1994–95 Arsenal F.C. season

Arsenal

1994–95 season
Chairman	Peter Hill-Wood
Manager	George Graham (until 21 February) Stewart Houston (caretaker from 21 February)
Stadium	Highbury
Premiership	12th
FA Cup	Third round
League Cup	Quarter–finals
Cup Winners' Cup	Runners-up
European Super Cup	Runners-up
Top goalscorer	League: Wright (18) All: Wright (30)
Average home league attendance	35,330
Home colours Away colours Third colours
← 1993–94 1995–96 →

The 1994–95 season was Arsenal Football Club's 69th consecutive season in the top flight of English football. Arsenal finished twelfth in the FA Premier League (known as the FA Carling Premiership for sponsorship reasons). Domestically, Arsenal went out in the third round of the FA Cup to Millwall and in the quarterfinals of the League Cup to Liverpool. Arsenal once again reached the final of the European Cup Winner's Cup but lost 1–2 to Real Zaragoza in extra time. Ian Wright was the club's top scorer.

Season summary

Arsenal finished 12th in the Premier League, their lowest finish since 1976. Arsenal scored in only one of their first five League matches, fell immediately to mid-table mediocrity and stayed there throughout the whole season.^[1] Only six points stood between Arsenal and the relegation zone; they were 38 points behind the champions, Blackburn Rovers. Arsenal only scored 52 goals, with Ian Wright accounting for more than a third of those.

Arsenal hosted Queens Park Rangers on 31 December 1994. Danish midfielder John Jensen scored the goal for Arsenal in a 3–1 loss. It turned out to be his one and only goal for the club.^[2]

On 18 January 1995 Arsenal were knocked out in the FA Cup in a third round replay by London rivals Millwall. A week earlier Arsenal were also knocked out of the League Cup in the Quarter-final to eventual winners Liverpool, and (as Cup Winners’ Cup holders) also lost the Super Cup Final to AC Milan. In a press conference Paul Merson had admitted an alcohol, cocaine and gambling addiction, and was sent to rehab. Merson eventually made his comeback on 1 February 1995, against AC Milan in the Super Cup at Highbury, coming on as a substitute to an unbelievable reception from the Arsenal fans.^[3][4][5]

George Graham was sacked on 21 February 1995, and subsequently banned for a year from football by The FA after it was discovered he had accepted an illegal £425,000 payment from Norwegian agent Rune Hauge following Arsenal transfers John Jensen and Pål Lydersen in 1992, two of Hauge's clients.^[6] For in his final weeks in charge (in the days before transfer windows had been imposed), Graham bought three new signings - designed, he hoped, to reinvigorate his jaded squad. In came John Hartson, Chris Kiwomya and Dutchman Glenn Helder. Yet between them they made fewer than 100 starts for the club (21 goals) before being quietly offloaded by the club over the next two years.

Graham's assistant Stewart Houston took over as manager until the end of the season. His first match in charge was, in the evening 21 February 1995 the same day Graham was sacked, against Nottingham Forest at Highbury, in a 1–0 victory. Despite winning his first two games in charge, he always seemed to be a stop-gap.^[7] The changeover coincided with a run of 6 defeats in 7 games, leaving Arsenal in danger of being relegated just four years after winning the title and two years after their domestic cup double. However, the team rallied in the final weeks and took 8 points from their final 5 games, securing their Premier League spot.

Arsenal reached the European Cup Winners' Cup final for the second year in succession.

Bröndby and Omonia Nicosia were defeated in the opening rounds of the Cup Winners Cup, before a devastating left footed strike from Ian Wright eliminated French side Auxerre in the Quarter Final.

A pendulous 3-2 win over Sampdoria at Highbury, in which Steve Bould netted twice, set Houston`s team up for a nervy second leg at Stadio Luigi Ferraris. Roberto Mancini put Sampdoria ahead, before Ian Wright headed home an equaliser. Claudio Bellucci appeared to have broken Arsenal hearts with goals in the 84th and 87th minutes, but Stefan Schwarz`s last gasp free kick took the tie to extra time. David Seaman, playing with three broken ribs, was the hero saving three penalties in the shootout, Seaman denied Mihajlović, Jugović and Lombardo's kicks as the Gunners scraped through.^[8]

In Paris at Parc des Princes Real Zaragoza won the final, after former Tottenham Hotspur-player Nayim lobbed Seaman from over 40 yards, in the last seconds of extra time.^[9][10]

Final league table

Results summary

Results by round

Squad

^[11] Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player 1 GK  ENG David Seaman 2 DF  ENG Lee Dixon 3 DF  ENG Nigel Winterburn 4 MF  ENG Paul Davis 5 DF  ENG Andy Linighan 6 DF  ENG Tony Adams 7 FW  ENG Kevin Campbell 8 FW  ENG Ian Wright 9 FW  ENG Alan Smith 10 MF  ENG Paul Merson 11 MF  IRL Eddie McGoldrick 12 DF  ENG Steve Bould 13 GK  ENG Vince Bartram 14 DF  ENG Martin Keown 15 MF  SWE Stefan Schwarz 16 FW  WAL John Hartson

No. Pos. Nation Player 17 MF  DEN John Jensen 18 MF  ENG David Hillier 19 MF  ENG Jimmy Carter 21 DF  NIR Steve Morrow 22 MF  ENG Ian Selley 23 MF  ENG Ray Parlour 24 FW  SCO Paul Dickov 25 MF  ENG Mark Flatts 26 GK  ENG Lee Harper 27 DF  SCO Scott Marshall 28 MF  ENG Paul Shaw 29 MF  ENG Stephen Hughes 30 MF  ENG Adrian Clarke 31 FW  ENG Chris Kiwomya 32 MF  NED Glenn Helder 33 DF  ENG Gavin McGowan

Left club during season

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player 20 MF  NOR Pål Lydersen (to IK Start)

Squad statistics

As of 10 May 1995^[12]

No.	Pos	Nat	Player	Total		Premier League		FA Cup		League Cup		UEFA Cup
				Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
1	GK	ENG	David Seaman	48	0	31	0	2	0	6	0	9	0
2	DF	ENG	Lee Dixon	55	1	39	1	2	0	5	0	9	0
3	DF	ENG	Nigel Winterburn	55	0	39	0	2	0	5	0	9	0
4	MF	ENG	Paul Davis	6	1	3+1	1	0	0	2	0	0	0
5	DF	ENG	Andy Linighan	27	2	13+7	2	2	0	2	0	3	0
6	DF	ENG	Tony Adams	40	4	27	3	0+1	0	4	1	8	0
7	FW	ENG	Kevin Campbell	33	5	19+4	4	1+1	0	5	1	1+2	0
8	FW	ENG	Ian Wright	45	30	30+1	18	2	0	3	3	9	9
9	FW	ENG	Alan Smith	27	4	17+2	2	1	0	3	1	4	1
10	MF	ENG	Paul Merson	34	7	24	4	0	0	2	1	8	2
11	MF	IRL	Eddie McGoldrick	18	0	9+2	0	0	0	3+2	0	1+1	0
12	DF	ENG	Steve Bould	43	2	30+1	0	1	0	5	0	5+1	2
13	GK	ENG	Vince Bartram	12	0	11+0	0	0	0	0+1	0	0	0
14	DF	ENG	Martin Keown	43	1	24+7	1	1+1	0	3+2	0	5	0
15	MF	SWE	Stefan Schwarz	47	4	34	2	1	0	4	0	8	2
16	FW	WAL	John Hartson	20	8	14+1	7	0	0	0	0	4+1	1
17	MF	DEN	John Jensen	33	1	24	1	2	0	1+1	0	5	0
18	MF	ENG	David Hillier	17	0	5+4	0	2	0	2	0	2+2	0
19	MF	ENG	Jimmy Carter	3	0	2+1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
21	DF	NIR	Steve Morrow	22	2	11+4	1	1	0	1+1	1	0+4	0
22	MF	ENG	Ian Selley	17	1	10+3	0	0	0	3	0	1	1
23	MF	ENG	Ray Parlour	45	0	22+8	0	2	0	5	0	7+1	0
24	FW	SCO	Paul Dickov	13	3	4+5	0	0	0	2+2	3	0	0
25	MF	ENG	Mark Flatts	4	0	1+2	0	0+1	0	0	0	0	0
28	MF	ENG	Paul Shaw	1	0	0+1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
29	MF	ENG	Stephen Hughes	0	1	0	1	0	0	0	0	0
30	MF	ENG	Adrian Clarke	1	0	0+1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
31	FW	ENG	Chris Kiwomya	17	3	5+9	3	0	0	0	0	1+2	0
32	MF	NED	Glenn Helder	13	0	12+1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
33	DF	ENG	Gavin McGowan	1	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0

Results

Premier League

Matches

Arsenal v Manchester City

20 August 1994 1	Arsenal	3–0	Manchester City	London
15:00 BST	Campbell 2' McMahon 36' (o.g.) Wright 76'			Stadium: Highbury Attendance: 38,368

Leeds United v Arsenal

23 August 1994 2	Leeds United	1–0	Arsenal	Leeds
19:45 BST	Whelan 89'			Stadium: Elland Road Attendance: 34,218

Liverpool v Arsenal

28 August 1994 3	Liverpool	3–0	Arsenal	Liverpool
16:00 BST	Fowler 26', 29', 31'			Stadium: Anfield Attendance: 30,017

Arsenal v Newcastle United

18 September 1994 6	Arsenal	2–3	Newcastle United	London
15:00 BST	Adams 9' Wright 88'		7', 45' Beardsley 74' Fox	Stadium: Highbury Attendance: 36,819

West Ham United v Arsenal

25 September 1994 7	West Ham United	0–2	Arsenal	London
16:00 BST			18' Adams 54' Wright	Stadium: Boleyn Ground Attendance: 18,498

Arsenal v Crystal Palace

1 October 1994 8	Arsenal	1–2	Crystal Palace	London
15:00 BST	Wright 72'		19', 41' Salako	Stadium: Highbury Attendance: 34,136

Wimbledon v Arsenal

8 October 1994 9	Wimbledon	1–3	Arsenal	London
15:00 BST	Jones 82'		11' Wright 57' Smith 65' Campbell	Stadium: Selhurst Park Attendance: 10,842

Arsenal v Chelsea

15 October 1994 10	Arsenal	3–1	Chelsea	London
15:00 BST	Wright 39', 63' Campbell 54'		34' Wise	Stadium: Highbury Attendance: 38,234

Arsenal v Coventry City

23 October 1994 11	Arsenal	2–1	Coventry City	London
15:00 BST	Wright 13', 32'		81' Wegerle	Stadium: Highbury Attendance: 31,725

Everton v Arsenal

29 October 1994 12	Everton	1–1	Arsenal	Liverpool
15:00 BST	Unsworth 14'		24' Schwarz	Stadium: Goodison Park Attendance: 32,003

Southampton v Arsenal

19 November 1994 14	Southampton	1–0	Arsenal	Southampton
15:00 GMT	Magilton 60'			Stadium: The Dell Attendance: 15,201

Leicester City v Arsenal

23 November 1994 15	Leicester City	2–1	Arsenal	Leicester
19:45 GMT	Dixon 16' (o.g.) Lowe 28'	Report	19' (pen.) Wright	Stadium: Filbert Street Attendance: 20,774

Nottingham Forest v Arsenal

3 December 1994 17	Nottingham Forest	2–2	Arsenal	Nottingham
15:00 GMT	Pearce 36' Roy 60'		59' Keown 76' Davis	Stadium: City Ground Attendance: 21,662

Manchester City v Arsenal

12 December 1994 18	Manchester City	1–2	Arsenal	Manchester
20:00 GMT	Simpson 80'		31' Smith 34' Schwarz	Stadium: Maine Road Attendance: 20,500

Arsenal v Leeds United

17 December 1994 19	Arsenal	1–3	Leeds United	London
15:00 GMT	Linighan 86'		24', 85' Masinga 88' Deane	Stadium: Highbury Attendance: 38,098

Ipswich Town v Arsenal

28 December 1994 21	Ipswich Town	0–2	Arsenal	Ipswich
19:45 GMT			16' Wright 79' Campbell	Stadium: Portman Road Attendance: 22,054

Arsenal v Queens Park Rangers

31 December 1994 22	Arsenal	1–3	Queens Park Rangers	London
15:00 GMT	Jensen 64'		3' Gallen 76' Allen 77' Impey	Stadium: Highbury Attendance: 32,393

Tottenham Hotspur v Arsenal

2 January 1995 23	Tottenham Hotspur	1–0	Arsenal	London
19:45 GMT	Popescu 22'		Schwarz	Stadium: White Hart Lane Attendance: 28,747

Arsenal v Everton

14 January 1995 24	Arsenal	1–1	Everton	London
15:00 GMT	Wright 4'		13' Watson	Stadium: Highbury Attendance: 34,743

Coventry City v Arsenal

21 January 1995 25	Coventry City	0–1	Arsenal	Coventry
19:45 GMT			78' Hartson	Stadium: Highfield Road Attendance: 14,468

Arsenal v Southampton

24 January 1995 26	Arsenal	1–1	Southampton	London
19:45 GMT	Hartson 21'		74' Magilton	Stadium: Highbury Attendance: 27,213

Sheffield Wednesday v Arsenal

4 February 1995 27	Sheffield Wednesday	3–1	Arsenal	Sheffield
15:00 GMT	Petrescu 8' Ingesson 25' Bright 90'		3' Linighan	Stadium: Hillsborough Attendance: 23,468

Arsenal v Leicester City

11 February 1995 28	Arsenal	1–1	Leicester City	London
15:00 GMT	Merson 52'		78' Draper	Stadium: Highbury Attendance: 31,373

Arsenal v Nottingham Forest

21 February 1995 29	Arsenal	1–0	Nottingham Forest	London
19:45 GMT	Kiwomya 81'			Stadium: Highbury Attendance: 35,441

Crystal Palace v Arsenal

25 February 1995 30	Crystal Palace	0–3	Arsenal	London
15:00 GMT			24' Merson 39', 77' Kiwomya	Stadium: Selhurst Park Attendance: 17,092

Arsenal v West Ham United

5 March 1995 31	Arsenal	0–1	West Ham United	London
15:00 GMT			20' Hutchison	Stadium: Highbury Attendance: 36,295

Blackburn Rovers v Arsenal

8 March 1995 32	Blackburn Rovers	3–1	Arsenal	Blackburn
19:45 GMT	Shearer 4', 48' Le Saux 18'		49' Morrow	Stadium: Ewood Park Attendance: 23,452

Newcastle United v Arsenal

19 March 1995 33	Newcastle United	1–0	Arsenal	Newcastle upon Tyne
15:00 GMT	Beardsley 89'			Stadium: St James' Park Attendance: 35,611

Manchester United v Arsenal

22 March 1995 34	Manchester United	3–0	Arsenal	Manchester
20:00 GMT	Hughes 26' Sharpe 31' Kanchelskis 80'			Stadium: Old Trafford Attendance: 43,623

Arsenal v Norwich City

1 April 1995 35	Arsenal	5–1	Norwich City	London
15:00 BST	Hartson 4', 13' Dixon 6' Merson 75' Newman 90' (o.g.)		32' Cureton	Stadium: Highbury Attendance: 36,942

Queens Park Rangers v Arsenal

8 April 1995 36	Queens Park Rangers	3–1	Arsenal	London
15:00 BST	Impey 27' Gallen 59' Ready 82'		89' Adams	Stadium: Loftus Road Attendance: 16,341

Arsenal v Liverpool

12 April 1995 37	Arsenal	0–1	Liverpool	London
19:45 BST			90' Fowler	Stadium: Highbury Attendance: 38,036

Arsenal v Ipswich Town

15 April 1995 38	Arsenal	4–1	Ipswich Town	London
15:00 BST	Merson 33' Wright 47', 50', 56'		71' Marshall	Stadium: Highbury Attendance: 36,818

Aston Villa v Arsenal

17 April 1995 39	Aston Villa	0–4	Arsenal	Birmingham
15:00 BST		Report	31', 87' Hartson 33', 72' (pen.) Wright	Stadium: Villa Park Attendance: 32,005

Arsenal v Tottenham Hotspur

29 April 1995 40	Arsenal	1–1	Tottenham Hotspur	London
15:00 BST	Wright 61' (pen.)	Report	74' Klinsmann	Stadium: Highbury Attendance: 39,377

Chelsea v Arsenal

14 May 1995 42	Chelsea	2–1	Arsenal	London
16:00 BST	Furlong 20' Stein 52'		23' Hartson	Stadium: Stamford Bridge Attendance: 32,822

UEFA Cup Winners' Cup

First round

Omonia v Arsenal

15 September 1994 1st Leg	Omonia	1–3	Arsenal	Nicosia
20:00 EEST	Malekkos 72'	Report	37', 80' Merson 50' Wright	Stadium: Makario Stadium Attendance: 13,954 Referee: Antonio Almeida Marcal (Portugal)

Arsenal v Omonia

29 September 1994 2nd Leg	Arsenal	3–0 (6–1 agg.)	Omonia	London
20:00 BST	Wright 9', 70' Schwarz 31'	Report		Stadium: Highbury Attendance: 24,165 Referee: Juan Ansuátegui Roca (Spain)

Second round

Brøndby v Arsenal

20 October 1994 1st Leg	Brøndby	1–2	Arsenal	Brøndby
20:00 CEST	Strudal 53'	Report	18' Wright 21' Smith	Stadium: Brøndby Stadium Attendance: 13,406 Referee: Werner Müller (Switzerland)

Arsenal v Brøndby

3 November 1994 2nd Leg	Arsenal	2–2 (4–3 agg.)	Brøndby	London
20:00 GMT	Wright 27' Selley 46'	Report	3' Hansen 71' Eggen	Stadium: Highbury Attendance: 32,290 Referee: Sergei Khusainov (Russia)

Quarter-finals

Arsenal v Auxerre

2 March 1995 1st Leg	Arsenal	1–1	Auxerre	London
20:00 GMT	Wright 60'	Report	63' Verlaat	Stadium: Highbury Attendance: 35,208 Referee: Leif Sundell (Sweden)

Auxerre v Arsenal

16 March 1995 2nd Leg	Auxerre	0–1 (1–2 agg.)	Arsenal	Auxerre
21:00 CEST		Report	16' Wright	Stadium: Stade de l'Abbé-Deschamps Attendance: 22,000 Referee: Vadim Zhuk (Belarus)

Semi-finals

Arsenal v Sampdoria

6 April 1995 1st Leg	Arsenal	3–2	Sampdoria	London
20:00 BST	Bould 34', 36' Wright 69'	Report	51', 77' Jugović	Stadium: Highbury Attendance: 38,100 Referee: Jaap Uilenberg (Netherlands)

Sampdoria v Arsenal

20 April 1995 2nd Leg	Sampdoria	3–2 (a.e.t.) (5–5 agg.) (2–3 p)	Arsenal	Genoa
20:30 CEST	Mancini 14' Bellucci 82', 85'	Report	61' Wright 88' Schwarz	Stadium: Stadio Luigi Ferraris Attendance: 35,000 Referee: Gerd Grabher (Austria)
	Penalties
	Mihajlović Jugović Maspero Mannini Lombardo		Dixon McGoldrick Hartson Adams Merson

Final

Arsenal v Real Zaragoza

10 May 1995	Arsenal	1–2 (a.e.t.)	Real Zaragoza	Paris
20:15 CEST	Hartson 75'	Report	67' Esnáider 119' Nayim	Stadium: Parc des Princes Attendance: 43,000 Referee: Piero Ceccarini (Italy)

European Super Cup

Arsenal v AC Milan

1 February 1995 1st Leg	Arsenal	0–0	AC Milan	London
20:00 GMT		Report		Stadium: Highbury Attendance: 38,044 Referee: Mario van der Ende (Netherlands)

AC Milan v Arsenal

8 February 1995 2nd Leg	AC Milan	2–0 (2–0 agg.)	Arsenal	Milan
19:30 GMT	Boban 41' Massaro 67'	Reportt		Stadium: San Siro Attendance: 23,953 Referee: Hellmut Krug (Germany)

FA Cup

Arsenal v Millwall

18 January 1995 R3 Replay	Arsenal	0–2	Millwall	London
		Report	10' Beard 90' Kennedy	Stadium: Highbury Attendance: 32,319 Referee: Stephen Lodge

League Cup

Hartlepool United v Arsenal

21 September 1994 R2 1st Leg	Hartlepool United	0–5	Arsenal	Hartlepool
		Report	Wright Adams Smith Merson	Stadium: Victoria Park Attendance: 4,421

Arsenal v Hartlepool United

5 October 1994 R2 2nd Leg	Arsenal	2–0 (7–0 agg.)	Hartlepool United	London
	Campbell 79' Dickov 89'	Report		Stadium: Highbury Attendance: 20,520

Arsenal v Oldham Athletic

9 November 1994 R3 Replay	Arsenal	2–0	Oldham Athletic	London
	Dickov 15', 40'	Report		Stadium: Highbury Attendance: 22,746

Arsenal v Sheffield Wednesday

30 November 1994 R4	Arsenal	2–0	Sheffield Wednesday	London
	Morrow Wright	Report		Stadium: Highbury Attendance: 27,390

Liverpool v Arsenal

11 January 1995 R5	Liverpool	1–0	Arsenal	Liverpool
	Rush 59'	Report		Stadium: Anfield Attendance: 35,026 Referee: Philip Don

References