1989–90 Arsenal F.C. season

Arsenal's campaign to retain the Championship in 1989–90 began well once they recovered from a 4–1 drubbing by Manchester United on the opening day, and in November they were on top. But the signs were not good; few of their victories were comfortable. The 4–3 home victory over Norwich on the first Saturday of November was particularly uncomfortable. The game marked David O'Learys 622nd major match for Arsenal, a club record, and it was an eventful occasion. O'Leary scored an equaliser as Arsenal recovered from 3–1 down and was also shown the yellow card. Then a last-minute penalty which gave Arsenal victory sparked a fracas involving 19 players. Three weeks later the FA Disciplinary Committee fined Norwich £50.000 and Arsenal £20.000. It was the first time clubs had been responsible for their players in such an incident.{{Cite news |title=when-arsenal-and-norwich-shared-seven-goals-and-a-21-man-brawl |newspaper=The Guardian |date=July 2020 |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/that-1980s-sports-blog/2020/jul/01/when-arsenal-and-norwich-shared-seven-goals-and-a-21-man-brawl|last1=Pye |first1=Steven }}

Arsenal's wheels wobbled in the fourth round of the Littlewoods Cup in November. After a two-leg, 8–1 victory over Plymouth and a 1–0 victory over Liverpool at Highbury, a visit to Second Division Oldham did not seem so awesome. Yet they were beaten 3–1 and, from Christmas onwards, their season fell apart. Five out of six successive away games were lost, with only one goal scored.

Niall Quinn scored the winning goal against Stoke City in the FA-cup third round on 6 January 1990, which was to be his last game for Arsenal. After only 6 appearances in the League, Quinn left to join Manchester City for £700,000 in March 1990.{{Cite web |date=2023-10-02 |title=arsenal/historic/players/niall-quinn |url=https://www.arsenal.com/historic/players/niall-quinn}}

FA-cup defeat at Queens Park Rangers followed, David Rocastle and Michael Thomas suffered dramatic losses in form and the goals dried up for Alan Smith, only 10 compared to 23 the previous season. On the other hand, the introduction of Kevin Campbell was an exiting indication of the future.{{Cite book |last=Emery |first=David |title=Gunning for Glory |publisher=Simon & Schuster |year=1994}}

As Arsenal had seen before, winning the championship and retaining it were different propositions. A final position of fourth was no disgrace, but it was 17 points behind Liverpool F.C.{{Cite book |last=Soar & Tyler |title=The Official Illustrated History of Arsenal |publisher=Hamlyn |year=2003 |pages=147}}

Adams, Rocastle and Smith were all in Bobby Robsons preliminary squad to World Cup 1990. Adams was axed in preference to Mark Wright, Rocastle was excluded although he had played in five of England's six World Cup qualifying matches. Smith was omitted in favour of Steve Bull. The only Arsenal player to make an appearance in the World Cup 1990 was David O'Leary who scored the last decesive penalty that took Ireland to the quarter finals.

{{Cite book |last=Davies |first=Pete |title=All Played Out: The World Cup Finals 1990 |publisher=Arrow (A Division of Random House Group) |year=1990}}{{Cite web |title=ten-surprising-england-tournament-squad-selections |date=13 May 2016 |url=https://www.football365.com/news/ten-surprising-england-tournament-squad-selections}}{{Cite web |date=2023-10-01 |title=irelands-world-cup-joy-david-oleary-recalls-his-penalty-v-romania |url=https://www.skysports.com/football/news/12011/9889945/irelands-world-cup-joy-david-oleary-recalls-his-penalty-v-romania}}

{{main|1989 FA Charity Shield}}

As league champions, Arsenal contested the 1989 FA Charity Shield against Liverpool, who beat their local rivals Everton to win the 1989 FA Cup Final. Liverpool won the match on 12 August 1989 by 1–0 with a goal from Peter Beardsley.

{{football box collapsible

|round = FA Charity Shield

|date = 12 August 1989

|time =

|team1 = Liverpool

|score = 1–0

|report =

|team2 = Arsenal

|goals1 = Beardsley {{goal|32}}

|goals2 =

|stadium = Wembley Stadium

|location = London

|attendance = 63,149

|referee = Allan Gunn (Sussex)

|result = L

}}

{{main|1989–90 Football League First Division}}

{{:1989–90 Football League First Division|only_totals=y|showteam=ARS}}

{{football box collapsible

|round = 1

|date = 19 August 1989

|time =

|team1 = Manchester United

|score = 4–1

|report =

|team2 = Arsenal

|goals1 = Bruce {{goal|2}}
Hughes {{goal|63}}
Webb {{goal|79}}
McClair {{goal|83}}

|goals2 = Rocastle {{goal|22}}

|stadium = Old Trafford

|location = Manchester

|attendance =

|referee = David Hutchinson

|result = L

}}

{{football box collapsible

|round = 2

|date = 22 August 1989

|time =

|team1 = Arsenal

|score = 2–0

|report =

|team2 = Coventry City

|goals1 = Marwood {{goal|50}}
Thomas {{goal|84}}

|goals2 =

|stadium = Highbury

|location = London

|attendance =

|referee =

|result = W

}}

{{football box collapsible

|round = 3

|date = 26 August 1989

|time =

|team1 = Arsenal

|score = 0–0

|report =

|team2 = Wimbledon

|goals1 =

|goals2 =

|stadium = Highbury

|location = London

|attendance =

|referee =

|result = D

}}

{{football box collapsible

|round = 4

|date = 9 September 1989

|time =

|team1 = Arsenal

|score = 5–0

|report =

|team2 = Sheffield Wednesday

|goals1 = Merson
Adams
Marwood
Thomas
Smith

|goals2 =

|stadium = Highbury

|location = London

|attendance =

|referee =

|result = W

}}

{{football box collapsible

|round = 5

|date = 16 September 1989

|time =

|team1 = Nottingham Forest

|score = 1–2

|report =

|team2 = Arsenal

|goals1 = Parker

|goals2 = Merson
Marwood

|stadium = City Ground

|location = Nottingham

|attendance =

|referee =

|result = W

}}

{{football box collapsible

|round = 6

|date = 23 September 1989

|time =

|team1 = Arsenal

|score = 1–0

|report =

|team2 = Charlton Athletic

|goals1 = Marwood (pen)

|goals2 =

|stadium = Highbury

|location = London

|attendance =

|referee =

|result = W

}}

{{football box collapsible

|round = 7

|date = 30 September 1989

|time =

|team1 = Chelsea

|score = 0–0

|report =

|team2 = Arsenal

|goals1 =

|goals2 =

|stadium = Stamford Bridge

|location = London

|attendance =

|referee =

|result = D

}}

{{football box collapsible

|round = 8

|date = 14 October 1989

|time =

|team1 = Arsenal

|score = 4–0

|report =

|team2 = Manchester City

|goals1 = Groves (2)
Thomas
Merson

|goals2 =

|stadium = Highbury

|location = London

|attendance =

|referee =

|result = W

}}

{{football box collapsible

|round = 9

|date = 18 October 1989

|time =

|team1 = Tottenham Hotspur

|score = 2–1

|report =

|team2 = Arsenal

|goals1 = Samways
Walsh

|goals2 = Michael Thomas

|stadium = White Hart Lane

|location = London

|attendance =

|referee =

|result = L

}}

{{football box collapsible

|round = 10

|date = 21 October 1989

|time =

|team1 = Everton

|score = 3–0

|report =

|team2 = Arsenal

|goals1 = Nevin {{goal|39||82}}
McDonald {{goal|78}}

|goals2 =

|stadium = Goodison Park

|location = Liverpool

|attendance =

|referee =

|result = L

}}

{{football box collapsible

|round = 11

|date = 28 October 1989

|time =

|team1 = Arsenal

|score = 1–1

|report =

|team2 = Derby County

|goals1 = Smith

|goals2 = Goddard

|stadium = Highbury

|location = London

|attendance =

|referee =

|result = D

}}

{{football box collapsible

|round = 12

|date = 4 November 1989

|time =

|team1 = Arsenal

|score = 4–3

|report =

|team2 = Norwich City

|goals1 = Quinn {{goal|55}}
Dixon {{goal|60|pen.||90}}
O'Leary {{goal|78}}

|goals2 = Allen {{goal|19}}
Phillips {{goal|30}}
Sherwood {{goal|76}}

|stadium = Highbury

|location = London

|attendance =

|referee =

|result = W

}}

{{football box collapsible

|round = 13

|date = 11 November 1989

|time =

|team1 = Millwall

|score = 1–2

|report =

|team2 = Arsenal

|goals1 = Sheringham

|goals2 = Thomas
Quinn

|stadium = The Den

|location = London

|attendance =

|referee =

|result = W

}}

{{football box collapsible

|round = 14

|date = 18 November 1989

|time =

|team1 = Arsenal

|score = 3–0

|report =

|team2 = Queen's Park Rangers

|goals1 = Smith
Dixon (pen)
Jónsson

|goals2 =

|stadium = Highbury

|location = London

|attendance =

|referee =

|result = W

}}

{{football box collapsible

|round = 15

|date = 26 November 1989

|time =

|team1 = Liverpool

|score = 2–1

|report =

|team2 = Arsenal

|goals1 = McMahon {{goal|30}}
Barnes {{goal|65}}

|goals2 = Smith {{goal|79}}

|stadium = Anfield

|location = Liverpool

|attendance =

|referee =

|result = L

}}

{{football box collapsible

|round = 16

|date = 3 December 1989

|time =

|team1 = Arsenal

|score = 1–0

|report =

|team2 = Manchester United

|goals1 = Groves {{goal|15}}

|goals2 =

|stadium = Highbury

|location = London

|attendance =

|referee =

|result = W

}}

{{football box collapsible

|round = 17

|date = 9 December 1989

|time =

|team1 = Coventry City

|score = 0–1

|report =

|team2 = Arsenal

|goals1 =

|goals2 = Merson

|stadium = Highfield Road

|location = Coventry

|attendance =

|referee =

|result = W

}}

{{football box collapsible

|round = 18

|date = 16 December 1989

|time =

|team1 = Arsenal

|score = 3–2

|report =

|team2 = Luton Town

|goals1 = Smith
Merson
Marwood

|goals2 = Elstrup (2,1 pen)

|stadium = Highbury

|location = London

|attendance =

|referee =

|result = W

}}

{{football box collapsible

|round = 19

|date = 26 December 1989

|time =

|team1 = Southampton

|score = 1–0

|report =

|team2 = Arsenal

|goals1 = Rod Wallace

|goals2 =

|stadium = The Dell

|location = Southampton

|attendance =

|referee =

|result = L

}}

{{football box collapsible

|round = 20

|date = 30 December 1989

|time =

|team1 = Aston Villa

|score = 2–1

|report =

|team2 = Arsenal

|goals1 = Platt
Mountfield

|goals2 = Adams

|stadium = Villa Park

|location = Birmingham

|attendance =

|referee =

|result = L

}}

{{football box collapsible

|round = 21

|date = 1 January 1990

|time =

|team1 = Arsenal

|score = 4–1

|report =

|team2 = Crystal Palace

|goals1 = Smith (2)
Dixon
Adams

|goals2 = Pardew

|stadium = Highbury

|location = London

|attendance =

|referee =

|result = W

}}

{{football box collapsible

|round = 22

|date = 13 January 1990

|time =

|team1 = Wimbledon

|score = 1–0

|report =

|team2 = Arsenal

|goals1 = Bennett

|goals2 =

|stadium = Plough Lane

|location = London

|attendance =

|referee =

|result = L

}}

{{football box collapsible

|round = 23

|date = 20 January 1990

|time =

|team1 = Arsenal

|score = 1–0

|report =

|team2 = Tottenham Hotspur

|goals1 = Adams {{goal|64}}

|goals2 =

|stadium = Highbury

|location = London

|attendance =

|referee =

|result = W

}}

{{football box collapsible

|round = 24

|date = 17 February 1990

|time =

|team1 = Sheffield Wednesday

|score = 1–0

|report =

|team2 = Arsenal

|goals1 = Bould (o.g.)

|goals2 =

|stadium = Hillsborough Stadium

|location = Sheffield

|attendance =

|referee =

|result = L

}}

{{football box collapsible

|round = 25

|date = 27 February 1990

|time =

|team1 = Charlton Athletic

|score = 0–0

|report =

|team2 = Arsenal

|goals1 =

|goals2 =

|stadium = Selhurst Park

|location = London

|attendance =

|referee =

|result = D

}}

{{football box collapsible

|round = 26

|date = 3 March 1990

|time =

|team1 = Queen's Park Rangers

|score = 2–0

|report =

|team2 = Arsenal

|goals1 = Wilkins
Wegerle

|goals2 =

|stadium = Loftus Road

|location = London

|attendance =

|referee =

|result = L

}}

{{football box collapsible

|round = 27

|date = 7 March 1990

|time =

|team1 = Arsenal

|score = 3–0

|report =

|team2 = Nottingham Forest

|goals1 = Groves
Adams
Campbell

|goals2 =

|stadium = Highbury

|location = London

|attendance =

|referee =

|result = W

}}

{{football box collapsible

|round = 28

|date = 10 March 1990

|time =

|team1 = Manchester City

|score = 1–1

|report =

|team2 = Arsenal

|goals1 = White

|goals2 = Marwood

|stadium = Maine Road

|location = Manchester

|attendance =

|referee =

|result = D

}}

{{football box collapsible

|round = 29

|date = 17 March 1990

|time =

|team1 = Arsenal

|score = 0–1

|report =

|team2 = Chelsea

|goals1 =

|goals2 = Bumstead {{goal|63}}

|stadium = Highbury

|location = London

|attendance =

|referee =

|result = L

}}

{{football box collapsible

|round = 30

|date = 24 March 1990

|time =

|team1 = Derby County

|score = 1–3

|report =

|team2 = Arsenal

|goals1 = Briscoe

|goals2 = Hayes (2)
Campbell

|stadium = Baseball Ground

|location = Derby

|attendance =

|referee =

|result = W

}}

{{football box collapsible

|round = 31

|date = 31 March 1990

|time =

|team1 = Arsenal

|score = 1–0

|report =

|team2 = Everton

|goals1 = Smith {{goal|21}}

|goals2 =

|stadium = Highbury

|location = London

|attendance =

|referee =

|result = W

}}

{{football box collapsible

|round = 32

|date = 11 April 1990

|time =

|team1 = Arsenal

|score = 0–1

|report =

|team2 = Aston Villa

|goals1 =

|goals2 = Price {{goal|85}}

|stadium = Highbury

|location = London

|attendance =

|referee =

|result = L

}}

{{football box collapsible

|round = 33

|date = 14 April 1990

|time =

|team1 = Crystal Palace

|score = 1–1

|report =

|team2 = Arsenal

|goals1 = Gray

|goals2 = Hayes

|stadium = Selhurst Park

|location = London

|attendance =

|referee =

|result = D

}}

{{football box collapsible

|round = 34

|date = 18 April 1990

|time =

|team1 = Arsenal

|score = 1–1

|report =

|team2 = Liverpool

|goals1 = Merson {{goal|40}}

|goals2 = Barnes {{goal|86}}

|stadium = Highbury

|location = London

|attendance =

|referee =

|result = D

}}

{{football box collapsible

|round = 35

|date = 21 April 1990

|time =

|team1 = Luton Town

|score = 2–0

|report =

|team2 = Arsenal

|goals1 = Dowie
Black

|goals2 =

|stadium = Kenilworth Road

|location = Luton

|attendance =

|referee =

|result = L

}}

{{football box collapsible

|round = 36

|date = 28 April 1990

|time =

|team1 = Arsenal

|score = 2–0

|report =

|team2 = Millwall

|goals1 = Davis
Merson

|goals2 =

|stadium = Highbury

|location = London

|attendance =

|referee =

|result = W

}}

{{football box collapsible

|round = 37

|date = 2 May 1990

|time =

|team1 = Arsenal

|score = 2–1

|report =

|team2 = Southampton

|goals1 = Dixon (pen)
Rocastle

|goals2 = Horne

|stadium = Highbury

|location = London

|attendance = 26,685

|referee =

|result = W

}}

{{football box collapsible

|round = 38

|date = 5 May 1990

|time =

|team1 = Norwich City

|score = 2–2

|report =

|team2 = Arsenal

|goals1 = Bowen {{goal|13}}
Fox {{goal|45}}

|goals2 = Smith {{goal|44||77}}

|stadium = Carrow Road

|location = Norwich

|attendance =

|referee =

|result = D

}}

{{main|1989–90 Football League Cup}}

{{football box collapsible

|round = Second round
(1st Leg)

|date = 19 September 1989

|time =

|team1 = Arsenal

|score = 2–0

|report =

|team2 = Plymouth Argyle

|goals1 = Smith, o.g.

|goals2 =

|location = London

|stadium = Highbury

|attendance = 26,865

|referee =

|result = W

}}

{{football box collapsible

|round = Second round
(2nd Leg)

|date = 3 October 1989

|time =

|team1 = Plymouth Argyle

|score = 1–6

|aggregatescore = 1–8

|report =

|team2 = Arsenal

|goals1 =

|goals2 = Thomas (3), Groves, Smith, o.g.

|location = Plymouth

|stadium = Hope Park

|attendance = 17,360

|referee =

|result = W

}}

{{football box collapsible

|round = Third round

|date = 25 October 1989

|time =

|team1 = Arsenal

|score = 1–0

|report =

|team2 = Liverpool

|goals1 = Smith {{goal|80}}

|goals2 =

|location = London

|stadium = Highbury

|attendance = 40,814

|referee =

|result = W

}}

{{football box collapsible

|round = Fourth round

|date = 22 November 1989

|team1 = Oldham Athletic

|score = 3–1

|report =

|team2 = Arsenal

|goals1 = Ritchie (2)
Henry

|goals2 = Quinn {{goal|90}}

|location = Oldham

|stadium = Boundary Park

|attendance = 14,924

|referee =

|result = L

}}

{{see also|1989–90 FA Cup}}

Arsenal entered the FA Cup in the third round proper, in which they were drawn to face Stoke City.

{{football box collapsible

|round = Third round

|date = 6 January 1990

|time =

|team1 = Stoke City

|score = 0–1

|report =

|team2 = Arsenal

|goals1 =

|goals2 = Quinn

|location = Stoke on Trent

|stadium = Victoria Ground

|attendance = 23,827

|referee =

|result = W

}}

{{football box collapsible

|round = Fourth round

|date = 27 January 1990

|time =

|team1 = Arsenal

|score = 0–0

|report =

|team2 = Queen's Park Rangers

|goals1 =

|goals2 =

|location = London

|stadium = Highbury

|attendance = 43,483

|referee =

|result = D

}}

{{football box collapsible

|round = Fourth round
replay

|date = 31 January 1990

|time =

|team1 = Queen's Park Rangers

|score = 2–0

|report =

|team2 = Arsenal

|goals1 = Sansom, Sinton

|goals2 =

|location = London

|stadium = Loftus Road

|attendance = 21,547

|referee =

|result = L

}}

{{Fs start}}

{{Fs player|no=|nat=ENG|pos=GK|name=John Lukic}}

{{Fs player|no=|nat=ENG|pos=DF|name=Lee Dixon}}

{{Fs player|no=|nat=ENG|pos=DF|name=Nigel Winterburn}}

{{Fs player|no=|nat=ENG|pos=MF|name=Michael Thomas}}

{{Fs player|no=|nat=ENG|pos=DF|name=Tony Adams|other=captain}}

{{Fs player|no=|nat=IRL|pos=DF|name=David O'Leary}}

{{Fs player|no=|nat=ENG|pos=MF|name=David Rocastle}}

{{Fs player|no=|nat=ENG|pos=MF|name=Kevin Richardson}}

{{Fs player|no=|nat=ENG|pos=FW|name=Paul Merson}}

{{Fs player|no=|nat=ENG|pos=FW|name=Alan Smith}}

{{Fs player|no=|nat=ENG|pos=MF|name=Brian Marwood}}

{{Fs mid}}

{{Fs player|no=|nat=ENG|pos=MF|name=Perry Groves}}

{{Fs player|no=|nat=ENG|pos=DF|name=Steve Bould}}

{{Fs player|no=|nat=ENG|pos=FW|name=Kevin Campbell}}

{{Fs player|no=|nat=ENG|pos=MF|name=Paul Davis}}

{{Fs player|no=|nat=ENG|pos=MF|name=Martin Hayes}}

{{Fs player|no=|nat=ENG|pos=DF|name=Gus Caesar}}

{{Fs player|no=|nat=IRL|pos=FW|name=Niall Quinn}}

{{Fs player|no=|nat=ISL|pos=MF|name=[[Sigurður Jónsson (footballer)|

Sigurdur Jonsson]]}}

{{Fs player|no=|nat=ENG|pos=DF|name=Colin Pates}}

{{Fs player|no=|nat=ENG|pos=MF|name=Kwame Ampadu}}

{{Fs end}}

• {{flagicon|ENG}} Alan Smith 10
• {{flagicon|ENG}} Paul Merson 7
• {{flagicon|ENG}} Brian Marwood 6
• {{flagicon|ENG}} Michael Thomas 5
• {{flagicon|ENG}} Tony Adams 5
• {{flagicon|ENG}} Lee Dixon 5

{{Portal|English football}}

• 1989–90 in English football
• List of Arsenal F.C. seasons

{{reflist}}

{{Arsenal F.C. seasons}}

{{1989–90 in English football}}

{{Use British English|date=September 2010}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:1989-90 Arsenal F.C. season}}

Arsenal

Category:Arsenal F.C. seasons