1990–91 Arsenal F.C. season


The 1990–91 season was the 93rd season of competitive football played by Arsenal.
Arsenal finished the season as league champions for the second time in three seasons, losing just one of their 38 league games.
The season began with two major signings at Highbury. After more than a year of trying, Arsenal finally landed goalkeeper David Seaman from QPR before the start of the season. Arsenal's previous first choice goalkeeper John Lukic was sold to newly promoted Leeds United. Swedish winger Anders Limpar was signed from Italian side Cremonese, quickly prompting the departure of two other players in the same position - Brian Marwood and Martin Hayes. Manager George Graham also strengthened his defence with a move for Norwich defender Andy Linighan, although Linighan was not a regular player in his first season at Highbury. Making their debuts this season were midfielder David Hillier and striker Andy Cole. Although Cole made just one appearance for Arsenal this season as a substitute, Hillier played 22 games in all competitions and picked up a league title medal.
The season began with a 3–0 away win over Wimbledon, followed by a 2–1 home win over Luton Town. This good form continued and by the end of October, Arsenal were unbeaten in the league, along with defending champions Liverpool and North London rivals Tottenham in what was beginning to look like a very exciting title race. Tottenham soon fell away in the league, however, and so for much of the season it appeared likely that it would be a two horse race for the title between Arsenal and Liverpool.
On 20 October, Arsenal travelled to Old Trafford for a league match with Manchester United, which they won 1–0, but the match was marred by a 21-player brawl which resulted in Arsenal being deducted two points and their opponents one point.
Arsenal's League Cup hopes ended on 28 November when they lost 6–2 at home to Manchester United in the fourth round. Four days later however, Arsenal beat Liverpool 3–0 in the league at Highbury, ending the visiting side's unbeaten start to the league campaign, although they did not overtake Kenny Dalglish's men and go top of the league until the new year.
On 19 December, the club was stunned when captain Tony Adams was jailed for four months for following a car crash. Adams was released after two months behind bars, during which Arsenal suffered their only league defeat of the season - a 2–1 defeat at Chelsea in their 24th game. Before the end of the February, the title race was thrown into fresh uncertainty when Kenny Dalglish suddenly announced his resignation as manager of Liverpool, who were the only remaining serious threat to Arsenal's lead of the First Division. Ronnie Moran was placed in temporary charge until the arrival of Graeme Souness two months later, but by then Arsenal were looking all set for the league title.
Confirmation of Arsenal's league title triumph finally came in their penultimate game of the season, on 6 May, when they triumphed 3–1 at home to Manchester United in a match where top scorer Alan Smith scored a hat-trick. Anders Limpar then scored a hat-trick in Arsenal's final fixture, a 6–1 victory over Coventry City at Highbury.
Arsenal had also been in contention for the double, which would have made them the only team in English football to have won the double twice, but these hopes ended in the semi-final at Wembley, where they beaten 3-1 by Tottenham, who went on to win the trophy for a record eighth time.

Pre-season and friendlies

Source:

Football League First Division

DateOpponentsVenueResultScore
F–A		ScorersAttendanceRef
25 August 1990WimbledonAW3–0Merson 57', Smith 59', Groves 90'13,733
29 August 1990Luton TownHW2–1Merson 37', Thomas 69'32,723
1 September 1990Tottenham HotspurHD0–040,009
8 September 1990EvertonAD1–1Groves 58'29,919
15 September 1990ChelseaHW4–1Limpar 52', Dixon 58', Merson 62', Rocastle 73'40,475
22 September 1990Nottingham ForestAW2–0Limpar 28', Rocastle 83'26,013
29 September 1990Leeds UnitedAD2–2Limpar 39', 50' 30,085
6 October 1990Norwich CityHW2–0Davis 26', 31' 36,737
20 October 1990Manchester UnitedAW1–0Limpar 42'47,232
27 October 1990SunderlandHW1–0Dixon 75' 38,485
3 November 1990Coventry CityAW2–0Limpar 83', 88' 15,336
10 November 1990Crystal PalaceAD0–028,282
17 November 1990SouthamptonHW4–0Merson 21', Limpar 33', Smith 37', 59' 36,229
24 November 1990Queens Park RangersAW3–1Merson 78', Smith 84', Campbell 86'18,555
2 December 1990LiverpoolHW3–0Merson 21', Dixon 47', Smith 88'40,419
8 December 1990Luton TownAD1–1Smith 44'12,506
15 December 1990WimbledonHD2–2Merson 31', Adams 35'30,164
23 December 1990Aston VillaAD0–022,687
26 December 1990Derby CountyHW3–0Smith 4', 77', Merson 26'25,558
29 December 1990Sheffield UnitedHW4–1Dixon 50', Thomas 70', Smith 84', 86' 37,810
1 January 1991Manchester CityAW1–0Smith 59'30,579
12 January 1991Tottenham HotspurAD0–034,753
19 January 1991EvertonHW1–0Merson 47'35,349
2 February 1991ChelseaAL1–2Smith 89'29,094
23 February 1991Crystal PalaceHW4–0O'Leary 3', Merson 41', Smith 60', Campbell 61'42,162
3 March 1991LiverpoolAW1–0Merson 66'37,221
17 March 1991Leeds UnitedHW2–0Campbell 77', 86' 26,218
20 March 1991Nottingham ForestHD1–1Campbell 32'34,152
23 March 1991Norwich CityAD0–020,131
30 March 1991Derby CountyAW2–0Smith 7', 84' 18,397
3 April 1991Aston VillaHW5–0Campbell 37', 84', Davis 55', Smith 59', 61' 41,868
6 April 1991Sheffield UnitedAW2–0Campbell 10', Smith 73'26,920
9 April 1991SouthamptonAD1–1Smith 74'21,200
17 April 1991Manchester CityHD2–2Campbell 5', Merson 14'38,412
23 April 1991Queens Park RangersHW2–0Dixon 58', Merson 72'42,393
4 May 1991SunderlandAD0–022,606
6 May 1991Manchester UnitedHW3–1Smith 19', 41, 58' 40,229
11 May 1991Coventry CityHW6–1Peake, 13' o.g., Limpar 31', 79', 86', Smith 77', Groves 90'41,039

Classification

Round by round

Football League Cup

Arsenal entered the Football League Cup in the second round, where they were drawn against Chester City in a two-legged tie.
RoundDateOpponentsVenueResultScoreScorersAttendanceRef
Second round
first leg		25 September 1990Chester CityAW1–0Merson 59'4,135
Second round
second leg		9 October 1990Chester CityHW5–0Groves 10', 26', Smith 41', Adams 67', Merson 83'22,902
Third round30 October 1990Manchester CityAW2–1Groves 50', Adams 64'26,825
Fourth round28 November 1990Manchester UnitedHL2–6Smith 48', 68' 40,884

Colour key: Green = Arsenal win; Yellow = draw; Red = opponents win. Arsenal score ordered first.

FA Cup

RoundDateOpponentsVenueResultScoreScorersAttendanceRef
Third round5 January 1991SunderlandHW2–1Smith, Limpar
Fourth round27 January 1991Leeds UnitedHD0–0
Fourth round
replay		30 January 1991Leeds UnitedAD1–1Limpar
Fourth round
second replay		13 February 1991Leeds UnitedHD0–0
Fourth round
third replay		16 February 1991Leeds UnitedAW2–1Dixon, Merson
Fifth round27 February 1991Shrewsbury TownAW1–0Thomas-
Sixth round9 March 1991Cambridge UnitedHW2–1Adams, Campbell
Semi-final14 April 1991Tottenham HotspurNL1–3Smith77,893

Colour key: Green = Arsenal win; Yellow = draw; Red = opponents win. Arsenal score ordered first.

Squad statistics

Arsenal used a total of 19 players during the 1990–91 season and there were nine different goalscorers. There were also two squad members who did not make a first-team appearance in the campaign. Seaman, Winterburn, Dixon and Bould started in all 38 league matches. The team scored a total of 86 goals in all competitions. The top goalscorer was Smith, with 28 goals – 22 of which were scored in the league.
;Key
No. = Squad number
Pos = Playing position
Nat. = Nationality
Apps = Appearances
GK = Goalkeeper
DF = Defender
MF = Midfielder
FW = Forward
Numbers in parentheses denote appearances as substitute. Players with name struck through and marked left the club during the playing season.
Source: