Into the 90s: Arsenal v Coventry (1993)

Opening league matches were becoming an issue for Arsenal as the Division One evolved into the Premier League. Since winning the league title so memorably at Anfield in May 1989, the club had suffered from first day nerves, losing 4-1 at Old Trafford, scraping a draw at home against QPR, and being humiliated by Norwich at Highbury.

But surely the 1993/94 campaign would be different. Starting the season at home against Bobby Gould's Coventry, the 4/1 odds on an away victory highlighted the difficulty of the task ahead for the Sky Blues. Graham's team may have developed into a cup team - the first to win both domestic cups in the same season in 1992/93 - yet some experts wondered if Arsenal were ready for another tilt at the title.

Golden goals: David Narey (1982)

If you are going to score one goal at international level then you might as well make it special. Argentina's Jose Luis Brown scoring in the 1986 World Cup takes some beating, yet there could be honourable mentions for many others, such as Kieran Trippier (World Cup semi-final), Scotland's Gary Mackay helping Ireland reach Euro 88, and the general hilarity of Davide Gualtieri's sole strike for San Marino.

Another player who can be added to this list is Scotland's David Narey. The fact that Narey scored his only international goal at the 1982 World Cup finals is part of the reason it is so memorable. Add into the mix that Narey scored a screamer against Brazil and it is obvious why it the goal is still talked about. But it was also the response to Narey's moment of glory that made an impact.

Into the 90s: Arsenal v Parma (1994)

Wonderful, Wonderful Copenhagen. As thousands upon thousands of Arsenal fans took planes, trains and automobiles (and possibly boats) to reach the Danish capital for the 1994 European Cup Winners' Cup final against Italian club Parma, could the club end their 24-year wait for a European trophy?

It was clear to see why Ladbrokes had Arsenal priced at 3/1 to win against their expensively assembled opponents. Already without the suspended Ian Wright, George Graham's preparations would be hit further when Martin Keown, John Jensen, and David Hillier were then ruled out through injury.

Into the 90s: Arsenal v PSG (1994)

The European Cup Winners' Cup may have become a victim of the Champions League expansion in the late 1990s, but there could be no questioning the quality of the tournament prior to this money motivated move.

Just look at the class of the clubs alongside Arsenal in the 1993/94 tournament: Real Madrid, Ajax, Parma, Torino, Bayer Leverkusen, Benfica and Paris Saint Germain highlighted just how difficult it would be for Arsenal to lift the trophy.

1987 FA Cup: Leeds

The 1980s had not been a kind decade for supporters of Leeds United. Relegated from the top flight in the 1981/82 season, the glory days of the recent past were fading. But come the 1986/87 campaign, there was a glimmer of light. 

Challenging for promotion via the new play-off system, there was also a welcome distraction with an FA Cup run that saw Billy Bremner's side march on to the semi-finals for the first time in ten years. Whereas club legends Allan Clarke and Eddie Gray had tried and failed before him, Bremner appeared to have found a recipe for success during a thrilling season.

1987 League Cup final: Arsenal v Liverpool

"He's the Bonnie Prince this afternoon". The words of the excellent Barry Davies at the conclusion of the 1987 League Cup final were typically well chosen. For on that glorious sunny Sunday April 5 at Wembley, Charlie Nicholas delivered on the biggest stage. Arsenal's eight year wait for a trophy was over.

In truth, Nicholas' time at Arsenal had not lived up to the excitement and hype that surrounded his move from Celtic in 1983. Occasionally there were glimpses of his magic - happily for Arsenal fans he often saved his best for Tottenham - but generally his performances were as inconsistent as the team during the Terry Neill and Don Howe reigns.

During George Graham's first season in charge, there were constant murmurings that Nicholas' days at the club were numbered. A player that hardly fitted into the Graham mould of energy and hard work, Nicholas would indeed depart for Aberdeen in January 1988. Yet before Nicholas left he would provide Arsenal fans with an ideal parting gift.

1981/82 FA Cup: Chelsea v Wrexham

It's all just a little bit of history repeating. As Chelsea travel to Wales to take on Wrexham in the FA Cup fifth round it is interesting to revisit their last meeting in the competition. In 1982, Nottingham Forest and Hull City had been knocked out of the FA Cup by Wrexham and Chelsea respectively, as they have in 2026. But after a closer inspection, this coincidence is possibly where the similarities end.

Before their meeting in the 1982 FA Cup fourth round, the financial state of both clubs was as far removed from the current situation as possible. Both Division Two clubs were facing huge debts. With Chelsea reportedly £1.6 million in the red, the future of Stamford Bridge was in doubt as property developers hovered. Relegation-threatened Wrexham would spend the rest of the decade merely trying to survive.