Flashback: Fenerbahce 0-0 Arsenal - 1979

Fenerbahce 0-0 Arsenal
European Cup Winners Cup, Round 1 (2nd Leg) - October 3, 1979
Attendance 40,000

Pre-match telegram from The Clock End to the team and management

To: Mr T. Neill / D. Howe of The Arsenal Football Club
c/o Hilton Hotel (Istanbul)

From all of us who stand in The Clock End who cannot be with you tonight (worst luck), we wish you the very best of luck (although we hope you don't need any).

We are with you in spirit, and Radio 2, if not in person.

So "Go Go Gunners" give 'em hell! 

What the "Daily Telegraph" thought of Istanbul - By Robert Oxby (October 1979)
Arsenal's arrival in the second round of the European Cup Winners' Cup shows that their team - a blend of experienced and young players - have reached a peak of maturity.

Their goalless draw with Fenerbahce at the Inonu Stadium in Istanbul took them through 2-0 on aggregate and their performance was wholly admirable, both in skill and behaviour.

As they expected, they were subjected to intimidation by the Turkish players and, in front of a frantic 40,000 crowd, they simply walked away from any threat of trouble.

The slightest retaliation could have inflamed the volatile crowd and the presence of hundreds of armed soldiers - who jogged ominously round the perimeter with bayonets fixed - emphasised how potentially explosive the situation was.

Arsenal, greeted with total hostility, showed stoical calm, considerable skill, and a willingness to work for each other, reminiscent of Liverpool in their best European days.

It would easy be to complain that Frank Stapleton might have headed three goals, but the object of the exercise was to hold on to the Highbury lead and not to concede a goal which would have given the Turks survival.

Sir Stanley Rous, the former President of F.I.F.A., who was at the match, told me: 'This was one of the best away performances I have seen from a British Club and the absence of trouble reflects on Arsenal and on the Italian referee.'

Pat Rice, the captain, and Pat Jennings, the Northern Ireland international goalkeeper, who have played through so many European campaigns, agreed that the team had given a 'near perfect performance'.

For this, Hollins, Brady, Rix and Talbot who dominated the mid-field throughout, deseve much praise. All of them, and even the strikers, Sunderland and Stapleton, were always ready to help out the defence.

Arsenal Jennings, Rice, Nelson, Talbot, O'Leary, Young, Brady, Sunderland, Stapleton, Hollins, Rix. 

[Monday, October 20, 2008]

Print this page Email to a friend