History

44. Graham's Gunners conquer France

Arsenal v France - 1989

Arsenal beat French national side in 1989

When England beat Italy 3-2 at Highbury in 1934, many people remarked that the scoreline should have read Arsenal 3 Italy 2 as Arsenal had a record-breaking seven players in the victorious England line-up that night.

In 1989 however, Arsenal went one better — beating France 2-0.

The line-up read: Lukic, Dixon, Winterburn, Thomas, O’Leary (Bould), Adams, Richardson, Smith (Quinn), Merson, Marwood (Hayes).

A certain Eric Cantona was in the French side that evening and ex-Liverpool boss Gerard Houllier was the technical director under manager Michel Platini. Goals from Alan Smith and Martin Hayes gave George Graham’s side victory.

Incidentally, in 1904, Arsenal played a Parisian select XI, which was widely believed to be the French national side, and won a staggering 26-1!