1994–95 Arsenal F.C. season

The 1994–95 season was Arsenal Football Club's 69th consecutive season in the top flight of English football. Arsenal finished twelfth in the FA Premier League (known as the FA Carling Premiership for sponsorship reasons). Domestically, Arsenal went out in the third round of the FA Cup to Millwall and in the quarterfinals of the League Cup to Liverpool. Arsenal once again reached the final of the European Cup Winner's Cup but lost 1–2 to Real Zaragoza in extra time. Ian Wright was the club's top scorer.

Arsenal
1994–95 season
ChairmanPeter Hill-Wood
ManagerGeorge Graham (until 21 February)
Stewart Houston (caretaker from 21 February)
StadiumHighbury
Premiership12th
FA CupThird round
League CupQuarter–finals
Cup Winners' CupRunners-up
European Super CupRunners-up
Top goalscorerLeague: Wright (18)
All: Wright (30)
Average home league attendance35,330

Season summary edit

Arsenal finished 12th in the Premier League, their lowest finish since 1976. Arsenal scored in only one of their first five League matches, fell immediately to mid-table mediocrity and stayed there throughout the whole season.[1] Only six points stood between Arsenal and the relegation zone; they were 38 points behind the champions, Blackburn Rovers. Arsenal only scored 52 goals, with Ian Wright accounting for more than a third of those.

Arsenal hosted Queens Park Rangers on 31 December 1994. Danish midfielder John Jensen scored the goal for Arsenal in a 3–1 loss. It turned out to be his one and only goal for the club.[2]

On 18 January 1995 Arsenal were knocked out in the FA Cup in a third round replay by London rivals Millwall. A week earlier Arsenal were also knocked out of the League Cup in the Quarter-final to eventual winners Liverpool, and (as Cup Winners’ Cup holders) also lost the Super Cup Final to AC Milan. In a press conference Paul Merson had admitted an alcohol, cocaine and gambling addiction, and was sent to rehab. Merson eventually made his comeback on 1 February 1995, against AC Milan in the Super Cup at Highbury, coming on as a substitute to an unbelievable reception from the Arsenal fans.[3][4][5]

George Graham was sacked on 21 February 1995, and subsequently banned for a year from football by The FA after it was discovered he had accepted an illegal £425,000 payment from Norwegian agent Rune Hauge following Arsenal transfers John Jensen and Pål Lydersen in 1992, two of Hauge's clients.[6] For in his final weeks in charge (in the days before transfer windows had been imposed), Graham bought three new signings - designed, he hoped, to reinvigorate his jaded squad. In came John Hartson, Chris Kiwomya and Dutchman Glenn Helder. Yet between them they made fewer than 100 starts for the club (21 goals) before being quietly offloaded by the club over the next two years.

Graham's assistant Stewart Houston took over as manager until the end of the season. His first match in charge was, in the evening 21 February 1995 the same day Graham was sacked, against Nottingham Forest at Highbury, in a 1–0 victory. Despite winning his first two games in charge, he always seemed to be a stop-gap.[7] The changeover coincided with a run of 6 defeats in 7 games, leaving Arsenal in danger of being relegated just four years after winning the title and two years after their domestic cup double. However, the team rallied in the final weeks and took 8 points from their final 5 games, securing their Premier League spot.

Arsenal reached the European Cup Winners' Cup final for the second year in succession.

Bröndby and Omonia Nicosia were defeated in the opening rounds of the Cup Winners Cup, before a devastating left footed strike from Ian Wright eliminated French side Auxerre in the Quarter Final.

A pendulous 3-2 win over Sampdoria at Highbury, in which Steve Bould netted twice, set Houston`s team up for a nervy second leg at Stadio Luigi Ferraris. Roberto Mancini put Sampdoria ahead, before Ian Wright headed home an equaliser. Claudio Bellucci appeared to have broken Arsenal hearts with goals in the 84th and 87th minutes, but Stefan Schwarz`s last gasp free kick took the tie to extra time. David Seaman, playing with three broken ribs, was the hero saving three penalties in the shootout, Seaman denied Mihajlović, Jugović and Lombardo's kicks as the Gunners scraped through.[8]

In Paris at Parc des Princes Real Zaragoza won the final, after former Tottenham Hotspur-player Nayim lobbed Seaman from over 40 yards, in the last seconds of extra time.[9][10]

Final league table edit

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
10 Southampton 42 12 18 12 61 63 −2 54
11 Chelsea 42 13 15 14 50 55 −5 54
12 Arsenal 42 13 12 17 52 49 +3 51
13 Sheffield Wednesday 42 13 12 17 49 57 −8 51
14 West Ham United 42 13 11 18 44 48 −4 50
Source: Premier League
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored.

Results summary edit

Overall Home Away
Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts W D L GF GA GD W D L GF GA GD
42 13 12 17 52 49  +3 51 6 9 6 27 21  +6 7 3 11 25 28  −3

Last updated: 14 May 1995.
Source: Premier League

Results by round edit

Round123456789101112131415161718192021222324252627282930313233343536373839404142
GroundHAAHAHAHAHHAHAAHAAHHAHAHAHAHHAHAAAHAHHAHHA
ResultWLLDDLWLWWWDDLLDDWLDWLLDWDLDWWLLLLWLLWWDDL
Position26141312151414121191010101112121111119131313111011121089913141012121010101112
Updated to match(es) played on 14 May 1995. Source: Competitive Matches
A = Away; H = Home; W = Win; D = Draw; L = Loss

Squad edit

[11] Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
1 GK   ENG David Seaman
2 DF   ENG Lee Dixon
3 DF   ENG Nigel Winterburn
4 MF   ENG Paul Davis
5 DF   ENG Andy Linighan
6 DF   ENG Tony Adams
7 FW   ENG Kevin Campbell
8 FW   ENG Ian Wright
9 FW   ENG Alan Smith
10 MF   ENG Paul Merson
11 MF   IRL Eddie McGoldrick
12 DF   ENG Steve Bould
13 GK   ENG Vince Bartram
14 DF   ENG Martin Keown
15 MF   SWE Stefan Schwarz
16 FW   WAL John Hartson
No. Pos. Nation Player
17 MF   DEN John Jensen
18 MF   ENG David Hillier
19 MF   ENG Jimmy Carter
21 DF   NIR Steve Morrow
22 MF   ENG Ian Selley
23 MF   ENG Ray Parlour
24 FW   SCO Paul Dickov
25 MF   ENG Mark Flatts
26 GK   ENG Lee Harper
27 DF   SCO Scott Marshall
28 MF   ENG Paul Shaw
29 MF   ENG Stephen Hughes
30 MF   ENG Adrian Clarke
31 FW   ENG Chris Kiwomya
32 MF   NED Glenn Helder
33 DF   ENG Gavin McGowan

Left club during season edit

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
20 MF   NOR Pål Lydersen (to IK Start)

Squad statistics edit

As of 10 May 1995[12]
No. Pos Nat Player Total Premier League FA Cup League Cup UEFA Cup
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
1 GK   ENG David Seaman 48 0 31 0 2 0 6 0 9 0
2 DF   ENG Lee Dixon 55 1 39 1 2 0 5 0 9 0
3 DF   ENG Nigel Winterburn 55 0 39 0 2 0 5 0 9 0
4 MF   ENG Paul Davis 6 1 3+1 1 0 0 2 0 0 0
5 DF   ENG Andy Linighan 27 2 13+7 2 2 0 2 0 3 0
6 DF   ENG Tony Adams 40 4 27 3 0+1 0 4 1 8 0
7 FW   ENG Kevin Campbell 33 5 19+4 4 1+1 0 5 1 1+2 0
8 FW   ENG Ian Wright 45 30 30+1 18 2 0 3 3 9 9
9 FW   ENG Alan Smith 27 4 17+2 2 1 0 3 1 4 1
10 MF   ENG Paul Merson 34 7 24 4 0 0 2 1 8 2
11 MF   IRL Eddie McGoldrick 18 0 9+2 0 0 0 3+2 0 1+1 0
12 DF   ENG Steve Bould 43 2 30+1 0 1 0 5 0 5+1 2
13 GK   ENG Vince Bartram 12 0 11+0 0 0 0 0+1 0 0 0
14 DF   ENG Martin Keown 43 1 24+7 1 1+1 0 3+2 0 5 0
15 MF   SWE Stefan Schwarz 47 4 34 2 1 0 4 0 8 2
16 FW   WAL John Hartson 20 8 14+1 7 0 0 0 0 4+1 1
17 MF   DEN John Jensen 33 1 24 1 2 0 1+1 0 5 0
18 MF   ENG David Hillier 17 0 5+4 0 2 0 2 0 2+2 0
19 MF   ENG Jimmy Carter 3 0 2+1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
21 DF   NIR Steve Morrow 22 2 11+4 1 1 0 1+1 1 0+4 0
22 MF   ENG Ian Selley 17 1 10+3 0 0 0 3 0 1 1
23 MF   ENG Ray Parlour 45 0 22+8 0 2 0 5 0 7+1 0
24 FW   SCO Paul Dickov 13 3 4+5 0 0 0 2+2 3 0 0
25 MF   ENG Mark Flatts 4 0 1+2 0 0+1 0 0 0 0 0
28 MF   ENG Paul Shaw 1 0 0+1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
29 MF   ENG Stephen Hughes 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0
30 MF   ENG Adrian Clarke 1 0 0+1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
31 FW   ENG Chris Kiwomya 17 3 5+9 3 0 0 0 0 1+2 0
32 MF   NED Glenn Helder 13 0 12+1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
33 DF   ENG Gavin McGowan 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Results edit

Premier League edit

Matches edit

20 August 1994 1 Arsenal 3–0 Manchester City London
15:00 BST Campbell   2'
McMahon   36' (o.g.)
Wright   76'
Stadium: Highbury
Attendance: 38,368
23 August 1994 2 Leeds United 1–0 Arsenal Leeds
19:45 BST Whelan   89' Stadium: Elland Road
Attendance: 34,218
28 August 1994 3 Liverpool 3–0 Arsenal Liverpool
16:00 BST Fowler   26', 29', 31' Stadium: Anfield
Attendance: 30,017
31 August 1994 4 Arsenal 0–0 Blackburn Rovers London
19:45 BST Stadium: Highbury
Attendance: 37,629
10 September 1994 5 Norwich City 0–0 Arsenal Norwich
15:00 BST Stadium: Carrow Road
Attendance: 17,768
18 September 1994 6 Arsenal 2–3 Newcastle United London
15:00 BST Adams   9'
Wright   88'
  7', 45' Beardsley
  74' Fox
Stadium: Highbury
Attendance: 36,819
25 September 1994 7 West Ham United 0–2 Arsenal London
16:00 BST   18' Adams
  54' Wright
Stadium: Boleyn Ground
Attendance: 18,498
1 October 1994 8 Arsenal 1–2 Crystal Palace London
15:00 BST Wright   72'   19', 41' Salako Stadium: Highbury
Attendance: 34,136
8 October 1994 9 Wimbledon 1–3 Arsenal London
15:00 BST Jones   82'   11' Wright
  57' Smith
  65' Campbell
Stadium: Selhurst Park
Attendance: 10,842
15 October 1994 10 Arsenal 3–1 Chelsea London
15:00 BST Wright   39', 63'
Campbell   54'
  34' Wise Stadium: Highbury
Attendance: 38,234
23 October 1994 11 Arsenal 2–1 Coventry City London
15:00 BST Wright   13', 32'   81' Wegerle Stadium: Highbury
Attendance: 31,725
29 October 1994 12 Everton 1–1 Arsenal Liverpool
15:00 BST Unsworth   14'   24' Schwarz Stadium: Goodison Park
Attendance: 32,003
6 November 1994 13 Arsenal 0–0 Sheffield Wednesday London
15:00 GMT Stadium: Highbury
Attendance: 33,705
19 November 1994 14 Southampton 1–0 Arsenal Southampton
15:00 GMT Magilton   60' Stadium: The Dell
Attendance: 15,201
23 November 1994 15 Leicester City 2–1 Arsenal Leicester
19:45 GMT Dixon   16' (o.g.)
Lowe   28'
Report   19' (pen.) Wright Stadium: Filbert Street
Attendance: 20,774
26 November 1994 16 Arsenal 0–0 Manchester United London
15:00 GMT Stadium: Highbury
Attendance: 38,301
3 December 1994 17 Nottingham Forest 2–2 Arsenal Nottingham
15:00 GMT Pearce   36'
Roy   60'
  59' Keown
  76' Davis
Stadium: City Ground
Attendance: 21,662
12 December 1994 18 Manchester City 1–2 Arsenal Manchester
20:00 GMT Simpson   80'   31' Smith
  34' Schwarz
Stadium: Maine Road
Attendance: 20,500
17 December 1994 19 Arsenal 1–3 Leeds United London
15:00 GMT Linighan   86'   24', 85' Masinga
  88' Deane
Stadium: Highbury
Attendance: 38,098
26 December 1994 20 Arsenal 0–0 Aston Villa London
12:00 GMT Stadium: Highbury
Attendance: 34,452
28 December 1994 21 Ipswich Town 0–2 Arsenal Ipswich
19:45 GMT   16' Wright
  79' Campbell
Stadium: Portman Road
Attendance: 22,054
31 December 1994 22 Arsenal 1–3 Queens Park Rangers London
15:00 GMT Jensen   64'   3' Gallen
  76' Allen
  77' Impey
Stadium: Highbury
Attendance: 32,393
2 January 1995 23 Tottenham Hotspur 1–0 Arsenal London
19:45 GMT Popescu   22' Schwarz     Stadium: White Hart Lane
Attendance: 28,747
14 January 1995 24 Arsenal 1–1 Everton London
15:00 GMT Wright   4'   13' Watson Stadium: Highbury
Attendance: 34,743
21 January 1995 25 Coventry City 0–1 Arsenal Coventry
19:45 GMT   78' Hartson Stadium: Highfield Road
Attendance: 14,468
24 January 1995 26 Arsenal 1–1 Southampton London
19:45 GMT Hartson   21'   74' Magilton Stadium: Highbury
Attendance: 27,213
4 February 1995 27 Sheffield Wednesday 3–1 Arsenal Sheffield
15:00 GMT Petrescu   8'
Ingesson   25'
Bright   90'
  3' Linighan Stadium: Hillsborough
Attendance: 23,468
11 February 1995 28 Arsenal 1–1 Leicester City London
15:00 GMT Merson   52'   78' Draper Stadium: Highbury
Attendance: 31,373
21 February 1995 29 Arsenal 1–0 Nottingham Forest London
19:45 GMT Kiwomya   81' Stadium: Highbury
Attendance: 35,441
25 February 1995 30 Crystal Palace 0–3 Arsenal London
15:00 GMT   24' Merson
  39', 77' Kiwomya
Stadium: Selhurst Park
Attendance: 17,092
5 March 1995 31 Arsenal 0–1 West Ham United London
15:00 GMT   20' Hutchison Stadium: Highbury
Attendance: 36,295
8 March 1995 32 Blackburn Rovers 3–1 Arsenal Blackburn
19:45 GMT Shearer   4', 48'
Le Saux   18'
  49' Morrow Stadium: Ewood Park
Attendance: 23,452
19 March 1995 33 Newcastle United 1–0 Arsenal Newcastle upon Tyne
15:00 GMT Beardsley   89' Stadium: St James' Park
Attendance: 35,611
22 March 1995 34 Manchester United 3–0 Arsenal Manchester
20:00 GMT Hughes   26'
Sharpe   31'
Kanchelskis   80'
Stadium: Old Trafford
Attendance: 43,623
1 April 1995 35 Arsenal 5–1 Norwich City London
15:00 BST Hartson   4', 13'
Dixon   6'
Merson   75'
Newman   90' (o.g.)
  32' Cureton Stadium: Highbury
Attendance: 36,942
8 April 1995 36 Queens Park Rangers 3–1 Arsenal London
15:00 BST Impey   27'
Gallen   59'
Ready   82'
  89' Adams Stadium: Loftus Road
Attendance: 16,341
12 April 1995 37 Arsenal 0–1 Liverpool London
19:45 BST   90' Fowler Stadium: Highbury
Attendance: 38,036
15 April 1995 38 Arsenal 4–1 Ipswich Town London
15:00 BST Merson   33'
Wright   47', 50', 56'
  71' Marshall Stadium: Highbury
Attendance: 36,818
17 April 1995 39 Aston Villa 0–4 Arsenal Birmingham
15:00 BST Report   31', 87' Hartson
  33', 72' (pen.) Wright
Stadium: Villa Park
Attendance: 32,005
29 April 1995 40 Arsenal 1–1 Tottenham Hotspur London
15:00 BST Wright   61' (pen.) Report   74' Klinsmann Stadium: Highbury
Attendance: 39,377
4 May 1995 41 Arsenal 0–0 Wimbledon London
19:45 BST Stadium: Highbury
Attendance: 32,822
14 May 1995 42 Chelsea 2–1 Arsenal London
16:00 BST Furlong   20'
Stein   52'
  23' Hartson Stadium: Stamford Bridge
Attendance: 32,822

UEFA Cup Winners' Cup edit

First round

15 September 1994 1st Leg Omonia   1–3   Arsenal Nicosia
20:00 EEST Malekkos   72' Report   37', 80' Merson
  50' Wright
Stadium: Makario Stadium
Attendance: 13,954
Referee: Antonio Almeida Marcal (Portugal)
29 September 1994 2nd Leg Arsenal   3–0
(6–1 agg.)
  Omonia London
20:00 BST Wright   9', 70'
Schwarz   31'
Report Stadium: Highbury
Attendance: 24,165
Referee: Juan Ansuátegui Roca (Spain)

Second round

20 October 1994 1st Leg Brøndby   1–2   Arsenal Brøndby
20:00 CEST Strudal   53' Report   18' Wright
  21' Smith
Stadium: Brøndby Stadium
Attendance: 13,406
Referee: Werner Müller (Switzerland)
3 November 1994 2nd Leg Arsenal   2–2
(4–3 agg.)
  Brøndby London
20:00 GMT Wright   27'
Selley   46'
Report   3' Hansen
  71' Eggen
Stadium: Highbury
Attendance: 32,290
Referee: Sergei Khusainov (Russia)

Quarter-finals

2 March 1995 1st Leg Arsenal   1–1   Auxerre London
20:00 GMT Wright   60' Report   63' Verlaat Stadium: Highbury
Attendance: 35,208
Referee: Leif Sundell (Sweden)
16 March 1995 2nd Leg Auxerre   0–1
(1–2 agg.)
  Arsenal Auxerre
21:00 CEST Report   16' Wright Stadium: Stade de l'Abbé-Deschamps
Attendance: 22,000
Referee: Vadim Zhuk (Belarus)

Semi-finals

6 April 1995 1st Leg Arsenal   3–2   Sampdoria London
20:00 BST Bould   34', 36'
Wright   69'
Report   51', 77' Jugović Stadium: Highbury
Attendance: 38,100
Referee: Jaap Uilenberg (Netherlands)
20 April 1995 2nd Leg Sampdoria   3–2 (a.e.t.)
(5–5 agg.)
(2–3 p)
Arsenal Genoa
20:30 CEST Mancini   14'
Bellucci   82', 85'
Report   61' Wright
  88' Schwarz
Stadium: Stadio Luigi Ferraris
Attendance: 35,000
Referee: Gerd Grabher (Austria)
Penalties
Mihajlović  
Jugović  
Maspero  
Mannini  
Lombardo  
  Dixon
  McGoldrick
  Hartson
  Adams
  Merson

Final

10 May 1995 Arsenal   1–2 (a.e.t.)   Real Zaragoza Paris
20:15 CEST Hartson   75' Report   67' Esnáider
  119' Nayim
Stadium: Parc des Princes
Attendance: 43,000
Referee: Piero Ceccarini (Italy)

European Super Cup edit

1 February 1995 1st Leg Arsenal   0–0   AC Milan London
20:00 GMT Report Stadium: Highbury
Attendance: 38,044
Referee: Mario van der Ende (Netherlands)
8 February 1995 2nd Leg AC Milan   2–0
(2–0 agg.)
  Arsenal Milan
19:30 GMT Boban   41'
Massaro   67'
Reportt Stadium: San Siro
Attendance: 23,953
Referee: Hellmut Krug (Germany)

FA Cup edit

7 January 1995 R3 Millwall 0–0 Arsenal London
Report Stadium: The Den
Attendance: 17,718
Referee: Stephen Lodge
18 January 1995 R3 Replay Arsenal 0–2 Millwall London
Report   10' Beard
  90' Kennedy
Stadium: Highbury
Attendance: 32,319
Referee: Stephen Lodge

League Cup edit

21 September 1994 R2 1st Leg Hartlepool United 0–5 Arsenal Hartlepool
Report    Wright
  Adams
  Smith
  Merson
Stadium: Victoria Park
Attendance: 4,421
5 October 1994 R2 2nd Leg Arsenal 2–0
(7–0 agg.)
Hartlepool United London
Campbell   79'
Dickov   89'
Report Stadium: Highbury
Attendance: 20,520
26 October 1994 R3 Oldham Athletic 0–0 Arsenal Oldham
Report Stadium: Boundary Park
Attendance: 9,303
9 November 1994 R3 Replay Arsenal 2–0 Oldham Athletic London
Dickov   15', 40' Report Stadium: Highbury
Attendance: 22,746
30 November 1994 R4 Arsenal 2–0 Sheffield Wednesday London
Morrow  
Wright  
Report Stadium: Highbury
Attendance: 27,390
11 January 1995 R5 Liverpool 1–0 Arsenal Liverpool
Rush   59' Report Stadium: Anfield
Attendance: 35,026
Referee: Philip Don

References edit

  1. ^ Soar, Phil (2003). The Official Illustrated History of Arsenal. Hamlyn. p. 162.
  2. ^ "twitter.arsenal". 1 May 2022.
  3. ^ Arsenal Official Handbook 1995-96
  4. ^ "thearsenalhistory". 1 May 2022.
  5. ^ "millwall-deepen-arsenal-s-misery-". 19 January 1995.
  6. ^ "Football's original bung scandal". 20 September 2006.
  7. ^ Soar, Phil; Tyler, Martin (2003). The Official Illustrated History of Arsenal. Hamlyn. p. 164.
  8. ^ Official Arsenal Handbook 1994/95
  9. ^ "nayim-from-the-halfway-line". 1 May 2022.
  10. ^ The Official Illustrated History of Arsenal. Hamlyn. 2003.
  11. ^ "FootballSquads – Arsenal – 1994/95".
  12. ^ "All Arsenal players: 1995".