Arsenal 6 Blades 0

[grafikhaus]

I didn't go to the 6-0 game but, just to prove things don't always work out even for the biggest teams, one-time wunderkind Nicklas Bendtner - who scored two in the 6-0 thrashing - was arrested for assault in Copenhagen earlier this month.

Bendtner scored after 1.8 seconds of his Arsenal debut (v. Spurs). Good article here. And no Coily we didn't go on a run after this thrashing. We did win the next three league games - Watford (H), Donny (A) and Bristol City (H) - but this run was ended in a 1-0 defeat, at Hillsborough.

I went to Highbury on 27 October 1981. It was the second-leg of a second-round League Cup game (we'd won the first leg three weeks earlier at Bramall Lane 1-0 - Hatton). I was working bang in the middle of London and got the tube up to the ground. I found myself in a boozer bang opposite Finsbury Park station and got talking to some Gooners. Around seven, I went for a piss and one of these Arsenal fans followed me. (No, not what you're thinking...) We were having a slash and he asked me 'What time will your fans be here?' Right on cue, through an open window facing the tube station, was a mighty roar, the sounds of smashing glass and police dogs barking. I turned to him. 'Er, I think they're here!'

Only just over 22k in the crowd that night - a game we lost 2-0 - but there must have been 4-5k Blades there on the Clock End. The Arsenal fans were well impressed, we were in the Fourth Division back then. After the game it was bedlam, running battles in the streets around the ground, overlooked by mansions that must have cost a staggering (back then) million pounds. I remember the London coppers shitting themselves.

We'd go up as champions that year but, just to prove United can never let you rest easy, less than a month after this Arsenal game, we lost 3-0 to non-League Accrington in the first round of the FA Cup...

 

[Harrisblade]

We made them look good that night.

Bit of a freak result.

That's because they actually were good on that night

 

[TopBoy]

They knocked the ball around as if it was a beach-ball and we got nowhere near them. If we were to play their kids today I'd hazard a guess it would be a lot closer - not sure if that's a sign of how far we've come or they've dipped.
I remember the stadium announcer announced just the christian names of their players, reckon that spooked us.

 

[Nicolaus_Copernicus]

I was there and can confirm that the seats were comfy. I'd enjoyed a good all dayer in that there London beforehand. Like a good number of away days from that era, the fun stopped when the game started.

Was it Naughton's debut?

 

[shreds1975]

It was the day we were awarded the Tevez money and a Look North crew interviewed a couple of us on the coach before we left the Lane. Apart from the fact we were totally dismantled by a young Arsenal side, my other memories of the night are the awful food and former Eastenders actor/reality TV cretin Joe Swash being sat across the line of stewards from us. I remember a piss taking chant starting, based on some soap storyline, and he was pulling his cap down over his face, trying to avoid eye contact. By the end of the game he is turning round to us holding up 5 then 6 fingers as the goals rolled in, giving it back.

 

[John Street West Terrace]

One of the very few times I've left early. We got a thrashing so I went back to the Hen & Chickens at 4-0. I think it was just after we'd been awarded the Tevez cash and the highlight of the night was a song about it to the tune of 'Michael Finnegan'.

Shit that’s the therapy I paid for down the pan 1973B .. the PTSD has returned

 

[Silent Blade]

We'd go up as champions that year but, just to prove United can never let you rest easy, less than a month after this Arsenal game, we lost 3-0 to non-League Accrington in the first round of the FA Cup...

Altrincham

 

[TTMeysh]

Interesting to compare and contrast with the 5-2 drubbing at Highbury in the Bassett era. I recall everyone being quite cheerful at the end of that one, mainly because 'Spunky' Seaman made a howler that meant we scored the last goal of the afternoon (Mendonca???).

 

[Deleted member 1486]

Funny how memory can play tricks on you. I could have sworn this was a home fixture and that I was there!

I definitely wasn't at the away game. Was it on TV?

 

[blade too long]

Sadly two of our match day squad that day, Speed and Ehiogu have since passed away.

thought theyd passed away during that game looking at the score

mind you Arsenal were on fire just then

13 September 2008 Blackburn Rovers 0–4 Arsenal

20 September 2008 Bolton Wanderers 1–3 Arsenal

27th sept 200 Arsenal 3–0 Newcastle United


then strangely lost 1/2 at home to hull

 

[Guesty]

Funny how memory can play tricks on you. I could have sworn this was a home fixture and that I was there!

I definitely wasn't at the away game. Was it on TV?

We got done 3-0 in a cup game not long before, Walcott and I think Eduardo played. Is that the one you're thinking of?

 

[Hartley Hare]

I didn't go to this game, but in a strange way wish I had.

I do however, if I am correct, remember the match before at Carrow Road, when that twit Croft scored in the last minute to see the Canaries win 1-0. I teamed up with a friendly bunch of Blades at The Fat Cat for pre match drinks and shared a cab to the ground.

There was talk of the mid week match at Arsenal and plans for the away game. I should have joined in - wish I had gone to that game, despite the result.

HH

 

[Bladesway84]

I was there and can confirm that the seats were comfy. I'd enjoyed a good all dayer in that there London beforehand. Like a good number of away days from that era, the fun stopped when the game started.

Was it Naughton's debut?

Yeah I’m sure it was,
I remember my mate saying to look out for Naughton he was the next best thing etc when he came on

 

[Bladesway84]

I remember signing

“Where shit..
An you can only score 4...

An you can only score 5....

(F*Ked off to ale house at 5-0)

 

[Nicolaus_Copernicus]

Yeah I’m sure it was,
I remember my mate saying to look out for Naughton he was the next best thing etc when he came on

My memory is hazy, but I'm 99% sure he was playing as a defensive central midfielder that night. He's not had a bad career when all things are considered, but when he first broke through for us, I thought he'd go on and have the kind of career Walker's had.