Flashback - Arsenal 3 Blackpool 1

Mon 13 Dec 1999
Arsenal v Blackpool Lost 3-1
Att; 34,143

A series of match reports which recall Blackpool's 3rd Round FA Cup tie defeat the last time they met Arsenal at the old Highbury ground.

THE GUARDIAN

"Gunners ruin Tangerine dream"

Thierry Henry races away from Clarke Carlisle

Sixty-nine years ago to the day Blackpool suffered their worst ever defeat, 10—1 to Huddersfield. Any thoughts that the record might be challenged by the mighty Arsenal were courageously dispelled by the struggling Second Division team last night.

Despite being outplayed for much of the evening, they managed a goal, restricted Arsenal to three and returned home with plenty of pride and fond memories. It was a brief opportunity for Blackpool to relive the halcyon days when Stanley Matthews roamed the wing and playing Arsenal was a common occurrence. In fact, in 1953 Blackpool won at Highbury on their way to the Matthews final, the only time they have won the Cup.

The Seasiders' fortunes have ebbed since. Thirty years of top-flight football ended in 1967 and, though the club made a brief return to the old First Division in 1970-71, the bottom two divisions have been Blackpool's home for the past two decades, the cauldron that was Bloomfield Road now a rusting hulk. Today the most famous name wearing the tangerine shirt is David Bardsley, the former QPR full-back who won two England caps under Graham Taylor. Average gates of 4,000 reflect a team sitting third from-bottom of the Second Division, for whom £200,000 from last night's gate receipts is a godsend.

So, when Arsenal, even without Dennis Bergkamp, Kanu, Martin Keown, David Seaman and Patrick Vieira, created four scoreable chances in the first 11 minutes, the signs looked ominous. Blackpool's keeper Tony Caig bravely blocked the first effort, a shot from Thierry Henry, then was nearly knocked into the net pushing Marc Overmars' 20-yard strike wide. But on 23 minutes Arsenal's superiority told as Overmars laid the ball back to Gilless Grimandi, who found the bottom corner from 20 yards. It was his third goal in three games. At this point the Gunners looked to be cruising but there is no room for complacency in these situations and Arsenal paid the price for forgetting. On 39 minutes Paul Beesley, the former Manchester City player, drove in a cross from the left and Phil. Clarkson nipped in front of Tony Adams to glance the ball classily past Alex Manninger for the equaliser.

The half-time chats would have made interesting listening. The Blackpool manager Nigel Worthington, once of Leeds and Sheffield Wednesday, no doubt appealed for more of the same, while Arsene Wenger appealed for less. Victories over lowly opposition are earned; they are not the natural result of superiority on paper or balance sheets and Arsenal emerged for the second half having heeded the message.

On 51 minutes Caig made another smart save to stop Henry's 20-yard free-kick and shortly afterwards the Frenchman diverted the ball over from Emmanuel Petit's cross. The inevitable arrived on 65 minutes when Arsenal regained the lead, though it took a series of mis-kicks to do so. Petit swung in a corner from the right, Henry half-connected with an overhead kick, the ball squjrted out to Overmars, his attempted shot inadvertently found Adams and the Arsenal skipper crashed the ball home from five yards to break the hearts of the 2,500 Blackpool fans who had travelled south.

Overmars added a third a minute from time and Arsenal now face either Leicester or Hereford in the next round.

Arsenal (4—4—2): Manninger; Dixon, Luzhny, Adams, Silvinho, Ljungberg (Hughes 72), Grimandi, Petit, Overmars; Henry, Suker (Kanu 72).

Blackpool (4—4—2): Caig; Bardsley, Carlisle, Hughes, Beesley; Lee, Bushel), Clarkson, Hills; Nowland, Murphy.

Referee: U Rennie (Sheffield).

THE TIMES

"Captain's first goal of season helps to account for gallant Blackpool"

"Adam' s steadies Arsenal's nerves"

Thierry Henry challenges the ball with David Bardsley

THE INDEPENDENT

"Overmars strikes to shatter dreams of brave Blackpool"

Phil Clarkson celebrates his equaliser

Football 365 report

Arsenal's Marc Overmars battles with Blackpool's David Lee