Today’s Anniversary: we won the cup against Man U

The 12 May 1979 FA Cup Final is regarded, not just by Arsenal fans, as one of the great games and certainly one of the most exciting FA Cup Finals.

For 85 minutes we played them off the park.  It wasn’t sensational football – it was effective football with moments of fun and the enjoyment of being comfortably in command throughout.

Talbot and Stapleton scored, although I seem to remember Talbot getting a bit uptight that no one ran to congratulate him.

McQueen scored on 86 minutes, and all Arsenal had to do was hold on and get through the remaining few minutes.   Two minutes on, McIlroy found his way through and equalised.

United supporters celebrated as if they had just beaten us 10-0, but then Sunderland got his goal, and we were there.  It was the only trophy Terry Neill won as a manager.  But that was one better than the United manager Dave Sexton.

The team was

Jennings

Rice  O’Leary Young Nelson

Rix Price Talbot Brady

Sunderland Stapleton

Sub: Walford

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Woolwich Arsenal, the club that changed football.  Final call for sponsorsUpdated information here

When Arsenal and Fulham were within moments of merging into one club… full details in “Making the Arsenal”

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A tribute to Pat Rice from the Arsenal History Society

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2 Replies to “Today’s Anniversary: we won the cup against Man U”

  1. I remember going crazy in front of our TV as it was a game that was broadcast at our national TV.

    Just a few months after seeing them lose against Wolves in Highbury (our first ever game) on Saturday we had seen that on monday evening they had to play for the FA cup away to Nottingham forrest. In the hotel where we stayed we looked at MOTD and Jimmy Hill produced the show. I remember that Arsenal won 0-1 (memory test) and that the only goal was scored from a close header right in front of the Arsenal supporters.

    After the final they asked the manager (I think – didn’t know him at all to be honest in those days without internet….) and they asked when did you feel that your name was on the cup (as the expression was) and he said after that win at Nottingham Forrest he had that feeling that it could be our year.

    Sweet memories…. Just wonder if they are correct…

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