by Tony Attwood
This article updated 17 October
28 September 2002. Leeds 1 Arsenal 4
Some matches are remembered because they produced exciting, winning football. This was one of those.
Some matches are remembered for a new man’s wonderful first ever game. This was one of those.
Some matches are remembered for their place in history – and this was one of those too.
In this game against Leeds, Arsenal beat Nottingham Forest’s old record of 22 away games without defeat and Chesterfield’s record (created in 1929/30 and thought of until just a few weeks before this match as utterly unbeatable) of scoring in 47 consecutive league games. And the football was magnificent.
Of course no one knows the future, and those of us at the game enjoyed the fun, and the tumbling records. But it was only a short time hence – on 19 October – that the away record ended with a 2-1 defeat at Everton and our challenge for the league took a knock in the next game – a home defeat by Blackburn.
So we ended the season second, when we thought we might well win it. But on 7 May we beat Southampton at home, and that started a record of a totally new variety.
However, back to this game. And it was he that scored the record breaking goal. What a way to start.
Seaman
Lauren Campbell Cygan Cole
Toure Vieira Gilberto Wiltord
Kanu Henry
The goal scorers were Kanu on 9 minutes and 86 minutes, Kolo Toure on 20 and of course Thierry Henry on 46 within seconds of the kick off.
Before the game Arsène Wenger said this would be the toughest outing of the season thus far, but it never looked remotely tough. It was the Unbeaten team in preparation; awesomely fast amazingly accurate, and we had now broken the all-time Football League record for scoring in consecutive matches.
Dennis Bergkamp and Martin Keown had been injured in the previous game away to PSV Eindhoven which was how it was that Kanu and Pascal Cygan played. Toure replaced Freddie Ljungberg who had just played three in a row after his hip injury and needed a break.
Of course no one knows the future, and those of us at the game enjoyed the fun, and the tumbling records in the expectation that anything was possible.
But on 19 October 2002 the away record ended with a 2-1 defeat at Everton and our challenge for the league took a knock in the next game – a home defeat by Blackburn. Yet Arsenal bounced back, and not only did we win the FA Cup, but on 7 May just before that game, we beat Southampton at home, and that started a record of a totally new variety.
See also…
- The Anniversary Files: January to June
- The Anniversary Files: July to September
- The Anniversary Files: October to December
The books…
- Woolwich Arsenal: The club that changed football – Arsenal’s early years
- Making the Arsenal – how the modern Arsenal was born in 1910
- The Crowd at Woolwich Arsenal FC: crowd behaviour at the early matches
However, back to this game.
I recall that the 4th goal was made by Pennant, on as a substitute, with a long diagonal pass to Kanu. Am I correct?
Tony
Kanu started in 1999. Andy’s stats site shows he had played approx 100 games before this one for The Arsenal.
Mark
Tony,
Kanu started in the second half of the 1998-99 season.
Scored the winner in the 1999 FA Cup Quarter Final.
Remember that flick over Luke Young to clinch a 3-1 win at Spurs, late in the season?
Howabout the goal in the final league game which ‘could’ have resulted in us winning the last Title of the 20th Century?
Have you been on the beer and curry again?
Kanu joined Arsenal in January 1999 & his first game ( which as at the last time I checked is what the word “debut” means) is remembered for him continuing play from a throw-in meant to be handed to the opponent for fair play. That resulted in a goal and the got a mouthful from his opponent. That was in an FA cup tie. His league debut would have come in 1999 I believe because he scored his famous hat trick in 1999 against Chelsea. He went to the African nations cup in feb 2000 as the African player of the year on d back of his impressive performances for arsenal where he was scoring goals and creating them. he played jn the uefa cup final defeat to fenerbache in 2000 (or 2001 i cant remember but certainly not 2002). HE COULD NOT HAVE MADE HIS DEBUT IN 2002.
Is this thread taking place in a parallel world?
Kanu appeared in the 2000 UEFA Cup Final against Galatasaray, not Fenerbahçe.
If this site’s ambition is to maintain and record the accurate history of Arsenal, it is falling well short. Very Poor.
Lee and Jamie.
Agree, Site also got the birthday for Eddie Hapgood incorrect last week. Shocking.
Lee, the aim of the site has been clearly outlined both on the home page and elsewhere for some time. To help you find it a copy has also been placed at the top of each of the anniversary pages.
To clarify, Kanu’s first match was 13 Feb 99 against Sheffield United.