On a foggy and misty night at Highbury, 35,232 supporters turned up to see the Gunners turn in a mightily impressive performance against Sporting.
Midway through the first half, striker John Radford neatly controlled a pass from Bob McNab on the edge of the Sporting box and half-volleyed the Gunners ahead. Minutes later, an excellent pinpoint Jimmy Robertson cross was powerfully headed home by George Graham. The Scot, who’d become our manager in 1986, then stabbed home from close range in the second half to complete a comfortable 3-0 win on the night, and propel us forward in the competition.
“It was always an education to play teams like Sporting, who played in a continental style, and were very good passers of the ball,” recalled Radford, “but we used our strengths of close marking and aerial power very effectively.”
We would then defeat Rouen, Dinamo Bacau and Ajax, before beating Anderlecht 4-3 on aggregate in the final to secure our first European trophy.
by arsenal
5 Comments
This was 1 week after the second ever moon landing, the Apollo 12 mission. Tomorrow’s game is a week after the Artemis II mission to the moon.
Take us to the moon, COYG
Beating that Ajax side is probably the greatest two legged win we’ve ever had. That was a side that won the league unbeaten and maybe Dutch cup and won three European cups in a row.
Juventus 1980 semi final was a great side that made up the bulk of Italy World Cup winners in 82 but that Ajax side was the best ever club side alongside Milan late 80s and some version on Messi Barcelona imo.
Lamenting the loss of physical tickets whenever I see these posts
beautiful stuff
So cool, please keep doing these posts!