Morning all.
It’s FA Cup Final day today and I feel kind of sad that Arsenal aren’t in it. I think back to the days of Arsene Wenger and when Arsenal playing at Wembley was a regular thing. Seven of the fourteen FA Cup trophies Arsenal have in the trophy cabinet came during his time at the club. That number might not sound much considering he was at Arsenal for over twenty years but he’s still the record holder, as are Arsenal. Man United sit just behind us with thirteen.
Today sees Crystal Palace and Man City go head to head and of course, I’ll be routing for Palace.
As the league season drifts to its end, I thought about those FA Cup victories of ours and tried to decide which was my favourite and I think it’s a toss up between two. May 1971 and May 1998.
Charlie George, a 2-1 victory over Liverpool and one of the main reasons I latched onto Arsenal. My siblings were both Man Utd fans, mind you, we were all very young back then but clearly, I was the one born with more sense. Lol
So, bearing in mind we’re not at Wembley today, why not look back on the days we were and pick your favourite FA Cup Final victory.
Catch up in the comments.
On the shelf at the lane and then behind the goal at Wembley 1971 sticks out for me .
I’d have loved to have been there…
Real didn’t hang around with their deal for Huijsen. That’s the way to do transfers.
Close to the touchline at The Lane and behind the goal, where Charlie George scored at Wembley. Best ever final for me.
Morning Rico and all.
Celebrating? My eighty-second birthday today. St. Mary’s Hospital Paddington, early hours of the morning as the surviving Lancasters of 617 squadron were landing after the raid on the Rhur dams.
Morning Cicero, many happy returns. Still a spring chicken. 😜
No wonder you have so much Arsenal history in you, you’ve seen some of the worst and best of the club.
It was so much easier to watch a game back in the day, roll up to the turnstile pay your money and walk in. No Red, Silver or Gold memberships. Away games were the same. Five of us drove down to Cardiff one Saturday and walked into the ground, no segregation and the banter was was good, after the game we went to a local pub and had a good laugh with the Cardiff fans even though we had won.
Same at Maine Road, midweek game stood on the terrace mixed in with the City fans no trouble and another enjoyable evening.
At the 71 cup final as Liverpool scored two guys in front of me jumped, waving their arms and cheering. They stopped suddenly when they remembered they were in among the Arsenal fans, no trouble they were just told to shut up and enjoy the game.
The good old days..
So much has changed since and not much of it for the better…
Eighties football violence, Hillsborough, Heysel, fights at railway stations etc. Lead to fencing in the fans, segregation and all seater stadiums. Thus raising the cost of staging games in the face of smaller ground capacities and increased policing and stadium security.
That’s when I stopped going to football matches on a regular basis. Then it got too expensive anyway.
and Tv now.
Good Afternoon Rico and all.
FA Cup wins!!! Who doesn’t like them. I do and every season I look forward to it and get disappointed when we aren’t there. Thanks you for the nice post juggling our memories Rico. I would love us to beat the record by Wanderers of 5 consecutive seasons. Difficult but not impossible.
Cicero, you are about 7 months younger than Pa. so like him you have witnessed 12 wins. Arsenal have won 11 since I was born yet the first one I was still toddling around…magic for me began in 1979.
Pa’s favourite were always 2……1971 and 1979. I was playing on the floor when Charlie George scored the winner and just recollect the memory of my dad was jumping around (he was 29 back then) on the sofa. I looked at him but didnt know why he had gone mad. Then in 1979 we watched our first final together….I was 11 having had my birthday on that day. Although it was a present in itself its not my favourite. That honour goes to 2001/02 when we won against Chelsea 2-0 and then in 2014/15 against Villa winning 4-0.
As I said earlier, I look forward to us being in the final every year. And when we get ko it is gut wrenching whether we lose in the 3rd round or in the final. Granted, I have seen more wins in the FACups then losses, however, there are some losses which stick out…….Ipswich 78, WHU 80, Liverpool 2001…..I still feel that we lost those three finals not the opposition won them. All three games should have been won but for us not having the right attitude during the game.
Then there are other losses in earlier rounds….vs Walsall 1983 and against the spuds in 1991 stick out. I remember being mortified losing against Walsall at home.
I love the EPL title….but for me the FA cup is a very close 2nd…..and I just wish we are out of sight with regards cup wins. tbf we should have the ones mentioned above….so that makes it 3 more.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY CICERO.
This is for you
This is my 2nd favourite goal in FA Cup…..
And this is my top ever favourite…..
My favourite FA Cup team eleven (Only those who have won it count. And to warn you….TH14 is not in it lol) 4-3-2-1 formation
Seaman; Dixon, Adams, Cambell, Winterburn; Parlour, Vieira Cazorla; Bergkamp, Pires Wright.
Yes there are definitely better players…..but the above is my favourite FA Cup team. Wright would have a field day with Cazorla and Bergkamp……while everyone rests easy with that defence and keeper
I certainly would
Afternoon Devil, that “It’s only Ray Parlour” was a good one too.
Cicero, makes sense to me, what should have been a great day out each week, soon became very different and quite dangerous.
Lovely goal from Palace.
The kind of break away and finish I’d love Arsenal to be able to do. Simple football but just a joy to watch.
a former gunner has put Palace 1-0 up. Eberechi Eze I think was a former academy player
He was.
yes… Enze was a former gunner
Cazorla still playing in Real Oviedo (and score).