ARSENAL 2 CITY 1
Barclays League Division 1
31st August 1991
attendance 35,009
scorers
City Brightwell(30)
Arsenal Smith(46), Limpar(78)
ref Brian Hill
City Coton, Hill, Pointon, Reid, Curle, Redmond, white, Brightwell, Quinn, Megson, Brennan – subs Sheron(unused), Hendry(unused)
Arsenal Seaman, Dixon, Winterburn, Thomas, Linighan, Adams, Rocastle, Davis, Smith, Merson, Limpar – Subs Pates, Campbell
FROM THE PRESS BOX
FROM PAUL HINCE’S MATCH REPORT IN THE MANCHESTER EVENING NEWS FOOTBALL PINK FINAL 31ST AUGUST 1991
Battling Manchester City matched Arsenal stride for stride in a pulsating tussle at baking hot Highbury today.
Arsenal were shaken rigid when the bubbly Blues took the lead with a rare goal after 32 minutes from Ian Brightwell following fine work by Niall Quinn, who dominated in the air throughout despite 24 stitches in a mouth wound.
The Gunners, however, came out fighting in the second half to equalise through striker Alan Smith whose mis-hit shot took a cruel deflection off the legs of skipper Keith Curle to leave the brilliant Tony Coton full length and helpless.
… Twelve minutes from time the Gunners burst forward to take the lead.
The goal climaxed an astonishing sequence with Coton pulling off a miracle save to deny substitute Campbell, only for Rocastle’s follow-up shot to smash against the bar. But it was third time lucky for Arsenal with the rebound falling straight at the feet of Limpar who crashed an unstoppable shot into the roof of the net.
