Feature

1992/93 FA Cup win

Honours Board - FA Cup final 1993

In It's an Honour, featured first in the official matchday programme, we're looking back at the seasons that have brought silverware to north London. We re-live the 1992/93 FA Cup win.

 Andy Linighan was the unlikely hero as his header in the dying moments beat Chris Woods to win the FA Cup to complete a unique domestic cup double.

The first match between Sheffield Wednesday and Arsenal had ended 1-1 after Ian Wright’s first-half strike was cancelled out by David Hirst. So the two sides returned to Wembley on Thursday evening for the third meeting between the teams at the national stadium that season after Arsenal had already beaten them in the Coca-Cola Cup final.

Wright again opened the scoring in the replay, finishing clinically for his 30th goal of the season, and 10th in the FA Cup run, on 33 minutes.

Again Wednesday struck back midway through the second half, this time through Chris Waddle. The game moved into extra-time and the tie looked certain to become the first ever FA Cup final to be decided by penalties.

 

Andy Linighan

Andy Linighan

 

But in the last minute Arsenal won a left wing corner. Paul Merson swung the ball in and Linighan, who had played with a broken nose since the 20th minute, rose to thump in a header through Woods’ hands.

It was virtually the last touch of the game and remains the latest goal ever scored in an FA Cup final. It was Arsenal’s fourth appearance at Wembley that season, including the semi-final victory over Tottenham. Tony Adams settled that match with a far post header from Merson’s free-kick.

Arsenal were the undisputed cup kings that season, becoming the first side to win both domestic cups in one season.

It also meant George Graham became the only person to have won all three major domestic honours as a player and manager at Arsenal.They scored 33 goals in 17 cup games but managed just 40 in the league to finish 10th.

FA Cup appearances: Adams 8, Dixon 8, Merson 8, Seaman 8, Winterburn 8, Linighan 7, Wright 7, Smith 5+2, Campbell 4+3, Hillier 4+1, Jensen 4, Parlour 4, Davis 3, Selley 3, Morrow 2+2, Limpar 2, O’Leary 1+3, Carter 1+1, Bould 1.

FA Cup goals: Wright 10, Adams 2, Merson 1, Linighan 1, Smith 1, Campbell 1, Parlour 1, Own goals 1.

Road to Wembley
Third round - Yeovil Town 1, Arsenal 3
Fourth round - Arsenal 2, Leeds United 2
Fourth round replay - Leeds United 2, Arsenal 3 (aet)
Fifth round - Arsenal 2, Nottm Forest 0
Sixth round - Ipswich Town 2, Arsenal 4
Semi-final - Tottenham 0, Arsenal 1

Final - May 15, 1993
Wembley Stadium
Att: 79,347
Arsenal 1, Sheffield Wednesday 1

Arsenal: Seaman, Dixon, Winterburn, Linighan, Adams, Davis, Jensen, Merson, Parlour (Smith), Campbell, Wright (O’Leary).

Replay - May 20, 1993
Wembley Stadium
Att: 62,267
Arsenal 2, Sheffield Wednesday 1 

Arsenal: Seaman, Dixon, Winterburn, Linighan, Adams, Davis, Jensen, Merson, Smith, Campbell, Wright (O’Leary).  

Also that season… FIFA introduced the new backpass rule, forbidding goalkeepers to pick up intentional backpasses, in an attempt to cut down on time-wasting and speed the game up.

And… Bill Clinton was sworn in elected as America’s President on January 20, 1993. He became the 42nd President, and served two terms in office.

 

Ian Wright in 1992

Ian Wright in 1992

 

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