GK England David Seaman 3808040500
DF England Nigel Winterburn 3808040500
DF England Lee Dixon 3858140506
DF England Tony Adams 3013142374
DF England Steve Bould 3808040500
DF England Andy Linighan 7 (3)03 (1)00010 (4)0
DF Republic of Ireland David O'Leary 11 (10)15 (1)0(1)016 (12)1
DF England Colin Pates (1)00000(1)0
MF England David Rocastle 13 (3)2(1)02015 (4)2
MF England David Hillier 9 (7)03 (1)02014 (8)0
MF Sweden Anders Limpar 32 (2)11522039 (2)13
MF England Paul Davis 36 (1)36 (1)04046 (2)3
MF England Michael Thomas 27 (4)2814037 (4)3
MF England Perry Groves 13 (19)33 (1)04020 (20)0
MF Iceland Sigurður Jónsson 20000020
FW England Paul Merson 36 (1)13814248 (1)16
FW England Alan Smith 35 (2)22824347 (2)27
FW England Kevin Campbell 15 (7)94 (2)1(4)019 (13)10
FW England Andy Cole (1)00000(1)0

Source: [1]

See also

References
  1. "Arsenal first team line up (1990–91)". The Arsenal History. Retrieved 17 February 2013. Note: Information is in the section 1990–91. Attendances of friendlies not taken into account in average.
  2. "Weekend results and goalscorers". The Times. London. 27 August 1990. p. 22.
  3. "Arsenal Continue Winning Ways Against Luton – aclfarsenal.co.uk". Archived from the original on 7 August 2019. Retrieved 7 August 2019.
  4. "Weekend football results and tables". The Times. London. 3 September 1990. p. 36.
  5. "Weekend results, goalscorers and tables". The Times. London. 10 September 1990. p. 38.
  6. "Weekend football results, goalscorers and tables". The Times. London. 17 September 1990. p. 43.
  7. "Weekend results, goalscorers and tables". The Times. London. 24 September 1990. p. 33.
  8. "Weekend results, goalscorers and tables". The Times. London. 1 October 1990. p. 36.
  9. "Weekend results, goalscorers and tables". The Times. London. 8 October 1990. p. 38.
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  11. "Weekend results, goalscorers and tables". The Times. London. 29 October 1990. p. 36.
  12. "Weekend results, goalscorers and tables". The Times. London. 5 November 1990. p. 34.
  13. "Weekend results and tables". The Times. London. 12 November 1990. p. 34.
  14. "Weekend results, goalscorers and tables". The Times. London. 19 November 1990. p. 34.
  15. "Weekend results, goalscorers and tables". The Times. London. 26 November 1990. p. 34.
  16. "Weekend results, goalscorers and tables". The Times. London. 3 December 1990. p. 33.
  17. "Weekend results, goalscorers and tables". The Times. London. 10 December 1990. p. 36.
  18. "Football results and tables". The Observer. London. 16 December 1990. p. 20.
  19. "Weekend results, tables and scorers". The Times. London. 24 December 1990. p. 26.
  20. "Yesterday's results, tables and goalscorers". The Times. London. 27 December 1990. p. 26.
  21. "Weekend results, tables and goalscorers". The Times. London. 31 December 1990. p. 28.
  22. "Yesterday's results, tables and goalscorers". The Times. London. 2 January 1991. p. 21.
  23. "Weekend results, tables and goalscorers". The Times. London. 14 January 1991. p. 32.
  24. "Weekend results and tables". The Times. London. 21 January 1991. p. 32.
  25. "Weekend football results and tables". The Times. London. 4 February 1991. p. 32.
  26. "Weekend results and tables". The Times. London. 25 February 1991. p. 34.
  27. "Weekend football results and tables". The Times. London. 4 March 1991. p. 32.
  28. "Weekend results and tables". The Times. London. 18 March 1991. p. 30.
  29. "For the record". The Times. London. 21 March 1991. p. 39.
  30. "Weekend football results and tables". The Times. London. 21 March 1991. p. 32.
  31. "Weekend football results and tables". The Times. London. 1 April 1991. p. 21.
  32. "For the record". The Times. London. 4 April 1991. p. 39.
  33. "Weekend football results and tables". The Times. London. 8 April 1991. p. 32.
  34. "Last night's results". The Times. London. 10 April 1991. p. 39.
  35. "Last night's results". The Times. London. 18 April 1991. p. 39.
  36. "For the record". The Times. London. 24 April 1991. p. 47.
  37. "Weekend football results and tables". The Times. London. 5 May 1991. p. 26.
  38. "For the record". The Times. London. 7 May 1991. p. 35.
  39. "Weekend football results and tables". The Times. London. 13 May 1991. p. 35.
  40. "Arsenal – 1990–91". Statto Organisation. Archived from the original on 1 November 2013. Retrieved 30 October 2013.
  41. "Last Night's Results". The Times. London. 26 September 1990. p. 43.
  42. "Last Night's Results". The Times. London. 10 October 1990. p. 47.
  43. "Last Night's Results". The Times. London. 31 October 1990. p. 43.
  44. "For the record". The Times. London. 29 November 1990. p. 43.
  45. Top 10 matches in Arsenal – Leeds United history – goal.com
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