Top Fives: Celebrations - No 1 Ian Wright

This summer on Arsenal.com, the fans are choosing their favourite Arsenal moments from the Premier League era.

Supporters have cast their votes in 10 categories - now it's time to reveal the results.

Our final poll focuses on Arsenal's finest CELEBRATIONS with expert analysis from former Gunner Perry Groves and Arsenal.com Managing Editor Richard Clarke.

In first place with 38 per cent of the vote is Ian Wright's celebration after breaking Cliff Bastin's Club goalscoring record in September 1997.

Read on for the story of that celebration and click here to watch video footage on Arsenal TV Online's Facebook page.

WRIGHT v BOLTON (H) 13-09-1997
On a day when Highbury celebrated Ian Wright breaking Cliff Bastin's record, no one celebrated louder than the man himself.

'Wrighty' was the ultimate predator - it's hard to think of a more natural finisher in the Club's history. And by the start of the 1997/98 season he was just four shy of Bastin's Club tally of 178.

Unusually the goals dried up for Wright as history beckoned but, when Bolton visited on September 13, the Arsenal fans finally witnessed what they had been waiting for.

Bolton took a shock lead at Highbury but, 20 minutes in, Wright latched onto a pass and drove firmly past Keith Branagan into the bottom corner. No doubt relieved to end his barren run, Wright pulled off his shirt to reveal the message: '179 - Just Done It'. In fact, it was goal No 178.

The T-shirt would get a more timely airing just five minutes later.

Dennis Bergkamp made inroads into the Bolton defence, Patrick Vieira challenged for a loose ball and, with the keeper stranded, Wright had a tap-in from no more than five yards. Of all his 179 goals for Arsenal, it was probably the simplest.

Cue pandemonium at Highbury. The whole Arsenal side rushed to congratulate the Club's new record goalscorer and the home fans gave the striker an ovation which lasted long after Bolton were ready to restart the game.

Typically, Wright went on to claim a hat-trick as Arsène Wenger's side ran out 4-1 winners.

[Friday, July 30, 2010]

Print this page Email to a friend