This evening's fixture is Arsenal's 23rd League Cup Semi-Final match in the Club's existence. Semi-Finals in the competition have always been played on a two-leg basis, and this is the Gunners 11th appearance in the final four.
The full list of matches is as follows:
January 17, 1968 - Arsenal 3, Huddersfield Town 2
February 6, 1968 - Huddersfield Town 2, Arsenal 3
George Graham, John Radford and a rare Bob McNab strike gave the
Gunners a narrow lead from the first-leg but the one goal advantage
was more than enough as Jon Sammels, David Jenkins and Frank
McLintock grabbed three at Leeds Road, Huddersfield.
The Gunners lost the Wembley Final 1-0 to Leeds United, Tommy
Cooper notching the winner.
November 20, 1968 - Arsenal 1, Tottenham 0
December 4, 1968 - Tottenham 1, Arsenal 1
John Radford was the star for the Gunners, scoring
home and away against our north London rivals, in these
early-staged semis. In the Final the Gunners famously came unstuck
in the Wembley mud, losing 3-1 to Third Division Swindon Town after
extra-time.
February 7, 1978 - Liverpool 2, Arsenal 1
February 14, 1978 - Arsenal 0, Liverpool 0
Kenny Dalglish and former Gunner Ray Kennedy gave Liverpool a
crucial 2-1 victory at Anfield. Malcolm Macdonald notched for
Arsenal who were unable to find the net at Highbury in the return,
and lost their first ever League Cup Semi-Final. Liverpool lost the
Final to Nottingham Forest, 1-0 in a replayed fixture after an
initial 0-0 draw.
February 15, 1983 - Arsenal 2, Man United 4
February 23, 1983 - Man United 2, Arsenal 1
Arsenal succumbed to a Steve Coppell inspired United, the winger
scored twice at Highbury and once at Old Trafford. Tony Woodcock
and Charlie Nicholas scored in the first-leg; Raphael Meade in the
second. Liverpool beat United 2-1 in the Wembley Final to lift the
Milk Cup.
February 8, 1987 - Arsenal 0, Tottenham 1
March 1, 1987 - Tottenham 1, Arsenal 2
March 4, 1987 - Tottenham 1, Arsenal 2 (replay)
Arsenal had to win twice at White Hart Lane to get
to Wembley for the third time in this competition. Goals from Viv
Anderson and Niall Quinn, then Ian Allinson and David Rocastle in
the replay turned the tie around for George Graham's team. The
Gunners beat Liverpool 2-1 in the Final for the first League Cup
success; Charlie Nicholas grabbed both goals.
February 7, 1988 - Everton 0, Arsenal 1
February 24, 1988 - Arsenal 3, Everton 1
Perry Groves scored at Goodison Park to set Arsenal
on their way. Michael Thomas, David Rocastle and Alan Smith made
the tie safe at Highbury. The Gunners lost 3-2 to underdogs Luton
Town in the Final - Martin Hayes and Smith scoring for Arsenal.
February 7, 1993 - Crystal Palace 1, Arsenal 3
March 10, 1993 - Arsenal 2, Crystal Palace 0
The Gunners took control of the tie at Selhurst Park with Palace
old-boy Ian Wright and Alan Smith (2) scoring. Wright scored again
in the home-leg with Andy Linighan also on target. Arsenal claimed
their second title with a 2-1 Final win against Sheffield
Wednesday, the first part of a 'Cup Double'.
February 14, 1996 - Arsenal 2, Aston Villa 2
February 21, 1996 - Aston Villa 0, Arsenal 0
Dennis Bergkamp's two goals for Bruce Rioch's team
weren't enough as Aston Villa went through to the Final on away
goals after extra-time. Brian Little's Villa beat Leeds 3-0 in
the Final.
January 28, 1998 - Arsenal 2, Chelsea 1
February 18, 1998 - Chelsea 3, Arsenal 1
Marc Overmars and Stephen Hughes gave the Gunners a one goal
advantage, but Chelsea went one better at Stamford Bridge, despite
a Dennis Bergkamp penalty. Gianluca Vialli's team beat
Middlesbrough 2-0 in the Final, both goals coming in
extra-time.
January 20, 2004 - Arsenal 0, Middlesbrough 1
February 3, 2004 - Middlesbrough 2, Arsenal 1
Juninho scored at Highbury to give Boro the advantage. A Boudewijn
Zenden strike and Jose Antonio Reyes' own goal, could only be
countered by an Edu goal at the Riverside. Middlesbrough beat
Bolton 2-1 in the Final - their first ever major Cup success.
January 10, 2006 - Wigan 1, Arsenal 0
Paul Scharner scored on his debut to give Paul Jewell's team
the upper-hand. The match represented Wigan's first-ever
Semi-Final in a major cup competition.
