Arsenal F.C.

1993–94 season
Chairman	Peter Hill-Wood
Manager	George Graham
Stadium	Highbury
FA Premier League	4th
FA Cup	Fourth round
League Cup	Fourth round
FA Charity Shield	Runners-up
Cup Winners' Cup	Winners
Top goalscorer	League:Ian Wright (23) All: Ian Wright (35)
Average home league attendance	30,563
Home colours Away colours
← 1992–93 1994–95 →

The1993–94season wasArsenal Football Club's68th consecutive season in the top flight of English football. Arsenal finished fourth in thePremier League and went out in the fourth round of both theFA Cup and theLeague Cup. Arsenal won their first European competition since 1970: the1993-94 European Cup Winners' Cup. They defeatedParma 1-0 in the final, thanks to a goal fromAlan Smith.Ian Wright was the top scorer in all competitions with 35 goals.

1993–94 saw a great deal of change at Arsenal. The season began with the club's longest-serving player, 34-year-old defenderDavid O'Leary, signing forLeeds and out-of-favour defenderColin Pates joiningBrighton.Irish wingerEddie McGoldrick was captured fromCrystal Palace; his arrival led to the sale of fellow wingerAnders Limpar toEverton in March 1994.

Arsenal conquered their goalscoring problems which had restricted them to 10th place a year earlier. This time round they finished fourth in the league, and at one stage looked like the most likely team to threatenManchester United's lead. But the real success of the campaign was a 1–0 win overParma inCopenhagen which gave them glory in theEuropean Cup Winners' Cup and their first European trophy since1970.^[1]

Arsenal surrendered their defence of both domestic cup competitions. Their progress in the League Cup was haltered in November, when they surrendered the trophy to anAston Villa side who went on to win it. The defeat brought to an end a 25-match unbeaten cup run for Arsenal. They also lost their defence of the FA Cup toBolton Wanderers in February.^[2]

The close season saw Arsenal make swoops forSwedish midfielderStefan Schwarz as managerGeorge Graham prepared to maintain an Arsenal side that could challenge on all frontsthe following season.

No.	Pos	Nat	Player	Total		Premier League		FA Cup		League Cup		Cup Winners' Cup
				Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
1	GK	ENG	David Seaman	56	0	39	0	3	0	5	0	9	0
2	DF	ENG	Lee Dixon	48	0	32+1	0	3	0	4	0	8	0
3	DF	ENG	Nigel Winterburn	50	0	34	0	3	0	4	0	9	0
4	MF	ENG	Paul Davis	34	0	21+1	0	0	0	1+2	0	9	0
5	DF	ENG	Andy Linighan	27	0	20+1	0	0	0	4	0	1+1	0
6	DF	ENG	Tony Adams	48	4	35	0	3	2	2	0	8	2
7	FW	ENG	Kevin Campbell	52	19	28+9	14	3	0	2+2	1	7+1	4
8	FW	ENG	Ian Wright	52	34	39	23	3	1	4	6	6	4
9	FW	ENG	Alan Smith	41	7	21+4	3	1+1	1	4+1	1	7+2	2
10	MF	ENG	Paul Merson	47	12	24+9	7	2+1	0	4	2	7	3
11	MF	IRL	Eddie McGoldrick	37	1	23+3	0	1+1	0	4	0	3+2	1
12	DF	ENG	Steve Bould	37	1	23+2	1	3	0	3	0	5+1	0
13	GK	ENG	Alan Miller	4	0	3+1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
14	DF	ENG	Martin Keown	46	0	23+10	0	2+1	0	3	0	4+3	0
15	MF	SWE	Anders Limpar[S]	12	0	9+1	0	0	0	2	0	0	0
17	MF	DEN	John Jensen	41	0	27	0	0+1	0	5	0	8	0
18	MF	ENG	David Hillier	22	0	11+4	0	3	0	0+1	0	2+1	0
21	DF	NIR	Steve Morrow	13	0	7+4	0	0	0	1	0	1	0
22	MF	ENG	Ian Selley	27	1	16+2	0	0	0	1+1	0	5+2	1
23	MF	ENG	Ray Parlour	32	2	24+3	2	3	0	2	0	0	0
24	MF	ENG	Mark Flatts	3	0	2+1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
25	MF	ENG	Neil Heaney[S]	2	0	1	0	0	0	0+1	0	0	0
27	FW	SCO	Paul Dickov	1	0	0+1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0

[R] –Reserve team player[L] – Out on loan[S] – Sold

Arsenal vCoventry City

14 August 19931	Arsenal	0–3	Coventry City	London
15:00BST			34',62',65'Quinn	Stadium:Highbury Attendance: 24,897

Tottenham Hotspur vArsenal

16 August 19932	Tottenham Hotspur	0–1	Arsenal	London
20:00BST			87'Wright	Stadium:White Hart Lane Attendance: 28,355

Sheffield Wednesday vArsenal

21 August 19933	Sheffield Wednesday	0–1	Arsenal	Sheffield
15:00BST			9'Wright	Stadium:Hillsborough Attendance: 26,023

Arsenal vLeeds United

24 August 19934	Arsenal	2–1	Leeds United	London
19:45BST	Newsome 2' (o.g.) Merson 57'		70'Strachan	Stadium:Highbury Attendance: 29,042

Arsenal vEverton

28 August 19935	Arsenal	2–0	Everton	London
15:00BST	Wright 48',78'			Stadium:Highbury Attendance: 29,063

Blackburn Rovers vArsenal

1 September 19936	Blackburn Rovers	1–1	Arsenal	Blackburn
19:45BST	Gallacher 36'		75'Campbell	Stadium:Ewood Park Attendance: 14,051

Arsenal vIpswich Town

11 September 19937	Arsenal	4–0	Ipswich Town	London
15:00BST	Wright 30' Campbell 38',55',64'			Stadium:Highbury Attendance: 28,563

Manchester United vArsenal

19 September 19938	Manchester United	1–0	Arsenal	Manchester
16:00BST	Cantona 38'			Stadium:Old Trafford Attendance: 44,009

Arsenal vSouthampton

25 September 19939	Arsenal	1–0	Southampton	London
15:00BST	Merson 45'			Stadium:Highbury Attendance: 26,902

Arsenal vAston Villa

6 November 199314	Arsenal	1–2	Aston Villa	London
15:00GMT	Wright 58'		74'Whittingham 90'Townsend	Stadium:Highbury Attendance: 31,773

Chelsea vArsenal

20 November 199315	Chelsea	0–2	Arsenal	London
15:00GMT		Report	27'Smith 45' (pen.)Wright	Stadium:Stamford Bridge Attendance: 26,839

Arsenal vNewcastle United

27 November 199317	Arsenal	2–1	Newcastle United	London
15:00GMT	Wright 15' Smith 60'		61'Beardsley	Stadium:Highbury Attendance: 36,091

Coventry City vArsenal

4 December 199318	Coventry City	1–0	Arsenal	Coventry
15:00GMT	Quinn 79'			Stadium:Highfield Road Attendance: 12,722

Arsenal vTottenham Hotspur

6 December 199319	Arsenal	1–1	Tottenham Hotspur	London
20:00GMT	Wright 65'		25'Anderton	Stadium:Highbury Attendance: 35,669

Arsenal vSheffield Wednesday

12 December 199320	Arsenal	1–0	Sheffield Wednesday	London
16:00GMT	Wright 90'			Stadium:Highbury Attendance: 22,026

Leeds United vArsenal

18 December 199321	Leeds United	2–1	Arsenal	Leeds
15:00GMT	McAllister 21' Adams 60' (o.g.)		27'Campbell	Stadium:Elland Road Attendance: 37,515

Swindon Town vArsenal

27 December 199322	Swindon Town	0–4	Arsenal	Swindon
12:00GMT			19',26',68'Campbell 89'Wright	Stadium:County Ground Attendance: 17,651

Arsenal vSheffield United

29 December 199323	Arsenal	3–0	Sheffield United	London
19:45GMT	Campbell 11',55' Wright 40'			Stadium:Highbury Attendance: 27,035

Wimbledon vArsenal

1 January 199424	Wimbledon	0–3	Arsenal	London
15:00GMT			18'Campbell 23'Parlour 55'Wright	Stadium:Selhurst Park Attendance: 16,584

Arsenal vOldham Athletic

22 January 199427	Arsenal	1–1	Oldham Athletic	London
15:00GMT	Wright 45' (pen.)	Report	4'Sharp	Stadium:Highbury Attendance: 26,524

Norwich City vArsenal

13 February 199428	Norwich City	1–1	Arsenal	Norwich
17:00GMT	Ekoku 57'		33'Campbell	Stadium:Carrow Road Attendance: 17,667

Everton vArsenal

19 February 199429	Everton	1–1	Arsenal	Liverpool
15:00GMT	Cottee 81'		56'Merson	Stadium:Goodison Park Attendance: 19,891

Arsenal vBlackburn Rovers

26 February 199430	Arsenal	1–0	Blackburn Rovers	London
15:00GMT	Merson 73'			Stadium:Highbury Attendance: 35,030

Ipswich Town vArsenal

5 March 199431	Ipswich Town	1–5	Arsenal	Ipswich
15:00GMT	Dixon 70' (o.g.)	Report	18',40' (pen.),86'Wright 24' (o.g.)Youds 52'Parlour	Stadium:Portman Road Attendance: 18,656

Southampton vArsenal

19 March 199432	Southampton	0–4	Arsenal	Southampton
15:00GMT		Report	18',30',68' (pen.)Wright 84'Campbell	Stadium:The Dell Attendance: 16,790

Arsenal vManchester United

22 March 199433	Arsenal	2–2	Manchester United	London
19:45GMT	Pallister 36' (o.g.) Merson 78'		10',53'Sharpe	Stadium:Highbury Attendance: 36,203

Arsenal vLiverpool

26 March 199434	Arsenal	1–0	Liverpool	London
15:00GMT	Merson 47'			Stadium:Highbury Attendance: 35,556

Arsenal vSwindon Town

2 April 199435	Arsenal	1–1	Swindon Town	London
15:00BST	Smith 4'		29'Bodin	Stadium:Highbury Attendance: 31,634

Sheffield United vArsenal

4 April 199436	Sheffield United	1–1	Arsenal	Sheffield
15:00BST	Rogers 54'		69'Campbell	Stadium:Bramall Lane Attendance: 20,019

Arsenal vChelsea

16 April 199437	Arsenal	1–0	Chelsea	London
15:00BST	Wright 72'			Stadium:Highbury Attendance: 34,314

Arsenal vWimbledon

19 April 199438	Arsenal	1–1	Wimbledon	London
19:45BST	Bould 51'		37'Earle	Stadium:Highbury Attendance: 21,292

Aston Villa vArsenal

23 April 199439	Aston Villa	1–2	Arsenal	Birmingham
15:00BST	Houghton 57'	Report	30' (pen.),90'Wright	Stadium:Villa Park Attendance: 31,580

Queens Park Rangers vArsenal

27 April 199440	Queens Park Rangers	1–1	Arsenal	London
19:45BST	Penrice 3'		46'Merson	Stadium:Loftus Road Attendance: 11,442

Arsenal vWest Ham United

30 April 199441	Arsenal	0–2	West Ham United	London
15:00BST			77'Morley 88'Allen	Stadium:Highbury Attendance: 33,701

Newcastle United vArsenal

7 May 199442	Newcastle United	2–0	Arsenal	Newcastle upon Tyne
15:00BST	Cole 46' Beardsley 66'			Stadium:St James' Park Attendance: 32,216

It all began on a wet night in Odense. Tony Adams was suspended and Arsenal's Cup Winners' Cup hopes nearly died before they’d started. The Danes scored first then they missed a penalty. Arsenal pulled themselves together and Ian Wright equalised. Paul Merson broke away to hit the winner.

Kim Brinks' team made it difficult for The Gunners in the second leg. They even equalised Kevin Campbell's header. Arsenal's relief at hearing the final whistle was obvious. In those final moments several players and thousands of fans had relived the horror of the European Cup defeat by Benfica two seasons earlier. But Arsenal eased through to the second round.

Ian Wright tore Standard Liège apart at Highbury. Merson scored a brilliant free-kick. The Standard manager,Arie Haan, was sacked a few days later. So was his replacement,Rene van der Eycken, after Arsenal slaughtered Standard 7-0 in Liège.

Torino in the quarter-final posed some tougher questions. George Graham won the tactical battle in Turin, stationing David Hillier in front of Adams and Steve Bould to stopEnzo Francescoli breaking from midfield. Arsenal created most of the chances. At Highbury Paul Davis' perfectly flighted 66th minute free kick found Adams at the far post, and Adams headed the only goal of the game.

French League leaders Paris Saint-Germain were shocked when the Gunners took command at theParc des Princes. The goalkeeperBernard Lama was PSG's hero. Wright beat him once to head Arsenal in front. And PSG punished rare slackness on the Gunners near post at a corner, whenDavid Ginola sneaked in to head the equaliser.Valdo, the Brazilian buzzed in midfield at Highbury. Adams was remarkable; organising, calming, dashing in with fast ditch tackles. The French threatened, but Seaman was rarely troubled. Campbells sixth minute header from Lee Dixon's cross proved decisive.^[3]

Typically, Arsenal won their first European trophy since 1970, the hard way: with Ian Wright suspended; John Jensen, Martin Keown and David Hillier injured. There were times when Arsenal rode their luck. Steve Bould had to launch a last ditch tackle onFaustino Asprilla in the opening seconds.Tomas Brolin hit the upright post in the 14th minute. Five minutes later Arsenal made the vital break through with a goal worthy of winning a final. Alan Smith pouncing onLorenzo Minottis misdirected clearance then cracking a left footed 20 yarder pastLuca Bucci, off a post.^[4] It was a great night for Smith, he's never played better than he did in Copenhagen, held the ball up tirelessly up front and frustrated Parma. It was a great night for George Graham, enjoying European success as a manager to add to his Fair Cup winners medal 24 years ago. Steve Bould won the Man of the Match plaudits and, given their injury problems, it had been a remarkable game for the Gunners.Nevio Scala, the Parma manager, also praised Arsenal:"Tactically and technically we did not function because Arsenal were a better team."^[5]

First round

Odense BK vArsenal

15 September 19931st Leg	Odense BK	1–2	Arsenal	Odense
	Keown 18' (o.g.)		35'Wright 68'Merson	Stadium:Fionia Park Attendance: 9,580

Arsenal vOdense BK

29 September 19932nd Leg	Arsenal	1–1 (3–2agg.)	Odense BK	London
	Campbell 52'		86'Nielsen	Stadium:Highbury Attendance: 25,689

Second round

Arsenal vStandard Liège

20 October 19931st Leg	Arsenal	3–0	Standard Liège	London
	Wright 39',63' Merson 50'			Stadium:Highbury Attendance: 25,258

Standard Liège vArsenal

3 November 19932nd Leg	Standard Liège	0-7 (0–10agg.)	Arsenal	Liège
			Smith 2' Selley 20' Adams 36' Campbell 41',79' Merson 73' McGoldrick 81'	Stadium:Stade Maurice Dufrasne Attendance: 15,000

Quarter-finals

Arsenal vTorino

15 March 19942nd Leg	Arsenal	1–0 (1–0agg.)	Torino	London
	Adams 68'			Stadium:Highbury Attendance: 34,678

Semi-finals

Paris Saint-Germain vArsenal

29 March 19941st Leg	Paris Saint-Germain	1–1	Arsenal	Paris
	Ginola 49'		35'Wright	Stadium:Parc des Princes Attendance: 46,000

Arsenal vParis Saint-Germain

12 April 19942nd Leg	Arsenal	1–0 (2–1agg.)	Paris Saint-Germain	London
	Campbell 7'			Stadium:Highbury Attendance: 34,212

Final

Arsenal vParma

4 May 1994	Arsenal	1–0	Parma	Copenhagen
20:15CEST	Smith 20'			Stadium:Parken Stadium Attendance: 33,765 Referee:Václav Krondl (Czech Republic)

Arsenal visited George Grahams old club Millwall in the first round. Tony Adams won the game when he headed home a corner as Paul Merson challengedKasey Keller.

Bolton had knocked out Liverpool in 1993 and beat Everton in the 1994 third round replay.Jason McAteer escaped from man-marking Martin Keown who collided with Steve Bould to fire Wanderers ahead. That brought Arsenal to life. Early in the second half, Ian Wright levelled from Mersons shot, and Adams headed a second from a free-kick. Bolton however stepped up another gear. Under continual pressure the Gunners finally cracked, whenOwen Coyle netted Boltons equaliser, only five minutes from the final whistle.

The replay at Highbury took a turn after 20 minutes.Phil Brown lofted an overhead kick into the Arsenal box. The Gunners defence pressed out andJohn McGinlay ran on to head past David Seamans outstretched hand. Alan Smith levelled the scores, after Ian Wright had challengedAidan Davison for Lee Dixons throw in. The game thundered into extra-time and after 103 minutes Nigel Winterburn stubbed a back pass. Coyles shot hit the post and McAteer buried the rebound. Five minutes from the end substitute strikerAndy Walker was put clear and drove home the third to end any doubts about the outcome.Bruce Riochs side ended Arsenals hopes of retaining the trophy.^[6]

Arsenal vManchester United

7 August 1993	Arsenal	1–1 (4–5p)	Manchester United	Wembley Stadium,London
12:30BST	Wright 40'	[7]	Hughes 8'	Attendance: 66,519 Referee:Gerald Ashby (Worcestershire)
	Penalties
	Winterburn Jensen Campbell Merson Wright Seaman		Ince Bruce Irwin Keane Cantona Robson

Squad at end of season^[8]

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined underFIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. 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

No. Pos. Nation Player 12 DF  ENG Steve Bould 13 GK  ENG Alan Miller 14 DF  ENG Martin Keown 17 MF  DEN John Jensen 18 MF  ENG David Hillier 21 DF  NIR Steve Morrow 22 MF  ENG Ian Selley 23 MF  ENG Ray Parlour 24 MF  ENG Mark Flatts 27 FW  SCO Paul Dickov

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined underFIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player 15 MF  SWE Anders Limpar(toEverton) 25 MF  ENG Neil Heaney(toSouthampton)

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined underFIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player 19 MF  ENG Jimmy Carter 20 DF  NOR Pal Lydersen

No. Pos. Nation Player 26 GK  SCO James Will

• Arsenal F.C. seasons
• 1993–94 FA Premier League by team
• UEFA Cup Winners' Cup–winning seasons

• Articles with short description
• Short description is different from Wikidata
• Use British English from May 2013
• All Wikipedia articles written in British English
• Use dmy dates from March 2022