Gunners' Greatest 50 Moments

Tont Adams scores against Everton

GGM 13: Emphatic win seals Wenger's first title

Eyebrows were raised when Arsenal appointed the relative unknown Arsène Wenger as manager in September 1996.

Yet just 10 months later the Frenchman had moulded a squad capable of challenging Manchester United's stranglehold on the Premiership.

Bolstered by shrewd signings such as Emmanuel Petit, Marc Overmars and Nicolas Anelka, Wenger and Arsenal were set for an all-out assault on the 1997/98 title.

Success looked unlikely when the Gunners were plagued by inconsistency early on in the campaign. A 3-1 home defeat to Blackburn on December 13 was the nadir, but also the catalyst for a 26-match unbeaten run which brought the Premiership trophy to Highbury for the first time. 

An Petit-inspired victory over Derby County on April 29 left the Gunners needing just three points from their remaining three games. But with tough trips to Anfield and Villa Park to follow, the visit of Everton to Highbury on May 3 was crucial.

Toffees defender Slaven Bilic headed into his own net early on before two Marc Overmars strikes all but secured the title. A carnival atmosphere began to spread but the season's most memorable moment was yet to come.

With seconds remaining on the clock, veteran centre-back Tony Adams burst forward from well inside the Arsenal half. Racing on to a pass from defensive partner Steve Bould, the captain chested the ball down and rammed an unstoppable left-foot shot into the corner. Four-nil.

Arsenal were champions again.

[Sunday, August 05, 2007]

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