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Some Arsenal fans (the more observant but also pessimistic ones) have been worrying that the uniqueness of Arsenal's historic
title win in the 1988/89 season could be challenged at the end
of this season. Worry no longer.
Let me explain...
As everyone knows, in that season matches had to be rearranged because of the Hillsborough disaster. And so it happened that
on 26th May 1989, our title-deciding match with Liverpool was the last and only match left to be played. Alan Smith, smudge on
the face, Mickey Thomas, it's up for grabs now, etc etc, history
was made. See our "St Michael's Day" page for more: digital memorabilia, links, and a selection of
entertaining Gooners' memories from the day.
Anyway, this year's match between Leeds United and
Manchester United had to be cancelled because Man Utd were
on holiday. So there was some concern that it might be rescheduled
for the end of the season, and so there was potential for
a repeat (of sorts) of "St Michael's Day".
Although it's accepted that everyone's last matches have to be
played at the same time (Hillsborough was a good reason to
break this rule, a money-spinning mid-season break is not),
Leeds boss David O'Leary (himself a hero of Anfield 89) and
chairman Peter Ridsdale had admitted that they fancied a
"winner takes all" end-of-season clash. And it wasn't beyond
this cynic's imagination to suppose that Sky might try to manoeuvre things
so that this ultimate box-office smash came to pass.
But it has been announced that the Elland Rd game will now
take place on either the 16th or the 20th of February (depending on whether Leeds are still in the FA Cup). See
Sporting Life. So the uniqueness
of Anfield 89 will be preserved. Liverpool fans will be
overjoyed.
Of course, at ArseWeb we think there would have been another
problem with Spider's plan. We, together with a good few other
knowledgeable people) are still reckoning on Arsenal being
well in the chase at the end of the season, and on the challenge from Elland Road being ended up there on April 16th. :-))
Now we just have to hope that Tranmere, Villa, or Leicester
(on penalties, naturally) don't win both cups this season to
remove the uniqueness of our domestic cup double (and give
Wednesdayites something to cheer them up).
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